Computer Vision Hazard Detection for Faster Property Inspection

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional insurance-related processes for hazard detection, such as insurance policy adjustments and property appraisal, are manual, time-consuming, and prone to human error, posing safety risks and inaccuracies in identifying hazards.

Innovation Solution

A computer vision system that preprocesses digital images or videos of assets, extracts features using convolutional layers, classifies hazards with fully connected layers, and generates visual indications of detected hazards using threshold comparisons.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual inspection by human operators is used to detect hazards, then the process allows human judgment and flexibility, but it is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and exposes operators to safety risks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehazard detection accuracyVSAvoidinspection time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical manual inspection process with an automated computer vision system using cameras, image processing algorithms, and machine learning models to detect hazards, thereby eliminating the need for human operators to physically inspect properties and significantly reducing inspection time while maintaining or improving detection accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service hazard detection where the property inspection process automatically identifies and reports hazards without human intervention, allowing the system to perform the inspection function independently through automated image analysis and classification algorithms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If manual inspection processes are used, then human operators can make judgment calls, but the process is cumbersome and exposes operators to dangerous situations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinspection process simplicityVSAvoidsafety risks to operators

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical manual inspection process with an automated computer vision system using cameras, image processing algorithms, and machine learning models to detect hazards, thereby eliminating the need for human operators to physically inspect properties and significantly reducing inspection time while maintaining or improving detection accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary automated image analysis system that acts as a mediator between the property being inspected and the final hazard assessment, allowing remote inspection through captured images and videos without exposing human operators to dangerous environments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If comprehensive hazard detection is performed manually, then all hazards can be identified, but the process requires significant human resources and time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehazard identification accuracyVSAvoidinspection throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical manual inspection process with an automated computer vision system using cameras, image processing algorithms, and machine learning models to detect hazards, thereby eliminating the need for human operators to physically inspect properties and significantly reducing inspection time while maintaining or improving detection accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables continuous automated inspection processing where multiple images and videos can be analyzed sequentially without interruption, allowing the system to process numerous properties in rapid succession through automated image analysis, thereby significantly increasing inspection throughput and productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS12511905B2Computer vision systems and methods for hazard detection from digital images and videos

Publication Date: 2025.12.30 INSURANCE SERVICES OFFICE INC

AI summary

Computer vision systems and methods for hazard detection from digital images and videos are provided. The system obtains media content indicative of an asset, preprocesses the media content, and extracts, based at least in part on one or more feature extractors, features from the preprocessed media content. The system determines, based at least in part on one or more classifiers, a value associated with a hazard, which can indicate the likelihood of a media content having the hazard. The system determines that the media content includes the hazard based at least in part on a comparison of the value to a threshold value. The system can generate a visual indication in the image indicative of the hazard.