Creating 3-D maps of complex buildings for disaster management

Creating 3-D maps of complex buildings for disaster management
Credit: University of Twente

In case of an emergency, first responders like the fire brigade need up-to-date information. Two-dimensional maps are a common source of information, but they can be difficult to read in an emergency situation. UT Ph.D. student Shayan Nikoohemat created an algorithm that can accurately generate 3-D models of the insides of large buildings from point clouds.

Indoor 3-D models are the digital twins of building interiors. The 3-D models could be used by to get a good impression of large buildings, like , a hospital or a sports complex, on their way to the emergency. 2-D maps represent important information—like the location of emergency exits—on tangled floor plans, making them difficult too read quickly and after each reconstruction, these maps are outdated. "Sometimes, these maps are so outdated that the real building looks completely different than the floor plans. We need a fast and reliable approach to create the digital 3-D model of interiors," says Shayan.

From point clouds to 3-D map

Luckily, can quickly scan a whole building after every reconstruction. However, these scanners create , which still has to be converted into a 3-D model. The data doesn't know if a scanned point is a wall, an exit or, for example, a table. According to Shayan, his program solved this: "For my Ph.D. thesis, I created algorithms that automatically understand the data and can create 2-D and 3-D maps. We can detect and model doors, stairs, obstacles and navigable areas which are crucial data for the emergency planning."

Creating 3-D maps of complex buildings for disaster management
Figure 1: The point clouds and final 3D Model of the fire brigade building in Haaksbergen. Credit: University of Twente

Recognizing elements

The algorithm can recognize different structural elements such as walls, slabs, ceilings, and openings. Individual items like furniture, however, still pose a problem. "It is not yet able to correctly label everything, but the structural elements are enough to create an accurate map, which we tested on several real datasets," he says. During his postdoc, he will further develop the system to also work for individual items. Huib Fransen of the Safety Region Rotterdam-Rijnmond was delighted with the results: "Shayan's project is exciting for us and we were happy to provide him with the scanning sites for test cases."

Citation: Creating 3-D maps of complex buildings for disaster management (2020, October 22) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://techxplore.com/news/2020-10-d-complex-disaster.html
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