Semi-Automated Processing and Routing Within Indoor Structures For Emergency Response Applications

In this work, we propose new automation tools to process 2D building geometry data for effective communication and timely response to critical events in commercial buildings. Given the scale and complexity of commercial buildings, robust and visually rich tools are needed during an emergency. Our data processing pipeline consists of three major components, (1) adjacency graph construction, representing spatial relationships within a building (between hallways, offices, stairways, elevators), (2) identification of elements involved in evacuation routes (hallways, stairways), (3) 3D building network construction, by connecting the oor elements via stairways and elevators. We have used these tools to process a cluster of five academic buildings. Our automation tools (despite some needed manual processing) show a significant advantage over manual processing (a few minutes vs. 2-4 hours). Designed as a client-server model, our system supports analytical capabilities to determine dynamic routing within a building under constraints(parts of the building blocked during emergencies, for instance). Visualization capabilities are provided for easy interaction with the system, on both desktop (command post) stations as well as mobile hand-held devices, simulating a command post-responder scenario.