A graph-based algorithm for extracting units and loops from architectural floor plans for a building evacuation model
This article presents the development of an automatic process in transforming computer-drawn architectural plans into a building fire evacuation simulatorspatial-grid evacuation model (SGEM). The SGEM has been developed to model the dynamic positions of each occupant of a building at every time point under an evacuation process. The presented process, termed automatic unit generator (AUG), is developed on the basis of a graph-based approach. It captures the architectural information originally produced by architects/building designers in CAD plans and rebuilds the units and their topological relationships, as well as determines the evacuation direction at every portal. As limited pre-defined information is needed, this proposed process could be employed at any stage of the design process. It makes the SGEM capable of integrating into CAD system to set up a smooth architectural design workflow.
architecture floor plans evacuation graph theory layout