Systems and methods for autonomous generation of maps

A method of creating a digital map of a retail environment, the method comprising:

• accessing images of a retail environment captured via multiple security cameras placed within the retail environment;
• creating an aerial, wide area, view of the retail environment by stitching together the accessed images;
• identifying multiple layout features within the created aerial view of the retail environment;
• estimating positions of one or more walkable paths within the retail environment relative to the multiple layout features identified within the combined aerial view of the environment;
• and
• transforming the combined aerial view into a two-dimensional map of the retail environment using the multiple layout features identified within the combined aerial view of the environment, the two-dimensional map depicting a layout of the retail environment that includes the one or more walkable paths.

A system, comprising:

• an image module configured to access images of a retail environment captured via multiple security cameras placed within the retail environment;
• and
• a map generation module configured to generate a map depicting a layout of the retail environment based on features extracted from the accessed images, by:
• creating an aerial view of the retail environment by stitching together the accessed images to form a combined aerial image of the retail environment;
• identifying multiple layout features within the combined aerial image of the retail environment;
• estimating positions of one or more walkable paths within the retail environment relative to the multiple layout features identified within the combined aerial image of the environment, and
• transforming the combined aerial image into a two-dimensional map of the retail environment using the multiple layout features identified within the combined image of the environment, the two-dimensional map depicting a layout of the retail environment that includes the one or more walkable paths.