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Automated OCR Pipeline for Extracting Pressure Readings from Blower Door Test Videos

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Building Resilience Corp.
Building Resilience Corp.
London, Ontario, Canada
Jonathan Linton
Jonathan Linton
Co-Founder
(2)
2
Portals
(1)
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Project
60 hours per learner
Learner
Anywhere
Intermediate level

Project scope

Categories
Artificial intelligence Data analysis Data modelling Machine learning Software development
Skills
energy conservation python (programming language) computer vision optical character recognition (ocr) building science digital image processing data extraction automation sustainable technologies data engineering
Details

Blower door tests are used in building diagnostics to measure airtightness by monitoring indoor pressure changes. These tests are often recorded on video, but manual data extraction from the video footage is time-consuming.

In this project, students will develop a Python-based tool to automatically extract pressure readings from a video using screen capture and Optical Character Recognition (OCR). The script will capture one frame per second, isolate the region displaying the pressure value, apply OCR, and output the readings to a structured format such as CSV or JSON.

This project will help students develop skills in real-world automation, computer vision, and data engineering—all within the context of sustainable building science.

Deliverables

Main Deliverables

  • A working Python script that:
  • Extracts frames from a video at 1-second intervals
  • Isolates the region containing pressure data
  • Applies OCR using pytesseract or a similar library
  • Outputs results into a CSV or JSON file
  • Basic logging and error handling
  • Documentation and setup instructions (README)

Optional Stretch Goals

  • Add a simple Flask or FastAPI interface to make the tool API-ready
  • Add batch processing support for multiple videos

Student Skills Preferred

  • Python programming
  • Optical Character Recognition (OCR) using pytesseract
  • Image processing with OpenCV or Pillow
  • Basic data structures (CSV/JSON handling)

Student Experience Gained

  • Real-world OCR application in an engineering context
  • Exposure to automated data pipelines
  • Practical experience using computer vision libraries
  • Understanding of how software supports energy efficiency diagnostics



Mentorship
Domain expertise and knowledge

Providing specialized knowledge in the project subject area, with industry context.

Skills, knowledge and expertise

Sharing knowledge in specific technical skills, techniques, methodologies required for the project.

Hands-on support

Direct involvement in project tasks, offering guidance, and demonstrating techniques.

Regular meetings

Scheduled check-ins to discuss progress, address challenges, and provide feedback.

Supported causes

The global challenges this project addresses, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Learn more about all 17 SDGs here.

Affordable and clean energy

About the company

Company
https://www.buildresil.com
London, Ontario, Canada
2 - 10 employees
Energy, Environment, Technology, Trade & international business, Clean technology
Representation
Community-Focused Small Business Sustainable/green Women-Owned

Building Resilience Corp. is a Canadian consultancy dedicated to helping organizations and communities navigate the complexities of energy efficiency, supply‐chain optimization, and regulatory compliance. Our multidisciplinary team combines decades of hands-on experience in engineering, procurement, and supply‐chain management to deliver tailored solutions that drive cost savings (often 20–30%+) and bolster operational resilience.

We specialize in:

Energy & Environmental Assessments: Conducting NRCAN- and ASHRAE-compliant audits, air-quality evaluations, and net-zero pathway development for residential, commercial, institutional, and Indigenous community projects.
Supply-Chain Design & Trade Compliance: Architecting lean, ESG-aligned procurement frameworks, direct‐sourcing strategies, and AI-driven HS-code classification tools to mitigate duty risk, optimize tariffs, and streamline logistics.
Government Funding & Incentives: Securing grants, loans, and rebates—ranging from thousands to millions of dollars—to underwrite energy-efficiency upgrades, sustainability initiatives, and resilience-building measures.
Our client-centric approach emphasizes hands-on mentoring, local capacity building, and transparent, data-driven decision-making. Whether you’re launching a pilot in social housing, scaling up renewable‐energy installations, or preparing for AI-powered customs inspections, Building Resilience delivers the expertise and strategic insight you need to thrive in today’s high-risk trade and energy landscape.