OPTIMAL OCCUPANCY DISTRIBUTION FOR ROUTE OR PATH PLANNING

An occupancy map of a region is generated for a vehicle by dividing the region into cells and calculating occupancy metrics for each of the cells based on building footprints or other data. Cells having high occupancy metrics are labeled as obstructed, and cells having low occupancy metrics are labeled as free of obstructions. Cells that may not be labeled as obstructed or free based on their occupancy metrics are subdivided, and occupancy metrics are calculated for cells formed from the subdivision. Occupancy metrics may be calculated for cells, and the cells may be subdivided, for as long as the cells formed from the subdivision have areas greater than an area defined based on operational capabilities of the vehicle. The occupancy map is used to determine routes through the region for the vehicle.