System and process for roof measurement using imagery

• US 10,197,391 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2018
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pictometry International Corporation (Eagleview Technologies, Inc. /Wa/)
• Original Assignee: Pictometry International Corporation (Eagleview Technologies, Inc. /Wa/)
• Inventors: Thornberry, Dale R., Thornberry, Chris T., Garringer, Mark F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fitzpatrick, Atiba O
• Application Number:
  US15/943,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20180224271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 309 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/28 for measuring areas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/13 Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10032 Satellite or aerial image; Remote sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/62 of area, perimeter, diameter or volume
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/176 Urban or other man-made structures

Abstract

The present disclosure describes systems and processes, including processes in which first location data is received. Visual access to a first image corresponding to the first location data is provided, the first image including a roof structure of a building. A first computer input capable of signaling a designation from the user of a building roof structure location within the first image is provided. A designation of the building roof structure location within the first image is received. Responsive to receiving the designation of the building roof structure location, a second computer input capable of signaling user-acceptance of the building roof structure location within the first image is provided. Responsive to receiving the user-acceptance confirming the designation of the building roof structure location, visual access to one or more second images corresponding to geographic location coordinates of the building roof structure location is provided.

Claims

1. A process, comprising:

receiving first location data;

providing visual access to a first image corresponding to the first location data, the first image including a roof structure of a building at a first resolution;

providing a first computer input capable of signaling a designation from a user of a building roof structure location within the first image, wherein the building roof structure location is a geographic position of the building roof structure and is different than the first location data;

receive a designation of the building roof structure within the first image;

responsive to receiving the designation of the building roof structure location, providing a second computer input capable of signaling user-acceptance of the building roof structure location within the first image, wherein user-acceptance is one or more affirmative steps undertaken by the user to confirm the designation of the building roof structure location; and

responsive to receiving the user-acceptance confirming the designation of the building roof structure location, providing visual access to one or more second image corresponding to geographic location coordinates of the building roof structure location, the one or more second image having a second resolution of the building that is higher resolution than the first resolution.

2. The process of claim 1, further comprising providing visual access to one or more outline drawing corresponding to the roof structure of the building.

3. The process of claim 2, further comprising providing one or more length dimension on the outline drawing.

4. The process of claim 3, wherein the length dimension is one or more of a perimeter of the roof structure, a length of a ridge of the roof structure, a total length of ridges of the roof structure, a length of a valley of the roof structure, a total length of valleys of the roof structure, a length of a flashing of the roof structure, and a total length of flashings of the roof structure.

5. The process of claim 2, further comprising providing one or more area dimension on the outline drawing.

6. The process of claim 2, further comprising providing one or more pitch dimension on the outline drawing.

7. The process of claim 2, further comprising providing one or more indicator of pitch direction on the outline drawing.

8. The process of claim 2, further comprising providing one or more non-dimensional attribute of the roof structure on the outline drawing.

9. The process of claim 2, further comprising, providing visual access to a nadir image from an imagery database corresponding to location coordinates of the building roof structure location, and wherein the outline drawing is super-imposed on the nadir image.

10. The process of claim 1, wherein the first image is taken from an overhead view with respect to the roof structure of the building.

11. A non-transitory computer memory storing computer logic, that when executed by computer hardware causes the computer hardware to:

receive first location data generally corresponding to a geographic location of a building;

provide visual access to a first image corresponding to the first location data, the first image including a roof structure of the building at a first resolution;

provide a first computer input capable of signaling a designation from a user of a building roof structure location within the first image, wherein the building roof structure location is a geographic position of the building roof structure and is different than the first location data;

receive the designation of the building roof structure location;

responsive to receiving the designation of the building roof structure location, provide a second computer input capable of signaling user-acceptance of the building roof structure location within the first image, wherein user-acceptance is one or more affirmative steps undertaken by the user to confirm the designation of the building roof structure location; and

responsive to receiving the user-acceptance confirming the designation of the building roof structure location, provide visual access to one or more second image corresponding to geographic location coordinates of the building roof structure location, the one or more second image having a second resolution of the building that is higher resolution than the first resolution.

12. The non-transitory computer memory of claim 11, wherein said computer logic when executed by computer hardware causes the computer hardware to:

provide visual access to one or more outline drawing corresponding to the roof structure of the building.

13. The non-transitory computer memory of claim 12, wherein said computer logic when executed by computer hardware causes the computer hardware to:

provide at least one length dimension on the outline drawing.

14. The non-transitory computer memory of claim 12, wherein said computer logic when executed by computer hardware causes the computer hardware to:

provide visual access to a nadir image of an imagery database corresponding to location coordinates of the building roof structure location, and wherein the outline drawing is super-imposed on the nadir image.

15. The non-transitory computer memory of claim 12, wherein said computer logic when executed by computer hardware causes the computer hardware to:

provide one or more area dimension on the outline drawing.

16. The non-transitory computer memory of claim 11, wherein the first image is taken from an overhead view with respect to the roof of the building.

17. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a user, visual access to a first image of a region corresponding to first location data, the first image including a roof structure of a building at a first resolution;

signaling, by the user, a designation from the user of a building roof structure location within the first image, wherein the building roof structure location is a geographic position of the building roof structure and is different than the first location data;

signaling, by the user, user-acceptance of the building roof structure location within the first image, wherein user-acceptance is one or more affirmative steps undertaken by the user to confirm the designation of the building roof structure location; and

responsive to signaling the user-acceptance confirming the designation of the building roof structure location, receiving visual access to one or more second image corresponding to geographic location coordinates of the building roof structure location, the one or more second image having a second resolution of the building that is higher resolution than the first resolution; and

repairing or constructing a roof designated by the building roof structure location.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

responsive to signaling the user-acceptance confirming the designation of the building roof structure location, receiving a roof report derived at least in part from the one or more second images.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein repairing or constructing the roof designated by the building roof structure location includes repairing or constructing the roof designated by the building roof structure location based at least in part on the roof report.