Systems and methods for data capture for telecommunications site modeling via a telescoping apparatus

• US 10,580,199 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2018
• Issued: 03/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Etak Systems, Llc
• Original Assignee: Etak Systems, Llc
• Inventors: Priest, Lee, Terry, Charlie, Godwin, Joshua
• Primary Examiner(s): Lett, Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US15/898,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20180174357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 345427
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 11/02 Picture taking arrangements specially adapted for photogrammetry or photographic surveying, e.g. controlling overlapping of pictures
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/205 Image-based rendering
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2215/16 Using real world measurements to influence rendering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures

Abstract

Systems and methods for creating a three dimensional (3D) model of a telecommunications site for planning, engineering, and installing equipment utilizing data capture from a camera attached to a telescoping apparatus including positioning the telescoping apparatus at or near a cell tower and extending the camera at or near cell site components on the cell tower; obtaining data capture via the camera at one or more locations at or near the cell tower and at one or more angles relative to the cell site components; and processing the data capture to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on one or more objects of interest associated with the cell site components in the data capture.

Claims

1. A method for creating a three dimensional (3D) model of a telecommunications site for planning, engineering, and installing equipment utilizing data capture from a camera attached to a telescoping apparatus, the method comprising:

positioning the telescoping apparatus at or near a cell tower and extending the camera at or near cell site components on the cell tower;

obtaining data capture via the camera at one or more locations at or near the cell tower and at one or more angles relative to the cell site components;

processing the data capture to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on one or more objects of interest associated with the cell site components in the data capture; and

remotely performing a site survey of the cell site utilizing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the 3D model to collect and obtain information about the cell site, the cell tower;

one or more buildings, and interiors thereof, wherein the remotely performing the site survey includes;

determining equipment location on the cell tower;

measuring distances between the equipment and within the equipment to determine actual spatial location; and

determining connectivity between the equipment based on associated cabling.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the site survey comprises a determination of a down tilt angle of one or more antennas of the cell site components based on measuring three points comprising two defined by each antenna and one by an associated support bar using the 3D model, plumb of the cell tower and/or the one or more antennas, azimuth of the one or more antennas using a location in the 3D model, dimensions of the cell site components, equipment type and serial number of the cell site components, connections between the cell site components, a status of a lightning rod and warning light on the cell tower, and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) coordinates.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing comprises stitching the associated photos or videos together to create a 3D point cloud for the 3D model.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

remotely performing one or more of planning, engineering, and installation associated with the cell site utilizing the 3D model.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the telescoping apparatus comprises

a telescoping pole adapted to selectively extend vertically via an extension mechanism;

the camera disposed to a top of the telescoping pole.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the extension mechanism comprises a plurality of extending sections or a scissors lift.

7. An apparatus configured to create a three dimensional (3D) model of a telecommunications site for planning, engineering, and installing equipment utilizing data capture from a camera attached to a telescoping apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a network interface and a processor communicatively coupled to one another; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to

obtain data capture from the camera, wherein the telescoping apparatus is at or near a cell tower and the camera is extended at or near cell site components on the cell tower for the data capture;

process the data capture to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on one or more objects of interest associated with the cell site components in the data capture; and

remotely perform a site survey of the cell site utilizing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the 3D model to collect and obtain information about the cell site, the cell tower, one or more buildings, and interiors thereof, wherein the site survey includes

a determination of equipment location on the cell tower;

measurement of distances between the equipment and within the equipment to determine actual spatial location; and

a determination connectivity between the equipment based on associated cabling.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the site survey comprises a determination of a down tilt angle of one or more antennas of the cell site components based on measuring three points comprising two defined by each antenna and one by an associated support bar using the 3D model, plumb of the cell tower and/or the one or more antennas, azimuth of the one or more antennas using a location in the 3D model, dimensions of the cell site components, equipment type and serial number of the cell site components, connections between the cell site components, a status of a lightning rod and warning light on the cell tower, and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) coordinates.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the data is processed through stitching the associated photos or videos together to create a 3D point cloud for the 3D model.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to

remotely perform one or more of planning, engineering, and installation associated with the cell site utilizing the 3D model.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the telescoping apparatus comprises

a telescoping pole adapted to selectively extend vertically via an extension mechanism;

the camera disposed to a top of the telescoping pole.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the extension mechanism comprises a plurality of extending sections or a scissors lift.

13. An apparatus configured to create a three dimensional (3D) model of a telecommunications site for planning, engineering, and installing equipment utilizing data capture from a camera attached to a telescoping apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a network interface and a processor communicatively coupled to one another; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to

obtain data capture from the camera, wherein the telescoping apparatus is at or near a cell tower and the camera is extended at or near cell site components on the cell tower for the data capture;

process the data capture to define a three dimensional (3D) model of the cell site based on one or more objects of interest associated with the cell site components in the data capture; and

remotely perform a site survey of the cell site utilizing a Graphical User Interface (GUI) of the 3D model to collect and obtain information about the cell site, the cell tower, one or more buildings, and interiors thereof,

wherein the site survey comprises a determination of a down tilt angle of one or more antennas of the cell site components based on measuring three points comprising two defined by each antenna and one by an associated support bar using the 3D model, plumb of the cell tower and/or the one or more antennas, azimuth of the one or more antennas using a location in the 3D model, dimensions of the cell site components, equipment type and serial number of the cell site components, connections between the cell site components, a status of a lightning rod and warning light on the cell tower, and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) coordinates.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the site survey comprises:

a determination of equipment location on the cell tower;

measurement of distances between the equipment and within the equipment to determine actual spatial location; and

a determination connectivity between the equipment based on associated cabling.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the data is processed through stitching the associated photos or videos together to create a 3D point cloud for the 3D model.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to

remotely perform one or more of planning, engineering, and installation associated with the cell site utilizing the 3D model.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the telescoping apparatus comprises

a telescoping pole adapted to selectively extend vertically via an extension mechanism;

the camera disposed to a top of the telescoping pole.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the extension mechanism comprises a plurality of extending sections or a scissors lift.