System and method for georeferencing digital raster maps

• US 20010033292A1
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Published: 10/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Provar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Provar Incorporated
• Inventors: Higgins, Darin Wayne, Scott, Dan Martin
• Application Number:
  US09/821,170
• Publication Number:
  US 20010033292A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/649
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models

Abstract

The preferred embodiment provides a system and method for georeferencing digital raster maps by associating specific points on the raster map with corresponding points on a georeferenced vector map or another georeferenced raster map. According to the preferred embodiment, a raster map and a corresponding vector map are simultaneously displayed to a user. The user then locates a common geographic point or feature on each map, and marks each of them as a unique point-pair. When the user has marked at least two point-pairs, the system then computes a georeferencing function, based on the pixel-coordinates of the points marked on the raster map and the corresponding geographic coordinates of the points on the vector map. Thereafter the geographic coordinates of any point on the map may be easily computed. The preferred embodiment provides that as more point-pairs are identified, the georeferencing function is modified for increased accuracy.

Claims

1. A system that enables the georeferencing of a digital raster map, comprising:

a processing platform for executing code capable of georeferencing a digital raster map; and

a storage platform for storing at least a digital raster map, the storage platform coupled to the processing platform.

2. The system of

claim 1

further comprising a user interaction device coupled to the processing platform.

3. The system of

claim 1

wherein the processing platform is enabled to georeference a digital raster map based on a second map that is already georeferenced.

4. The system of

claim 1

wherein the processing platform is a microprocessor.

5. The system of

claim 1

wherein the map processing platform is a application service provider.

6. The system of

claim 1

wherein the map processing platform is located remotely from a user of the processing platform.

7. The system of

claim 1

wherein the storage platform comprises cashed memory.

8. The system of

claim 1

wherein the storage platform comprises system memory.

9. The system of

claim 1

wherein the storage platform comprises non-cashed volatile storage.

10. The system of

claim 2

wherein the user interaction device comprises at least a display device.

11. The system of

claim 1

where in the processing platform is coupled to the storage platform via a network.

12. The system of

claim 11

wherein the network is the internet.

13. The system of

claim 1

wherein the storage platform maintains a parality of digital raster maps.

14. The system of

claim 13

wherein the storage platform maintains a database of georeferencing functions that associate a digital raster map location with a georeferenced location in a second map.

15. The system of

claim 1

wherein the storage platform maintains code that enables the georeferencing of a raster map, by:

providing for display a first map and a second map, the first map being a digital raster map, and the second map being a previously georeferenced map;

the fist map being substantially similar to the second map when displayed;

receiving an entry identifying a first point pair point on the first map;

receiving an entry identifying a second point pair point on the second map, the second point pair point having approximately the same location on the second map as the first point pair point has on the first map;

assigning a point pair point on the first map a longitude coordinate and a latitude coordinate, the longitude coordinate and the latitude coordinate of the first point pair point being identical to a longitude point and a latitude point associated with a point pair point on the second map.providing for display a first map and a second map, the first map being a digital raster map, and the second map being a previously georeferenced map; and

assigning a point pair point on the first map a longitude coordinate and a latitude coordinate of a point pair point on the second map.

16. A data signal comprising a data structure capable of georeferencing a raster map, by:

providing for display a first map and a second map, the first map being a digital raster map, and the second map being a previously georeferenced map;

the fist map being substantially similar to the second map when displayed;

receiving an entry identifying a first point pair point on the first map;

receiving an entry identifying a second point pair point on the second map, the second point pair point having approximately the same location on the second map as the first point pair point has on the first map;

assigning a point pair point on the first map a longitude coordinate and a latitude coordinate, the longitude coordinate and the latitude coordinate of the first point pair point being identical to a longitude point and a latitude point associated with a point pair point on the second map.

17. The method of

claim 16

further comprising creating a georeferencing function.

18. The method of

claim 16

further comprising receiving a mark on the first map at a location and reproducing the mark on the second map at a corresponding location.

19. The method of

claim 16

further comprising using at least four point pairs to complete the georeferencing function for the map based on a linear transformation, and further comprising executing a validation check.

20. The method of

claim 19

further comprising rejecting a point pair when the point pair deviates a pre-determined amount from a predetermined standard error.