Photogrammetric mapping of inaccessible terrain

• US 20080002858A1
• Filed: 06/15/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rafael - Armament Development Authority Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Rafael - Armament Development Authority Ltd.
• Inventors: Devir, Menachem
• Application Number:
  US11/453,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20080002858A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/109
• 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: G01C 15/02 Means for marking measuring points

Abstract

A device for establishing a ground control point photogrammetry. The Device includes a signaling mechanism for providing a photographically recordable signature, and a navigation mechanism for determining absolute geographic coordinates of the signaling mechanism.

Claims

1. A device for establishing a ground control point for photogrammetry, comprising:

(a) a signaling mechanism for providing a photographically recordable signature; and

(b) a navigation mechanism for determining absolute geographic coordinates of said signaling mechanism.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said signaling mechanism is transient.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said signaling mechanism includes an explosive charge.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said signaling mechanism includes a source of photographically recordable light.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said source is azimuthally omnidirectional.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein said source is operative to provide an indication of said absolute geographical coordinates.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said signaling mechanism includes a refrigerator.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said navigation mechanism includes a GPS receiver.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said navigation mechanism includes an inertial navigation system.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

(c) a transmitter for transmitting said absolute geographic coordinates.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said transmitter is a RF transmitter.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

(c) a receiver for receiving a trigger signal for said signaling mechanism.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said receiver is a RF receiver.

14. A method of mapping a terrain, comprising the steps of:

(a) placing at least three ground control point establishing devices at respective locations on the terrain; and

(b) for each of said at least three ground control point establishing devices;

(i) determining respective absolute geographic coordinates of said each ground control point establishing device, and

(ii) photographing a respective photographically recordable signature of said each ground control point establishing device from at least a first vantage point above the terrain.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

(c) photographing the terrain from at least a second and third vantage point above the terrain.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said first and second vantage points are substantially identical.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said photographing is effected by at least one elevated platform.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said at least one elevated platform is at least one aerial platform.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein said photographing is effected using a single said elevated platform at at least two different times corresponding to respective said vantage points.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein said photographing from said second and third vantage points is effected substantially simultaneously by two said elevated platforms, each said elevated platform then being at a respective one of said second and third vantage point.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein said photographing is effected by at least one elevated platform.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said at least one elevated platform is at least one aerial platform.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein, for each said ground control point establishing device, said determining of said absolute geographic coordinates is effected using a respective navigation mechanism.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said respective navigation mechanisms include respective GPS receivers.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said respective navigation mechanisms include respective inertial navigation systems.

26. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

(d) for each said ground control point establishing device;

providing said respective photographically recordable signature.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein, for each said ground control point establishing device, said respective photographically recordable signature is provided by detonating an explosive charge.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein, for each said ground control point establishing device, said respective photographically recordable signature is provided by emitting photographically recordable light.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said emitting of said photographically recordable light includes modulating said light in a manner that indicates said absolute geographic coordinates of said respective ground control point establishing device.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein, for each said ground control point establishing device, said respective photographically recordable signature is provided by cooling an immediate vicinity of said each ground control point establishing device.

31. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

(d) for each said ground control point establishing device;

transmitting said respective absolute geographic coordinates.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein, for each said ground control point establishing device, said transmitting of said respective absolute geographic coordinates is effected using a respective RF transmitter.