MODELING AND TEXTURING DIGITAL SURFACE MODELS IN A MAPPING APPLICATION

• US 20080050011A1
• Filed: 08/24/2006
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ofek, Eyal, Kimchi, Gur
• Granted Patent: US 7,831,089 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/154
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 15/04 Texture mapping
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/00 Three dimensional [3D] modelling, e.g. data description of 3D objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models

Abstract

Digital Surface Model (DSM) texturing and modeling of various objects on the earth'"'"'s surface are provided for implementation in a mapping application. One or more image capture devices having wide-angle lenses can be placed in various configurations to obtain nadir and oblique photography. Such configurations include a single lens, single sensor; single lens, multiple sensor; multiple lens, multiple sensor; and multiple lens, multiple sensor and a reflective surface. Positions, distances and areas can be measured from the imagery. Also provided is a continuous morph between aerial panorama and ground images.

Claims

1. A system that facilitates modeling and texturing for mapping applications, comprising:

a first image capture component that captures an image from a plurality of angles; and

an object identification component that identifies at least one object in the captured image; and

a presentation component that displays the identified captured image in a mapping application.

2. The system of claim 1, the first image capture component is a camera comprising a wide-angle lens.

3. The system of claim 1, the first image capture component is a single lens, single sensor camera.

4. The system of claim 1, the first image capture component is a single lens, multiple sensor camera.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least a second image capture component and a reflective mirror, the first and at least a second image capture components being in an inward facing configuration.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least a second image capture component, the first and at least a second image capture components being in an outward facing configuration.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a synchronization module that synchronizes an image capture time between the first and at least a second image capture device to facilitate a common capture of a similar scene.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising a combiner module that combines images captured by the first and at least a second image capture device.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a storage media that retains the captured image in a retrievable format.

10. The system of claim 1, the first image capture component captures the image in at least one of a nadir position and an oblique position.

11. A method for digital surface model (DSM) texturing and modeling, comprising:

positioning a first image capture device to obtain aerial images, the image capture device comprising a wide-angle lens;

capturing the aerial image that includes at least one object located on the surface of the earth;

receiving a request to view the captured aerial image; and

displaying the requested aerial image in a mapping application.

12. The method of claim 11, before positioning the first image capture device further comprising determining a configuration for the first image capture device and at least a second image capture device.

13. The method of claim 12, the configuration is one of an inward facing configuration and an outward facing configuration.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

placing the first image capture device and at least a second image capture device in a configuration that faces inward toward a reflective surface; and

capturing the aerial image that includes at least one object located on the surface of the earth from the reflective surface.

15. The method of claim 11, capturing the aerial image that includes at least one object located on the surface of the earth comprising at least one of a nadir position and an oblique position.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining at least one of a position measurement, distance measurement and area measurement of the aerial image.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising retaining the aerial image in a retrievable format.

18. A system that provides texturing and modeling of DSM images, comprising:

means for capturing a first and a second aerial image with a wide-angle lens, the aerial image comprising at least one object;

means for identifying the at least one object;

means for combining the first and the second aerial images based on the at least one identified object; and

means for presenting the combined aerial images in a map application.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

means for capturing a third and a forth aerial image with a wide-angle lens; and

means for synchronizing the means for capturing the first and second aerial image and the means for capturing the third and the forth aerial image.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising means for combining the third and forth aerial images with the first and second aerial images.