GENERATING VECTOR GEOMETRY FROM RASTER INPUT FOR SEMI-AUTOMATIC LAND PLANNING

• US 20080282203A1
• Filed: 11/30/2007
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: DAVIS, MARK, ROE, GENE, HOWARD, RICHARD D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,423,896 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/02 Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/08 Construction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/165 Land development

Abstract

One embodiment of the invention includes a land planning tool that maybe used to perform a variety of land planning tasks. The land planning tool may interpret global information systems (GIS) electronic data in conjunction with user-specified constraints to analyze and display a development site, visually indicating developable areas. The user may then use a pen-based device to sketch outlines of land planning objects. As the user sketches, the land planning tool may generate vector geometry stored in an electronic database for use by a variety of computer aided design tools.

Claims

1. A method for processing raster input supplied to a land planning tool, comprising:

generating a graphical display representing a development site;

presenting the graphical display of the development site to a user;

receiving the raster input, wherein the raster input is drawn on the graphical display to specify a bounded region of the development site;

generating vector geometry based on the raster input, wherein the vector geometry describes a position and a shape of the bounded region of the development site;

associating the vector geometry with a land planning object, wherein the land planning object represents a given land use, and wherein the bounded region represents a portion of the development site to be dedicated to the given land use; and

updating the graphical display to include a representation of the vector geometry.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical display shows a net buildable area of the development site determined from geographic information system (GIS) data describing the development site and from one or more development constraints.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein one of the development constraints specifies at least one of (i) a maximum slope that a given area of the development site may have to be included in the net buildable area, (ii) a project boundary surrounding the development site, and (iii) a minimum buffer surrounding a region of the development site excluded from the net buildable area.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the GIS data describes geographical and topographical characteristics of the development site, and wherein the method further comprises:

evaluating the bounded region to identify whether the given land use is consistent with the geographical and topographical characteristics of the development site present within the bounded region.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the raster input is received from a touch sensitive display configured to present the graphical display of the development site to the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the raster input is drawn using a mouse cursor shown on a display device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the representation of the vector geometry includes one or more selectable grips and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a selection of one of the selectable grips;

receiving user input dragging the selected grip from an initial position to a second position;

updating the vector geometry based on the user input dragging the selected grip; and

updating the land planning object associated with the vector geometry.

8. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform an operation for processing raster input supplied to a land planning tool by performing the steps of:

generating a graphical display representing a development site;

presenting the graphical display of the development site to a user;

receiving the raster input, wherein the raster input is drawn on the graphical display to specify a bounded region of the development site;

generating vector geometry based on the raster input, wherein the vector geometry describes a position and a shape of the bounded region of the development site;

associating the vector geometry with a land planning object, wherein the land planning object represents a given land use, and wherein the bounded region represents a portion of the development site to be dedicated to the given land use; and

updating the graphical display to include a representation of the vector geometry.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the graphical display shows a net buildable area of the development site determined from geographic information system (GIS) data describing the development site and from one or more development constraints.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein one of the development constraints specifies at least one of (i) a maximum slope that a given area of the development site may have to be included in the net buildable area, (ii) a project boundary surrounding the development site, and (iii) a minimum buffer surrounding a region of the development site excluded from the net buildable area.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the GIS data describes geographical and topographical characteristics of the development site, and wherein the method further comprises:

evaluating the bounded region to identify whether the given land use is consistent with the geographical and topographical characteristics of the development site present within the bounded region.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the raster input is received from a touch sensitive display configured to present the graphical display of the development site to the user.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the raster input is drawn using a mouse cursor shown on a display device.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the representation of the vector geometry includes one or more selectable grips and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a selection of one of the selectable grips;

receiving user input dragging the selected grip from an initial position to a second position;

updating the vector geometry based on the user input dragging the selected grip; and

updating the land planning object associated with the vector geometry.

15. A method for processing raster input, comprising:

generating a graphical display representing a development site;

presenting the graphical display of the development site to a user; and

invoking a land planning tool configured to;

receive the raster input, wherein the raster input is drawn on the graphical display to specify a bounded region of the development site;

generate vector geometry based on the raster input, wherein the vector geometry describes a position and a shape of the bounded region of the development site;

associate the vector geometry with a land planning object, wherein the land planning object represents a given land use, and wherein the bounded region represents a portion of the development site to be dedicated to the given land use; and

update the graphical display to include a representation of the vector geometry.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the graphical display shows a net buildable area of the development site determined from geographic information system (GIS) data describing the development site and from one or more development constraints.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein one of the development constraints specifies at least one of (i) a maximum slope that a given area of the development site may have to be included in the net buildable area, (ii) a project boundary surrounding the development site, and (iii) a minimum buffer surrounding a region of the development site excluded from the net buildable area.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the GIS data describes geographical and topographical characteristics of the development site, and wherein the land planning tool is configured to evaluate the bounded region to identify whether the given land use is consistent with the geographical and topographical characteristics of the development site present within the bounded region.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the raster input is received from a touch sensitive display configured to present the graphical display of the development site to the user.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the raster input is drawn using a mouse cursor shown on a display device.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the representation of the vector geometry includes one or more selectable grips and wherein the land planning tool is further configured to:

receive a selection of one of the selectable grips;

receive user input dragging the selected grip from an initial position to a second position;

update the vector geometry based on the user input dragging the selected grip; and

update the land planning object associated with the vector geometry.