SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR DYNAMICALLY GENERATING EARTH POSITION DATA FOR OVERHEAD IMAGES AND DERIVED INFORMATION

• US 20090074254A1
• Filed: 07/11/2008
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Observera, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Observera, Inc.
• Inventors: Bresnahan, Paul, Jamison, Todd, Yeshnik, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,194,922 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/113
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 11/00 Photogrammetry or videogrammetry, e.g. stereogrammetry; Photographic surveying

Abstract

Distributed adaptive geopositioning includes an objective architecture for imagery geopositioning. The positioning is distributed to fulfill the need to perform accurate geopositioning whenever and wherever it is needed. The positioning is adaptive to implement the idea that geopositioning is a dynamic, not static, quality of geospatial intelligence, for which accuracy can be improved over time as more data is collected and ingested. Focus is placed on the need for improved geopositioning throughout all areas of geospatial intelligence exploitation, not just for specific products or tools. Legacy data is re-computed to align with the geopositioned imagery and also benefits from improved accuracy.

Claims

1. A method of storing and using geopositioning information comprising:

storing geopositioning imagery data and imagery information;

storing extracted information derived from the imagery data;

storing heritage information relevant to the computation of the extracted information;

receiving and storing new imagery data;

performing a pixel measurement process to produce additional extracted information and additional heritage information;

storing the additional extracted information and additional heritage information;

performing triangulation using all relevant accumulated information in the form of stored imagery data, imagery information, extracted information and heritage information;

storing updated imagery information, extracted information, and heritage information resulting from the triangulation as additional accumulated information;

performing photogrammetric calculations using the updated heritage information and imagery information from the triangulation to generate updated extracted information for points not included in the triangulation; and

storing the resulting updated extracted information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the accumulated information comprises information selected from the group consisting of imagery data, an identifying indicator of the imagery data, line and sample coordinates in the imagery data, a current Earth coordinate estimate, an error estimate associated with the current Earth coordinate estimate, tie-point line and sample coordinate pairs, ground control point line and sample coordinates, line and sample coordinates with error estimates, known relationships between visible and non-visible objects, image pixel measurements and error estimates, the record of Digital Elevation Model (DEM) edits performed over an area, the date the image data was taken, the sensor, sensor model parameters and their error estimates, feature vectors, DEM posts, and DEM edits.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising re-computing extracted coordinates based on additional accumulated information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing feature vector information in a single object-oriented database.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein feature vector objects are non-redundant within the database.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein analysts contribute image measurements to the accumulated information for extraction of Geospatial Intelligence.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein feature vectors are used in addition to tie-point and ground control points in the triangulating step.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein extracted information comprises derived data objects that have object constraints dictating how they can be re-computed.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein Digital Elevation Model (DEM) editing mechanisms are stored as heritage information so the edits can be reapplied to re-compute DEM elevation posts.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the accumulated information is stored on multiple databases connected by a network.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the triangulation step is performed on multiple computers connected by a network.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically checking the accumulated information for new data at or near a point of interest and, when new data is found;

performing a pixel measurement process;

performing a triangulation process;

associating new extracted information with heritage information; and

storing the new extracted information and heritage information as additional accumulated information.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting points of interest;

setting accuracy requirements;

issuing a query of the accumulated information for points at the set accuracy requirements; and

getting point information if the set accuracy requirements are met.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the selecting and setting steps are performed over a network as part of a service.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein, if set accuracy requirements are not met, further comprising:

checking for accumulated information needed to extract points at set accuracy requirements and, if not available, issuing a task for new data needed to extract points at set accuracy requirements;

processing needed information or new data to extract points at set accuracy requirements;

associating new extracted information with heritage information; and

storing the new extracted information and heritage information as additional accumulated information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the selecting and setting steps are performed over a network as part of a service.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein known geometric relationships between visible and non-visible objects are stored as heritage information.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising re-computing extracted information to update its accuracy based upon additional accumulated information.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising re-computing extracted information to update its accuracy based upon eliminating less accurate information from the accumulated information used.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein, if new extracted information is present, further comprising:

applying an error and change detection algorithm to the new extracted information; and

if an error is present,

reprocessing the extracted information,

associating the new extracted information with heritage information, and

updating the accumulated information with the new extracted and heritage information; and

if a change to the extracted information is found, issuing a change alert.