SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANALYSIS AND DISPLAY OF GEO-REFERENCED IMAGERY

• US 20090271719A1
• Filed: 03/24/2008
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LPA Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: LPA Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Russell, David P., Clare, John J., Wolfe, Christopher W.
• Application Number:
  US12/441,621
• Publication Number:
  US 20090271719A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/762
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods

Abstract

An improved system and method for analysis and display of geo-referenced imagery overlaid with information such as vegetation health, land cover type and impervious surface coverage. In one aspect, an image analysis system creates a map of a selected area of land by overlaying information extracted from an image or images onto a base map or image. In another, a spatially-indexed image database is maintained having a plurality of images corresponding to a plurality of geographic locations; a user-specified geographic location is accepted through an interactive graphical user interface; a user-specified extraction analysis is accepted for application upon one or more images; a user-specified extraction analysis is automatically executed to extract overlay information from such images corresponding to user-specified geographic location(s); and extracted overlay information is overlaid on a geo-referenced image, and displayed though a graphical user interface.

Claims

1. :

A computer-implemented method for automatically generating a geo-referenced imagery display, comprising;

maintaining a spatially-indexed image database having a plurality of images corresponding to a plurality of geographic locations;

accepting a user-specified geographic location through an interactive graphical user interface;

accepting a user-specified extraction analysis for application upon said images corresponding to said user-specified geographic location through said graphical user interface;

automatically executing said user-specified extraction analysis to extract overlay information from said images corresponding to said user-specified geographic location; and

automatically overlaying said extracted overlay information on a geo-referenced image, and displaying said extracted overlay information and said geo-referenced image through said graphical user interface such that both said extracted overlay information and said geo-referenced image are visible.

2. :

The method of claim 1, further comprising;

automatically converting said overlay information into a vector representation.

3. :

The method of claim 1, further comprising;

automatically converting said overlay information into a raster.

4. :

The method of claim 3 wherein each of said images corresponding to said user-specified geographic location consists of a plurality of pixels, further comprising;

generating an overlay image having transparency values and color values corresponding to each of said pixels.

5. :

The method of claim 3, further comprising;

converting said raster into a vector representation.

6. :

The method of claim 1 wherein said extraction analysis comprises extracting overlay information comprising estimates of impervious surface coverage corresponding to said user-specified geographic location.

7. :

The method of claim 1 wherein said geo-referenced image is a map.

8. :

The method of claim 1 wherein said overlay information is the Normalized Difference Vegetative Index, land cover type, impervious surface coverage or fuel loading corresponding to said user-specified geographic location.

9. :

The method of claim 1 wherein said image database comprises color infrared imagery, near infrared imagery, multi-spectral imagery or hyperspectral imagery.

10. :

The method of claim 1, further comprising;

accepting at least one user-specified vegetation classification; and

automatically converting said overlay information into a plurality of vector representations corresponding to each of said user-specified vegetation classifications;

wherein said extraction analysis extracts overlay information corresponding to each of said user-specified vegetation classifications.

11. :

The method of claim 1, further comprising;

accepting at least one user-specified vegetation classification; and

automatically converting said overlay information into a raster reflecting each of said user-specified vegetation classifications;

wherein said extraction analysis extracts overlay information corresponding to each of said user-specified vegetation classifications.

26. :

The method of claim 1 wherein said geo-referenced image is oblique imagery.

27. :

The method of claim 1 wherein said geo-referenced image is ortho imagery.

28. :

The method of claim 1 wherein said extracted overlay information is transparent.

29. :

The method of claim 1 wherein said extracted overlay information is semitransparent.

30. :

The method of claim 1 wherein said extraction analysis comprises extracting overlay information comprising estimates of vegetation health derived from the Normalized Difference Vegetative Index corresponding to said user-specified geographic location.

31. :

The method of claim 1 wherein said extraction analysis comprises extracting overlay information comprising estimates of land classifications corresponding to said user-specified geographic location.

32. :

The method of claim 1 wherein the extraction analysis comprises extracting overlay information comprising estimates of fuel loading corresponding to said user-specified geographic location.

12. :

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising;

maintaining a spatially-indexed image database having a plurality of images corresponding to a plurality of geographic locations;

accepting a user-specified geographic location through an interactive graphical user interface;

accepting a user-specified extraction analysis for application upon said images corresponding to said user-specified geographic location through said graphical user interface;

automatically executing said user-specified extraction analysis to extract overlay information from said images corresponding to said user-specified geographic location; and

automatically overlaying said extracted overlay information on a geo-referenced image, and displaying said extracted overlay information and said geo-referenced image through said graphical user interface such that both said extracted overlay information and said geo-referenced image are visible.

13. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising;

automatically converting said overlay information into a vector representation.

14. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising;

automatically converting said overlay information into a raster.

15. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein each of said images corresponding to said user-specified geographic location consists of a plurality of pixels, further comprising;

generating an overlay image having transparency values and color values corresponding to each of said pixels.

16. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising;

converting said raster into a vector representation.

17. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein said extraction analysis comprises extracting overlay information comprising estimates of impervious surface coverage corresponding to said user-specified geographic location.

18. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein said geo-referenced image is a map.

19. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein said overlay information is the Normalized Difference Vegetative Index, land cover type, impervious surface coverage or fuel loading corresponding to said user-specified geographic location.

20. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein said image database comprises color infrared imagery, near infrared imagery, multi-spectral imagery or hyperspectral imagery.

21. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising;

accepting at least one user-specified vegetation classification; and

automatically converting said overlay information into a plurality of vector representations corresponding to each of said user-specified vegetation classifications;

wherein said extraction analysis extracts overlay information corresponding to each of said user-specified vegetation classifications.

22. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 12, further comprising;

accepting at least one user-specified vegetation classification; and

automatically converting said overlay information into a raster reflecting each of said user-specified vegetation classifications;

wherein said extraction analysis extracts overlay information corresponding to each of said user-specified vegetation classifications.

33. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein said geo-referenced image is oblique imagery.

34. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein said geo-referenced image is ortho imagery.

35. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein said extracted overlay information is transparent.

36. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein said extracted overlay information is semitransparent.

37. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein said extraction analysis comprises extracting overlay information comprising estimates of vegetation health derived from the Normalized Difference Vegetative Index corresponding to said user-specified geographic location.

38. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein said extraction analysis comprises extracting overlay information comprising estimates of land classifications corresponding to said user-specified geographic location.

39. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein the extraction analysis comprises extracting overlay information comprising estimates of fuel loading corresponding to said user-specified geographic location.

23. :

A system for automatically generating a geo-referenced imagery display, comprising;

a spatially-indexed image database operative to maintain a plurality of images corresponding to a plurality of geographic locations;

an interactive graphical user interface operative to accept a user-specified geographic location and a user-specified extraction analysis for application upon said images;

an analysis engine operative to automatically execute said user-specified extraction analysis to extract overlay information from said images and to overlay said extracted overlay information on a geo-referenced image; and

a display device operative to display said extracted overlay information and said geo-referenced image through said graphical user interface such that both said extracted overlay information and said geo-referenced image are visible.

24. :

The system of claim 23, further comprising;

a vector overlay generator operative to generate said extracted overlay information.

25. :

The system of claim 23, further comprising;

a raster overlay generator operative to generate said extracted overlay information.

40. :

A computer-implemented method for automatically generating a geo-referenced imagery display, comprising;

maintaining a spatially-indexed image database having a plurality of hyperspectral images corresponding to a plurality of geographic locations;

accepting a user-specified geographic location through an interactive graphical user interface;

accepting a user-specified extraction analysis for application upon said hyperspectral images corresponding to said user-specified geographic location through said graphical user interface;

automatically executing said user-specified extraction analysis to extract overlay information from said hyperspectral images corresponding to said user-specified geographic location; and

automatically overlaying said extracted overlay information on a geo-referenced image, and displaying said extracted overlay information and said geo-referenced image through said graphical user interface.

41. :

The method of claim 40 wherein both said extracted overlay information and said geo-referenced image are visible in said displaying step.

42. :

The method of claim 40, further comprising;

automatically converting said overlay information into a vector representation.

43. :

The method of claim 40, further comprising;

automatically converting said overlay information into a raster.

44. :

The method of claim 43 wherein each of said hyperspectral images corresponding to said user-specified geographic location consists of a plurality of pixels, further comprising;

generating an overlay image having transparency values and color values corresponding to each of said pixels.

45. :

The method of claim 43, further comprising;

converting said raster into a vector representation.

46. :

The method of claim 40 wherein said extraction analysis comprises extracting overlay information comprising estimates of impervious surface coverage corresponding to said user-specified geographic location.

47. :

The method of claim 40 wherein said extraction analysis comprises extracting overlay information comprising estimates of vegetation health derived from the Normalized Difference Vegetative Index corresponding to said user-specified geographic location.

48. :

The method of claim 40 wherein said extraction analysis comprises extracting overlay information comprising estimates of land classifications corresponding to said user-specified geographic location.

49. :

The method of claim 40 wherein the extraction analysis comprises extracting overlay information comprising estimates of fuel loading corresponding to said user-specified geographic location.

50. :

The method of claim 40 wherein said geo-referenced image is a map.

51. :

The method of claim 40 wherein said geo-referenced image is oblique imagery.

52. :

The method of claim 40 wherein said geo-referenced image is ortho imagery.

53. :

The method of claim 40 wherein said extracted overlay information is transparent.

54. :

The method of claim 40 wherein said extracted overlay information is semitransparent.

55. :

The method of claim 40, further comprising;

accepting at least one user-specified vegetation classification; and

automatically converting said overlay information into a plurality of vector representations corresponding to each of said user-specified vegetation classifications;

wherein said extraction analysis extracts overlay information corresponding to each of said user-specified vegetation classifications.

56. :

The method of claim 40, further comprising;

accepting at least one user-specified vegetation classification; and

automatically converting said overlay information into a raster reflecting each of said user-specified vegetation classifications;

wherein said extraction analysis extracts overlay information corresponding to each of said user-specified vegetation classifications.

57. :

A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising;

maintaining a spatially-indexed image database having a plurality of hyperspectral images corresponding to a plurality of geographic locations;

accepting a user-specified geographic location through an interactive graphical user interface;

accepting a user-specified extraction analysis for application upon said hyperspectral images corresponding to said user-specified geographic location through said graphical user interface;

automatically executing said user-specified extraction analysis to extract overlay information from said hyperspectral images corresponding to said user-specified geographic location; and

automatically overlaying said extracted overlay information on a geo-referenced image, and displaying said extracted overlay information and said geo-referenced image through said graphical user interface.

58. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 57 wherein both said extracted overlay information and said geo-referenced image are visible in said displaying step.

59. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 57, further comprising;

automatically converting said overlay information into a vector representation.

60. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 57, further comprising;

automatically converting said overlay information into a raster.

61. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 60 wherein each of said hyperspectral images corresponding to said user-specified geographic location consists of a plurality of pixels, further comprising;

generating an overlay image having transparency values and color values corresponding to each of said pixels.

62. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 60, further comprising;

converting said raster into a vector representation.

63. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 57 wherein said extraction analysis comprises extracting overlay information comprising estimates of impervious surface coverage corresponding to said user-specified geographic location.

64. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 57 wherein said extraction analysis comprises extracting overlay information comprising estimates of vegetation health derived from the Normalized Difference Vegetative Index corresponding to said user-specified geographic location.

65. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 57 wherein said extraction analysis comprises extracting overlay information comprising estimates of land classifications corresponding to said user-specified geographic location.

66. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 57 wherein the extraction analysis comprises extracting overlay information comprising estimates of fuel loading corresponding to said user-specified geographic location.

67. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 57 wherein said geo-referenced image is a map.

68. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 57 wherein said geo-referenced image is oblique imagery.

69. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 57 wherein said geo-referenced image is ortho imagery.

70. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 57 wherein said extracted overlay information is transparent.

71. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 57 wherein said extracted overlay information is semitransparent.

72. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 57, further comprising;

accepting at least one user-specified vegetation classification; and

automatically converting said overlay information into a plurality of vector representations corresponding to each of said user-specified vegetation classifications;

wherein said extraction analysis extracts overlay information corresponding to each of said user-specified vegetation classifications.

73. :

The computer-readable medium of claim 57, further comprising;

accepting at least one user-specified vegetation classification; and

automatically converting said overlay information into a raster reflecting each of said user-specified vegetation classifications;

wherein said extraction analysis extracts overlay information corresponding to each of said user-specified vegetation classifications.

74. :

A system for automatically generating a geo-referenced imagery display, comprising;

a spatially-indexed image database operative to maintain a plurality of hyperspectral images corresponding to a plurality of geographic locations;

an interactive graphical user interface operative to accept a user-specified geographic location and a user-specified extraction analysis for application upon said hyperspectral images;

an analysis engine operative to automatically execute said user-specified extraction analysis to extract overlay information from said hyperspectral images and to overlay said extracted overlay information on a geo-referenced image; and

a display device operative to display said extracted overlay information and said geo-referenced image through said graphical user interface.

75. :

The system of claim 74, further comprising;

a vector overlay generator operative to generate said extracted overlay information.

76. :

The system of claim 74, further comprising;

a raster overlay generator operative to generate said extracted overlay information.