SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR ROOF MEASUREMENT USING AERIAL IMAGERY

• US 20100296693A1
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pictometry International Corporation (Eagleview Technologies, Inc. /Wa/)
• Original Assignee: Pictometry International Corporation (Eagleview Technologies, Inc. /Wa/)
• Inventors: Thornberry, Dale R., Thornberry, Chris T., Garringer, Mark F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,401,222 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/28 for measuring areas
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/13 Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10032 Satellite or aerial image; Remote sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/62 of area, perimeter, diameter or volume
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/176 Urban or other man-made structures

Abstract

The present disclosure shows creating a first layer and a second layer, in computer memory and substantially overlapping at least a segment of line from said first layer with at least a segment of another line from said second layer. A first non-dimensional attribute is different from said second non-dimensional attribute of the two lines. A user length field enabling a client with said interactive file to override at least one of said length numeric values, where said area operator may automatically recalculate area based on said length field override is shown. Also, providing a visual marker that is moveable on said computer monitor around said aerial imagery region, which may be moved, to more precisely identify the location of the building roof structure is shown.

Claims

1. A process for determining attributes of a roof structure of a real-world three-dimensional building, comprising the acts of:

Viewing on a computer monitor digital aerial imagery of a region including the roof structure, the roof structure having at least a first roof plane and a second roof plane;

Creating an electronic drawing first layer over said imagery;

Creating an electronic drawing second layer over said imagery;

In creating said first layer, generating in computer memory a first outline drawing around a outline corresponding to and visually depicting said first roof plane, said outline including at least three lines, namely A, B and C lines;

In creating said second layer, generating in computer memory a second outline drawing around a outline corresponding to and visually depicting said second roof plane, said outline including at least three lines, namely E, F and G lines;

In creating said first layer and said second layer, in computer memory;

(a) substantially overlapping at least a segment of line A from said first layer with at least a segment of line E from said second layer; and

,

(b) assigning a first non-dimensional attribute to said line A; and

,

(c) assigning a second non-dimensional attribute to line E, wherein said first non-dimensional attribute is different from said second non-dimensional attribute.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein said first and second non-dimensional attributes correspond to the group consisting essentially of:

roof ridge, roof hip, roof valley, roof flashing edge, perimeter line, roof free edge with a gutter, and a roof free edge without a gutter.

3. The process of claim 1 and further comprising computer processing means for calculating a vector direction corresponding to roof pitch for a roof plane based on at least one of said non-dimensional attributes of common roof plane outline lines and their orientation.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein a deliverable to a client includes an interactive computer file, said interactive computer file including:

(a) length numeric values corresponding to lines A, B and C from said first outline drawing;

(b) a computer area operator to calculate area from at least some of said length numeric values;

(c) at least one user length field enabling a client with said interactive file to override at least one of said length numeric values, where said area operator may automatically recalculate area based on said length field override.

5. The process of claim 4 wherein said interactive computer file includes computer data processing means for proportioning each of the other lines of said first outline in direct proportion to said length field override.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein a deliverable to a client includes an interactive computer file, said interactive computer file including:

at least one user pitch field enabling a client with said interactive file to enter at least one pitch numeric value corresponding to roof pitch of said first roof plane, wherein an area operator may automatically recalculate area of said first roof plane based on said pitch field value.

7. The process of claim 1 and further comprising the act of generating in computer memory at least one adjustment roof plane, wherein said adjustment roof plan may be used to adjust for portions of the roof structure which are not fully visible from said aerial imagery.

8. The process of claim 1 and further comprising the acts of:

Providing at least one computer input field for a user to input first location data generally corresponding to the location of the building;

On said imagery of a region providing a visual marker that is moveable on said computer monitor around said region, said marker initially corresponding to said first location data, wherein said marker may be moved to a final location on top of the building to more precisely identify the location of the building roof structure;

Providing a computer input capable of signaling user-acceptance of the final location of said marker.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein said first location data comprised street address data, and wherein said final location is translated to latitude and longitude coordinates.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein said aerial imagery is from a first imagery database from which said final location is selected and is internet-based imagery having a corresponding street address look up field, and further comprising the acts of:

(a) using said latitude and longitude coordinates to access imagery from a second imagery database; and

,

(b) generating in computer memory outline drawings around outlines corresponding to roof planes based on tracing from said imagery from said second imagery database.

11. The process of claim 1 and further comprising computer data processing means that dissects said outlines into substituent triangles and that calculates area of said triangles.

12. The process of claim 1 and further comprising computer data processing means that identifies light and dark contrast between adjacent said roof planes and based thereon automatically generates at least one border line therebetween.

13. The process of claim 6 and further comprising the act of generating in computer memory at least one adjustment roof plane, wherein said adjustment roof plan may be used to adjust for portions of the roof structure which are not fully visible from said aerial imagery.

14. The process of claim 13 and further comprising the acts of:

Providing at least one computer input field for a user to input first location data generally corresponding to the location of the building;

On said imagery of a region providing a visual marker that is moveable on said computer monitor around said region, said marker initially corresponding to said first location data, wherein said marker may be moved to a final location on top of the building to more precisely identify the location of the building roof structure;

Providing a computer input capable of signaling user-acceptance of the final location of said marker.

15. The process of claim 3 and further comprising the acts of:

Providing at least one computer input field for a user to input first location data generally corresponding to the location of the building;

On said imagery of a region providing a visual marker that is moveable on said computer monitor around said region, said marker initially corresponding to said first location data, wherein said marker may be moved to a final location on top of the building to more precisely identify the location of the building roof structure;

Providing a computer input capable of signaling user-acceptance of the final location of said marker.

16. The process of claim 4 and further comprising the acts of:

Providing at least one computer input field for a user to input first location data generally corresponding to the location of the building;

On said imagery of a region providing a visual marker that is moveable on said computer monitor around said region, said marker initially corresponding to said first location data, wherein said marker may be moved to a final location on top of the building to more precisely identify the location of the building roof structure;

Providing a computer input capable of signaling user-acceptance of the final location of said marker.

17. The process of claim 6 and further comprising the acts of:

Providing at least one computer input field for a user to input first location data generally corresponding to the location of the building;

On said imagery of a region providing a visual marker that is moveable on said computer monitor around said region, said marker initially corresponding to said first location data, wherein said marker may be moved to a final location on top of the building to more precisely identify the location of the building roof structure;

Providing a computer input capable of signaling user-acceptance of the final location of said marker.

18. A process for determining attributes of a roof structure of a real-world three-dimensional building, comprising the acts of:

Viewing on a computer monitor digital aerial imagery of a region including the roof structure, the roof structure having at least a first roof plane and a second roof plane;

generating in computer memory a first outline drawing around a outline corresponding to and visually depicting said first roof plane, said outline including at least three lines, namely A, B and C lines;

wherein a deliverable to a client includes an interactive computer file, said interactive computer file including;

at least one user pitch field enabling a client with said interactive file to enter at least one pitch numeric value corresponding to roof pitch of said first roof plane, wherein an area operator may automatically recalculate area of said first roof plane based on said pitch field value.

19. The process of claim 18 wherein a deliverable to a client includes an interactive computer file, said interactive computer file including:

(a) length numeric values corresponding to lines A, B and C from said first outline drawing;

(b) a computer area operator to calculate area from at least some of said length numeric values;

(c) at least one user length field enabling a client with said interactive file to override at least one of said length numeric values, where said area operator may automatically recalculate area based on said length field override.

20. The process of claim 18 and further comprising the acts of:

Providing at least one computer input field for a user to input first location data generally corresponding to the location of the building;

On said imagery of a region providing a visual marker that is moveable on said computer monitor around said region, said marker initially corresponding to said first location data, wherein said marker may be moved to a final location on top of the building to more precisely identify the location of the building roof structure;

Providing a computer input capable of signaling user-acceptance of the final location of said marker.

21. The process of claim 18 and further comprising computer processing means for calculating a vector direction corresponding to roof pitch for a roof plane based on at least one of a non-dimensional attributes of common roof plane outline lines and their orientation.

24. The process of claim 20 and further comprising the act of generating in computer memory at least one adjustment roof plane, wherein said adjustment roof plane may be used to adjust for portions of the roof structure which are not fully visible from said aerial imagery.

22. The process of claim 18 and further comprising the act of generating in computer memory at least one adjustment roof plane, wherein said adjustment roof plan may be used to adjust for portions of the roof structure which are not fully visible from said aerial imagery.

22-1. (canceled)

23. A process for determining attributes of a roof structure of a real-world three-dimensional building, comprising the acts of:

Providing at least one computer input field for a user to input first location data generally corresponding to the location of the building;

Providing visual access to digital aerial imagery of a region including the roof structure of the building corresponding to said first location data;

On said imagery of a region providing a visual marker that is moveable on said computer monitor around said region, said marker initially corresponding to said first location data, wherein said marker may be moved to a final location on top of the building to more precisely identify the location of the building roof structure;

Providing a computer input capable of signaling user-acceptance of the final location of said marker.

25. The process of claim 23 and wherein said first location data comprised street address data, and wherein said final location is translated to latitude and longitude coordinates.

26. The process of claim 25 and wherein said aerial imagery is from a first imagery database from which said final location is selected and is internet-based imagery having a corresponding street address look up field, and further comprising the act of:

using said latitude and longitude coordinates to access imagery from a second imagery database.

27. The process of claim 26 and further comprising the act of:

generating, in computer memory, outline drawings around outlines corresponding to roof planes based on tracing from said imagery from said second imagery database.

28. The process of claim 27 and wherein said providing acts are provided over an internet interface.

29. The process of claim 28 and further comprising the act of:

providing a printed report that includes an aerial image of the building roof structure.

30. The process of claim 23 and further comprising the act of:

generating, in computer memory, outline drawings around outlines corresponding to roof planes based on tracing from said imagery from said second imagery database.

31. The process of claim 23 and wherein said providing acts are provided over an internet interface.

32. The process of claim 23 and further comprising the act of:

providing a printed report that includes an aerial image of the building roof structure.

33. The process of claim 32 and wherein the printed report includes a latitude reference and/or a longitude reference corresponding to the location of the building roof structure.