3-D GOLF COURSE NAVIGATION DEVICE AND IMAGE ACQUISITION METHOD

• US 20110191023A1
• Filed: 08/31/2010
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karl Engstrom
• Original Assignee: Karl Engstrom
• Inventors: Engstrom, Karl
• Granted Patent: US 8,396,664 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/208
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 57/00 Golfing accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/19 Sporting applications

Abstract

The present invention provides three-dimensional, topographic data (x,y,z) for a golf course navigation device. In an embodiment of the invention, three data sets are acquired for each golf hole: (1) geospatial digital image data, (2) geospatial terrain data including elevation and topographic measurements, and (3) object data pertaining to trees, bushes, water hazards, buildings, and any other objects present. Each hole is mapped using high resolution airborne photogrammetry and in some cases, light detection and ranging acquisition sensors. Geospatial, three-dimensional terrain data is acquired using a photogrammetry and/or stereo photogrammetry compilation. Object data is acquired from measurements taken from ground level. From all of this acquired data, a three-dimensional (x,y,z) geospatial model is built and then integrated into 3-D gaming, visualization and web mapping environments such as Microsoft Bing Maps, Google Earth, and various mobile and golf cart mounted, golf course navigation systems.

Claims

1. A method for producing geospatial, three-dimensional mapping data of a land area, the method comprising the steps of:

acquiring aerial imagery of a surface of the land area to produce image data;

acquiring terrain data associated with the surface of the land area;

acquiring object data associated with one or more objects located on the surface of the land area, and

geo-processing the image data, terrain data, and object data to produce geospatial, three-dimensional mapping data of the surface of the land area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of acquiring aerial imagery comprises the step of generating stereo imagery of the surface of the land area.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of establishing a real time kinematic (RTK) ground control of the land area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the land area comprises a golf course hole.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of acquiring terrain data and object data comprises the step of performing light detection and ranging sensing.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the terrain data comprises elevation information.

7. A method for producing a geospatial, three-dimensional image of a hole on a golf course, the method comprising the steps of:

acquiring image data of a hole on a golf course, wherein the image data comprises one or more images of the hole;

acquiring terrain data associated with the hole, wherein the terrain data comprises relative altitude information;

acquiring object data associated with one or more objects located on the hole; and

geo-processing the image data, terrain data, and object data to produce a geospatial, three-dimensional image of the hole.

8. A land area navigation device comprising:

a global navigation satellite system receiver;

memory for storing geospatial, three-dimensional mapping data associated with the land area, wherein the three-dimensional mapping data comprises image data, terrain data, and object data;

processing circuitry for generating an image associated with the three-dimensional mapping data with a location indicator superimposed on the image, wherein the location indicator indicates the relative location of the device; and

a display.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the geospatial, three-dimensional mapping data is downloaded from a server.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the land area is a golf course hole.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the image comprises a distance measurement between the location of the device and a location of a feature of the golf course hole.

12. A computer server coupled to a network, the computer server comprising:

memory for storing geospatial, three-dimensional mapping data associated with a golf course hole, wherein the three-dimensional mapping data comprises image data, terrain data, and object data;

a processor for generating an image associated with the three-dimensional mapping data; and

a transmitter for transmitting the image to a remote device.