PRECISE TARGET POSITIONING IN GEOGRAPHICAL IMAGING

• US 20120038770A1
• Filed: 08/10/2010
• Published: 02/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Azulai, Ophir, Khazanovitch, Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 9,749,597 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/144
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 11/00 Photogrammetry or videogrammetry, e.g. stereogrammetry; Photographic surveying
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 11/06 by comparison of two or more pictures of the same area
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10016 Video; Image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10021 Stereoscopic video; Stereoscopic image sequence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product for precise target positioning in geographical imaging are provided. The system includes: a sensor including a camera and a telemetry information provider; and a simulated image mechanism for simulating an image of the view from the camera generated from an orthophotograph. A display displays a geographical image of a view from the camera and simultaneously displaying the simulated image. A selection component is provided for selecting a location on the simulated image. This is done by reference to a target in the geographical image. A world coordinates calculating component accurately calculates the world coordinates for the selected location from the simulated image.

Claims

1. A method for precise target positioning in geographical imaging, comprising:

displaying a geographical image of a view from a camera;

simultaneously displaying a simulated image of the view from the camera generated from an orthophotograph;

receiving a selection of a location on the simulated image by reference to a target in the geographical image; and

calculating accurate world coordinates for the selected location from the simulated image;

wherein said steps are implemented in either;

computer hardware configured to perform said identifying, tracing, and providing steps, or

computer software embodied in a non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable storage medium.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the target in the geographical image is not shown in the simulated image and the selection of the location of the target is made from the surrounding context of the simulated image compared to the geographical image.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, including:

generating the simulated image from an orthophotograph and a digital terrain model.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the simulated image is a three-dimensional simulation of the view from the camera.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, including:

receiving an image from the camera at a given location; and

receiving telemetry information relating to the location of the camera.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the simulated image is updated with the telemetry information to provide a simulation of the view from the camera.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, including:

navigating the displayed simulated image using graphical user interface controls to view a location of a target.

8. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the telemetry information includes one or more of the group of:

location, height, field of view, pitch, roll, and yaw.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the geographical image and the simulated image are video images.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the selected location is a point which resides in or at one of the group of:

a point, an object, an area, a line.

11. A computer program product for precise target positioning in geographical imaging, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising;

computer readable program code configured to;

display a geographical image of a view from a camera;

simultaneously display a simulated image of the view from the camera created from an orthophotograph;

receive a selection of a location on the simulated image by reference to a target in the geographical image; and

calculate accurate world coordinates for the selected location from the simulated image.

12. A system for precise target positioning in geographical imaging, comprising:

a processor;

a sensor including a camera and a telemetry information provider;

a simulated image mechanism for simulating an image of the view from the camera generated from an orthophotograph;

a graphical user interface for displaying a geographical image of a view from the camera and simultaneously displaying the simulated image;

a selection receiving component for selecting a location on the simulated image by reference to a target in the geographical image; and

a world coordinates calculating component for accurately calculating the world coordinates for the selected location from the simulated image.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the simulated image mechanism generates the simulated image from an orthophotograph and a digital terrain model.

14. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the simulated image mechanism includes a three-dimensional component which generates a three-dimensional simulation of the view from the camera.

15. The system as claimed in claim 12, including:

a camera image receiver for receiving an image from the camera at a given location; and

a telemetry information receiver for receiving telemetry information relating to the location of the camera.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the simulated image mechanism includes a virtual camera updated with the telemetry information to provide a simulation of the view from the real camera.

17. The system as claimed in claim 12, including:

graphical user interface controls for navigating the displayed simulated image to view a location for selection.

18. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the telemetry information includes one or more of the group of:

location, height, field of view, pitch, roll, and yaw.

19. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the geographical image and the simulated image are video images.

20. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the selected location is a point which resides in or at one of the group of:

a point, an object, an area, or a line.

21. A method of providing a service to a customer over a network for precise target positioning in geographical imaging, the service comprising:

displaying a geographical image of a view from a camera;

simultaneously displaying a simulated image of the view from the camera generated from an orthophotograph;

receiving a selection of a location on the simulated image by reference to a target in the geographical image; and

calculating accurate world coordinates for the selected location from the simulated image;

wherein said steps are implemented in either;

computer hardware configured to perform said identifying, tracing, and providing steps, or

computer software embodied in a non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable storage medium.