IMAGE-BASED GEOREFERENCING

• US 20150170368A1
• Filed: 01/26/2015
• Published: 06/18/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Janky, James M., McCusker, Michael V., Longaker, Harold L., France, Peter G.
• Granted Patent: US 9,471,986 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10032 Satellite or aerial image; Remote sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/20076 Probabilistic image processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/74 involving reference images or patches

Abstract

A computer-implemented method of providing georeferenced information regarding a location of capture of an image is provided. The method includes receiving a first image at an image-based georeferencing system, the first image comprising digital image information and identifying a cataloged second image that correlates to the first image;. The method further includes automatically determining reference features common to both the second image and the first image, accessing geographic location information related to the common reference features, utilizing the geographic location information related to the common features to determine a georeferenced location of capture of the first image and providing the georeferenced location of capture for access by a user of the image-based georeferencing system.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of providing georeferenced information regarding a location of capture of an image, said method comprising:

receiving a first image at an image-based georeferencing system, said first image captured by a camera and comprising digital image information of a terrestrial scene;

identifying a cataloged second image that correlates to said first image;

automatically determining reference features common to both said second image and said first image;

accessing geographic location information related to said common reference features, wherein at least some of said accessed geographic location information is not represented in said second image;

utilizing said geographic location information related to said common features to determine a georeferenced location of capture of said first image; and

providing said georeferenced location of capture for access by a user of said image-based georeferencing system.

2. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

providing said geographic location information regarding said common reference features for access by a user of said image-based georeferencing system.

3. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiving a first image at an image-based georeferencing system comprises:

receiving a digital photograph captured with a digital camera of a mobile communications device.

4. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiving a first image at an image-based georeferencing system comprises:

receiving a digital representation of a terrestrial scene, wherein said terrestrial scene includes at least one identifiable object.

5. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiving a first image at an image-based georeferencing system further comprises:

receiving geographic data associated with said first image.

6. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 5, wherein said receiving geographic data associated with said first image comprises:

receiving geographic location information related to a manmade structure in a field of view of said first image.

7. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 5, wherein said receiving geographic data associated with said first image comprises:

receiving geographic location information related to a location of capture of said first image.

8. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein said identifying a cataloged second image that correlates to said first image comprises:

utilizing an image recognition algorithm to compare said first image with a plurality of cataloged images in a georeferenced image database to identify said cataloged second image that correlates to said first image.

9. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein said accessing geographic location information related to said common reference feature comprises:

accessing a geographic location database related to said cataloged second image to determine geographic location information regarding said common reference feature.

10. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein said utilizing said geographic location information related to said common features to determine a georeferenced location of capture of said first image comprises:

utilizing said geographic location information related to said common features to refine accuracy of said geographic location information related to said location of capture of said first image.

11. The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1, wherein said providing said georeferenced location of capture for access by a user of said image-based georeferencing system comprises:

providing said georeferenced location of capture for access by a user of said image-based georeferencing system in exchange for a fee.

12. A computer-implemented method of updating a database of georeferenced images, said method comprising:

with an image-based georeferencing system, identifying a cataloged second image that correlates to a first image, said first image captured by a camera and comprising digital image information of a terrestrial scene;

automatically determining a reference feature common to both said second image and said first image;

accessing geographic location information related to said common reference feature, wherein said accessed geographic location information is not represented in said cataloged second image;

associating said geographic location information with said reference feature in said first image to a create third image comprising a georeferenced version of said first image; and

storing said third image in a georeferenced image database.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein said storing said third image in a georeferenced image database further comprises:

comparing georeferenced registration information received in conjunction with said first image to existing georegistration information associated with said cataloged image to determine which is more accurate based upon comparison of accuracy of sources of said georeferenced registration information; and

updating said existing georegistration information with said georeferenced registration information of said first image if said georeferenced registration information of said first image is determined to be more accurate than that of said second image.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, comparing georeferenced registration information received in conjunction with said first image to existing georeferenced registration information associated with said cataloged image to determine which is more accurate based upon comparison of accuracy of sources of said georeferenced registration information further comprises:

performing a Z-coordinate accuracy estimation to determine accuracy of a Z-coordinate of a position fix associated with a feature in said first image.