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Aerial surveying method to determine ground contours

  • US 4,203,665 A
  • Filed: 01/15/1979
  • Issued: 05/20/1980
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1979
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method for aerial surveying to determine ground contours, said method comprising, in combination, the steps of:

  • (a) locating a rotating-beam laser generator at a known point on the ground and rotating said laser beam to define a reference plane;

    (b) measuring the relative height of an aircraft with respect to said reference plane by sensing the location of said rotating laser beam with a stacked-array optical sensor carried by said aircraft and responsive to said beam;

    (c) establishing a survey track for said aircraft along the ground and measuring the position of said aircraft along said track;

    (d) continuously moving said aircraft along said track while simultaneously continuously measuring the altitude of said aircraft above the ground by altimeter means carried by said aircraft which are operatively independent of ground-located elements; and

    (e) correlating the relative height (b), position (c) and altitude (d) of said aircraft to determine said ground contours.

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