Generation of topographic terrain models utilizing synthetic aperture radar and surface level data
First Claim
1. A method of generating topographical terrain model of a flooded region of the earth'"'"'s surface covered, at least in part, by foliage, comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining radar generated surface image data of said region;
(b) generating a boundary map delineating two different surface types in said region for at least one time period from the radar generated surface data;
(c) concurrently acquiring water surface elevational data of said region during said time period;
(d) combining said boundary map with said water surface elevational data;
(e) generating a multi-dimensional image of said region from the combining of said boundary map with said water surface elevational data;
said step (a) of obtaining radar generated surface image data and step (c) of acquiring water surface elevational data comprises obtaining and acquiring said data for a plurality of mutually concurrent time periods and wherein step (b) of generating a boundary map comprises generating at least one flood boundary map for each of said time periods;
(f) geometrically coregistering the flood boundary maps generated in step (b) and then combining the coregistered boundary maps with said water surface elevational data acquired during said time periods; and
,wherein said step (e) comprises generating a three dimensional water surface model of said region from said water surface elevational data.
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Abstract
Topographical terrain models are generated by digitally delineating the boundary of the region under investigation from data obtained from an airborne synthetic aperture radar image and surface elevation data concurrently acquired either from an airborne instrument or at ground level. A set of coregistered boundary maps thus generated are then digitally combined in three dimensinoal space with the acquired surface elevation data by means of image processing software stored in a digital computer. The method is particularly applicable for generating terrain models of flooded regions covered entirely or in part by foliage.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of generating topographical terrain model of a flooded region of the earth'"'"'s surface covered, at least in part, by foliage, comprising the steps of:
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(a) obtaining radar generated surface image data of said region; (b) generating a boundary map delineating two different surface types in said region for at least one time period from the radar generated surface data; (c) concurrently acquiring water surface elevational data of said region during said time period; (d) combining said boundary map with said water surface elevational data; (e) generating a multi-dimensional image of said region from the combining of said boundary map with said water surface elevational data; said step (a) of obtaining radar generated surface image data and step (c) of acquiring water surface elevational data comprises obtaining and acquiring said data for a plurality of mutually concurrent time periods and wherein step (b) of generating a boundary map comprises generating at least one flood boundary map for each of said time periods; (f) geometrically coregistering the flood boundary maps generated in step (b) and then combining the coregistered boundary maps with said water surface elevational data acquired during said time periods; and
,wherein said step (e) comprises generating a three dimensional water surface model of said region from said water surface elevational data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of generating a topographical terrain model of a flooded region of the earth'"'"'s surface covered, at least in part, by foliage, comprising the steps of:
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(a) obtaining radar generated surface image data of said region; (b) delineating and generating data corresponding to the flood boundary of said region for at least one time period from the radar generated surface data; (c) concurrently acquiring water surface elevational data of said region during said time period; (d) merging the flood boundary data with the water surface elevational data; (e) generating a multi-dimensional terrain model of said region from the merging of the flood boundary data with the water surface elevational data; said steps (a) and (c) comprise obtaining and acquiring data for a plurality of concurrent time periods; step (b) includes the step; (f) of coregistering the respective flood boundaries for said time periods; and
,additionally including the step; (g) of generating a three dimensional water surface model from the water surface elevational data acquired for said same time periods. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification