Accident investigation and reconstruction mapping with aerial photography
First Claim
1. A method of creating a photographic map of a site to be mapped, comprising the steps ofa. marking a selected portion of the site to be mapped with visible indicia of scale of that portion,b. suspending a camera in a stationary manner over the site,c. using the camera to create a vertically overhead photographic image of the site,d. scaling the portion of the photographic image utilizing the indicia, ande. creating a pictorial illustration by applying scaled symbols to the photographic image.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for creating a pictorial illustration of a site to be mapped, such as for reconstruction of a vehicle accident site. In accordance with the method, the site is marked with visible indicia of scale, a camera is then suspended over the site and a vertically overhead photographic image of the site is taken, the photographic image is then processed and scaled utilizing the visible indicia marked on the site, and a pictorial illustration is creating by applying symbols to the photographic image. The camera is suspended over the site beneath a blimp. The photographic image can be digitized if desired. The apparatus according to the invention includes the blimp, an appropriate suspension apparatus for the camera beneath the blimp, a receiver system including a shutter control for the camera, and a remote transmitter for sending control signals to the receiver system in order to control taking of photographs by the camera.
18 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of creating a photographic map of a site to be mapped, comprising the steps of
a. marking a selected portion of the site to be mapped with visible indicia of scale of that portion, b. suspending a camera in a stationary manner over the site, c. using the camera to create a vertically overhead photographic image of the site, d. scaling the portion of the photographic image utilizing the indicia, and e. creating a pictorial illustration by applying scaled symbols to the photographic image.
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8. A method of creating a photographic map of an accident site, comprising the steps of
a. temporarily marking a selected portion of the site with visible indicia of scale of that portion, b. mounting a camera beneath a lighter-than-air blimp, c. suspending the blimp at a desired location over the site, d. aligning the camera and the blimp to be perpendicular to the site, e. using the camera to create a vertically overhead photographic image of the site, f. processing the photographic image, g. scaling the selected portion of the photographic image utilizing the indicia, and h. creating a pictorial illustration by applying representations of vehicles involved in the accident to the photographic image.
Specification