Image formation system

• US 7,015,967 B1
• Filed: 05/05/2000
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Topcon
• Inventors: Ito, Tadayuki, Kochi, Nobuo, Otani, Hitoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ometz, David L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SELBY, GEVELL V
• Application Number:
  US09/564,990
• Time in Patent Office: 2,146 Days
• Field of Search: 348/207.99, 348/114, 348/116, 348/117, 348/118, 348/333.02, 701/207, 701/208, 382/154
• US Class Current: 348/333.02
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 5/80 Geometric correction

Abstract

Disclosed is an image formation system which supports a survey and a photographing free from errors in the field. A control point data storing section 50 stores control point data required for forming a first orthogonally projected image. An image data storing section 60 stores digitized photographed image from which the orthogonally projected image is formed. An additional survey control point data storing section 55 stores control point survey data obtained by additional survey in the field. An additional image data storing section 65 stores digital image data obtained by additional survey and photographing in the field. An orthogonally projected image formation section 70 integrates the control point data and the image data, thus forming and synthesizing a final orthogonally projected image. An orthogonally projected image acquirement plan making section 80 makes an orthogonally projected image acquirement plan for spots to be amended.

Claims

1. An image formation system comprising:

digital image data including at least one of a digital map or a photographed image;

a photographed area setting section for setting a first area in which an orthogonally projected image is to be formed on the digital image data;

an information setting section for setting photographing camera information relating to a camera which photographs an image from which the orthogonally projected image is to be formed;

a photographed area calculating section for obtaining a second area which can be photographed based on the photographing camera information which includes at least one of an angular field of a photograph lens, a size of a photograph plane, a focal length of the photograph lens or a photograph position related to the first area, and which is set by said information setting section;

a condition calculating section for calculating photographing conditions which include at least one of a photographing direction, a photographing angle or a photographing position in order to obtain a photograph image which can properly form the orthogonally projected image in the first area set by said photographed area setting section, based on the second area obtained by said photographed area calculating section,

a navigation section for making an instruction for a present position where a surveyor currently exists and a place where the surveyor moves to prepare the orthogonally projected image, and

a display section for displaying the photographed area, an instruction for a present position where the surveyor currently exists and a place where the surveyor moves to prepare the orthogonally projected image, and at least one of the calculated photographing conditions on the digital image data.

2. The image formation system according to claim 1,

said image formation system further comprising:

an orthogonally projected image formation section for forming the orthogonally projected image from the photograph image photographed by the camera,

wherein said photographed area setting section further sets a third area in which a new orthogonally projected image is to be formed based on a new image, in the orthogonally projected image formed by said orthogonally projected image formation section,

said photographed area calculating section obtains a fourth area which can be newly photographed, based on the photographing camera information set to said information setting section, and

said condition calculating section calculates the photographing conditions to obtain the photograph image from which the orthogonally projected image can be properly formed, in the third area set by said photographed area setting section, based on the fourth area obtained by said photographed area calculating section.

3. The image formation system according to claim 1,

said image formation system further comprising:

a navigation section including a GPS,

wherein position information is displayed.

4. The image formation system according to claim 1, wherein said camera is a camera for photographing a still picture, and the photographing conditions calculated by said condition calculating section include at least one of the total number of pictures taken inside the first area, a photographing direction, a photographing angle or a photographing position.

5. The image formation system according to claim 1, wherein said camera is a camera for photographing a moving picture, and the photographing conditions calculated by said condition calculating section include at least one of a photographing direction, a photographing angle, a movement direction, a movement speed or a photographing position.

6. The image formation system according to claim 1, wherein said condition calculating section calculates photographing conditions including a flight altitude in the case of aerial photographing, or calculates photographing conditions including a photographing angle and an angular field in the case of a land photographing.

7. The image formation system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of information of either the camera for photographing a still picture or the camera for photographing a moving picture, information of either the aerial photographing or the land photographing, or information of a required precision is set to said information setting section.

8. An image formation system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the process, the memory comprising a plurality of instructions executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions configured to;

set a first area in which an orthogonally projected image is to be formed on digital image data, the digital image data including at least one of a digital map or a photographed image;

set photographing camera information for a predetermined camera that will photograph an image for forming the orthogonally projected image;

obtain a second area which can be photographed based on the photographing camera information which includes at least one of an angular field of a photograph lens, a size of a photograph plane, a focal length of the photograph lens or a photograph position related to the first area;

calculate photographing conditions that include at least one of a photographing direction, a photographing angle or a photographing position in order to obtain a photograph image to form the orthogonally projected image in the first area based on the second area,

provide an instruction to move from a present surveyor position to a second surveyor position where the orthogonally projected image is to be prepared; and

display the photographed area, information regarding a present surveyor position and a second surveyor position, and at least one of the calculated photographing conditions on the digital image data.