Multispectral data acquisition system and method

• US 7,298,869 B1
• Filed: 07/19/2004
• Issued: 11/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald A. Abernathy
• Original Assignee: Donald A. Abernathy
• Inventors: Abernathy, Donald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed; Samir
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rush; Eric
• Application Number:
  US10/894,458
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 382108-113, 382/100, 701/208
• US Class Current: 382/108
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/16 using multiple overlapping images; Image stitching
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/98 Detection or correction of errors, e.g. by rescanning the pattern or by human intervention; Evaluation of the quality of the acquired patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/13 Satellite images

Abstract

A portable multispectral data acquisition system for use on a vehicle such as an aircraft comprises a plurality of gyroscope-stabilized remote sensing devices synchronized to simultaneously capture images of a common spatial area in both visible and invisible bands of the electromagnetic spectrum, a computer and digital recorder to record and correlate the captured images with temporospatial reference information, image processing software to stack or layer the images and to extract and compare the images in order to identify and filter hidden or subsurface anomalies that are invisible to the naked eye, and additional image processing software to orthorectify the images to a three-dimensional digital terrain map and to stitch adjacent images together into a mosaic. Methods for using the portable multispectral data acquisition system are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of remotely sensing and identifying subsurface characteristics of a terrestrial region, the method comprising:

moving an aircraft equipped with a multispectral data acquisition system over a terrestrial region, said multispectral data acquisition system including;

a computer to receive, store, and process data;

a first imaging sensor communicatively coupled with said computer and operable to capture images in a visible band of the electromagnetic spectrum;

a second imaging sensor communicatively coupled with said computer and operable to capture images in an infrared band of the electromagnetic spectrum, and being mounted relative to the first imaging sensor so that one of the two simultaneously-captured images from the first and second imaging sensors will substantially overlap the other;

a magnetometer array to detect disturbances in the earth'"'"'s magnetic field caused by objects on or near the terrestrial surface, the magnetometer array being in communication with said computer;

a laser emitter and detector system in communication with said computer to facilitate computation of the distance between the laser emitter and a point on the terrestrial region below, thereby to enable generation of a three-dimensional elevation model of the terrestrial region;

a global positioning satellite receiver tuned to receive positional data derived from global positioning satellites, said global positioning satellite receiver being communicatively coupled with said computer;

capturing a first image with said first imaging sensor;

simultaneously capturing a second image with said second imaging sensor;

simultaneously capturing magnetic field data with said magnetometer array;

simultaneously surveying the terrestrial region with the laser emitter and detector system;

recording said first image, said second image, said magnetic field data, data from said laser emitter and detector system, and correlative spatial reference information received from the global positioning satellite receiver;

generating a magnetometer survey map with said magnetic field data;

spatially correlating the first and second images and magnetometer survey map with each other to enable spatially correlated comparisons between the first image, second image, and magnetometer survey map;

digitally comparing the spatially correlated first and second images to identify anomalies; and

digitally filtering said anomalies that spatially correspond with recorded distortions in the magnetic field data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of converting the first image to a grayscale image.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

generating a digital elevation model of the terrestrial region using the data recorded from said laser detector and emitter system;

spatially correlating the first and second images and digital elevation model with each other to enable spatially correlated comparisons between the first image, second image, and digital elevation model;

digitally comparing the spatially correlated first and second images to identify anomalies; and

with the aid of said digital elevation model, digitally filtering said anomalies that spatially correspond with flat or gently sloping areas of the terrestrial region.