Sun-shadow simulation in a geospatial system

• US 8,291,345 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2008
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Howard, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Orr, Henry
• Application Number:
  US12/245,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20090094557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,474 Days
• Field of Search: 715/848
• US Class Current: 715/848
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide the ability to display a sun and shadow simulation in a 3D system. A 3D view of a real world scene is displayed, using a 3D graphics application, on a display device. A plug-in is installed into the application. A calendar period (e.g., a month, day, and year) is defined by the user. A timeline arc is displayed with the calendar period defining a radius of the arc, and starting stopping endpoints of the timeline arc defining an interval of time during the calendar period. A timeline slider is displayed on the arc that indicates a time of day within the calendar period. A visualization is displayed, in the 3D view, of shadows cast by a sun on objects in the 3D view. A position of the sun is based on the calendar period and the time of day.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for displaying a sun and shadow simulation in a three-dimensional system, comprising:

displaying, using a three-dimensional (3D) graphics application, a 3D view of a real world scene on a display device;

installing a plug-in into the 3D graphics application;

receiving input from a user defining, for the plug-in, a calendar period comprising a month, day, and year;

displaying, in the 3D view, a timeline arc, wherein the calendar period defines a radius of the arc, and a starting endpoint and a stopping endpoint of the timeline arc define an interval of time during the calendar period, wherein the user defines the calendar period by dragging, using a cursor control device, the timeline arc to modify the radius of the arc;

displaying, on the timeline arc, a timeline slider that indicates a time of day;

wherein movement of the timeline arc slider on the timeline arc modifies the time of day; and

displaying, in the 3D view, a visualization of shadows cast by a sun on objects in the 3D view, wherein a position of the sun in the visualization and the simulated shadows cast are based on the calendar period and the time of day indicated by the timeline arc slider.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user defines the calendar period by:

displaying, in a panel of the graphics application, one or more settings for the plug-in, wherein the one or more settings comprise a month field, a day field, and a year field;

receiving input from a user inputting calendar information into the month field, the day field, and the year field.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a smaller radius reflects a calendar period in a summer solstice and a larger radius reflects a calendar period in a winter solstice.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein date labels proximate to the timeline arc are automatically and dynamically updated as the user defines the calendar period.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying the starting endpoint or the stopping endpoint of the timeline arc to modify the interval of time.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising a playback simulation wherein the timeline arc slider is automatically moved across the timeline arc such that the position of the sun and the visualization is automatically and dynamically updated as the timeline arc slider moves across the timeline arc.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying a viewpoint of the user within the visualization by identifying a new user location.

8. An apparatus for displaying a sun and shadow simulation in a three-dimensional system in a computer system comprising:

(a) a computer having a memory;

(b) an application executing on the computer, wherein the application is configured to;

(i) displaying, using a three-dimensional (3D) graphics application, a 3D view of a real world scene on a display;

(ii) installing a plug-in into the 3D graphics application;

(iii) receiving input from a user defining, for the plug-in, a calendar period comprising a month, day, and year;

(iv) displaying, in the 3D view, a timeline arc, wherein the calendar period defines a radius of the arc, and a starting endpoint and a stopping endpoint of the timeline arc define an interval of time during the calendar period, using a cursor control device, the timeline arc to modify the radius of the arc;

(v) displaying, on the timeline arc, a timeline arc slider that indicates a time of day, wherein movement of the timeline arc slider on the timeline arc modifies the time of day; and

(vi) displaying, in the 3D view, a visualization of simulated shadows cast by a sun on objects in the 3D view, wherein a position of the sun and the simulated shadows cast in the visualization are based on the calendar period and the time of day indicated by the timeline arc slider.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the user defines the calendar period by:

displaying, in a panel of the graphics application, one or more settings for the plug-in, wherein the one or more settings comprise a month field, a day field, and a year field;

receiving input from a user inputting calendar information into the month field, the day field, and the year field.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a smaller radius reflects a calendar period in a summer solstice and a larger radius reflects a calendar period in a winter solstice.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein date labels proximate to the timeline arc are automatically and dynamically updated as the user defines the calendar period.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the application is further configured to modify the starting endpoint or the stopping endpoint of the timeline arc to modify the interval of time.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the application is further configured to conduct a playback simulation wherein the timeline arc slider is automatically moved across the timeline arc such that the position of the sun and the visualization is automatically and dynamically updated as the timeline arc slider moves across the timeline arc.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the application is further configured to modify a viewpoint of the user within the visualization by identifying a new user location.

15. An article of manufacture comprising a program storage device readable by a computer, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps of displaying a sun and shadow simulation in a three-dimensional system, the method steps comprising the steps of:

displaying, using a three-dimensional (3D) graphics application, a 3D view of a real world scene on a display device;

installing a plug-in into the 3D graphics application;

receiving input from a user defining, for the plug-in, a calendar period comprising a month, day, and year;

displaying, in the 3D view, a time line arc, wherein the calendar period defines a radius of the arc, and a starting endpoint and a stopping endpoint of the timeline arc define an interval of time during the calendar period, wherein the user defines the calendar period by dragging, using a cursor control device, the timeline arc to modify the radius of the arc;

displaying, on the time line arc, a time line arc slider that indicates a time of day, wherein movement of the timeline arc slider on the time line arc modifies the time of day; and

displaying, in the 3D view, a visualization of simulated shadows cast by a sun on objects in the 3D view, wherein a position of the sun in the visualization and the simulated shadows cast are based on the calendar period and the time of day indicated by the timeline arc slider.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein the user defines the calendar period by:

displaying, in a panel of the graphics application, one or more settings for the plug-in, wherein the one or more settings comprise, a month field, a day field, and a year field;

receiving input from a user inputting calendar information into the month field, the day field, and the year field.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein a smaller radius reflects a calendar period in a summer solstice and a larger radius reflects a calendar period in a winter solstice.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein date labels proximate to the timeline arc are automatically and dynamically updated as the user defines the calendar period.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 15, further comprising modifying the starting endpoint or the stopping endpoint of the timeline arc to modify the interval of time.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 15, further comprising a playback simulation wherein the timeline arc slider is automatically moved across the timeline arc such that the position of the sun and the visualization is automatically and dynamically updated as the timeline arc slider moves across the timeline arc.

21. The article of manufacture of claim 15, further comprising modifying a viewpoint of the user within the visualization by identifying a new user location.