Spatially registering user photographs
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for registering a three-dimensional (3D) representation of an object, the method comprising:
- displaying the 3D representation and a generally overhead view of the object on a computer;
adjusting the displayed 3D representation to at least approximately match the generally overhead view of the object in scale, orientation, and two-dimensional (2D) translation, wherein adjusting the 3D representation includes orienting the 3D representation to have an approximately equal elevation angle as the generally overhead view of the object; and
associating a geographic coordinate of the generally overhead view of the object with the adjusted 3D representation, the geographic coordinate including at least one of a location relative to the object, an earth coordinate location of the object, an earth coordinate orientation of the object, or a magnetic coordinate orientation of the object.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Photographs of an object may be oriented with respect to both the geographic location and orientation of the object by registering a 3D model derived from a plurality of photographs of the objects with a 2D image of the object having a known location and orientation. For example, a 3D point cloud of an object created from photographs of the object using a Photosynth™ tool may be aligned with a satellite photograph of the object, where the satellite photograph has location and orientation information. A tool providing scaling and rotation of the 3D model with respect to the 2D image may be used or an automatic alignment may be performed using a function based on object edges filtered at particular angles. Once aligned, data may be recorded that registers camera locations for the plurality of photographs with geographic coordinates of the object, either absolute latitude/longitude or relative to the object.
16 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for registering a three-dimensional (3D) representation of an object, the method comprising:
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displaying the 3D representation and a generally overhead view of the object on a computer; adjusting the displayed 3D representation to at least approximately match the generally overhead view of the object in scale, orientation, and two-dimensional (2D) translation, wherein adjusting the 3D representation includes orienting the 3D representation to have an approximately equal elevation angle as the generally overhead view of the object; and associating a geographic coordinate of the generally overhead view of the object with the adjusted 3D representation, the geographic coordinate including at least one of a location relative to the object, an earth coordinate location of the object, an earth coordinate orientation of the object, or a magnetic coordinate orientation of the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer-implemented method for spatially registering a three-dimensional (3D) representation of an object, the method comprising:
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displaying the 3D representation and a generally overhead view of the object, the generally overhead view being at a perspective angle with ground; performing at least one of rotating, scaling, or aligning the displayed 3D representation to at least approximately match the displayed generally overhead view such that a vertical projection of the 3D representation is at an elevation having a perspective angle with ground that is approximately equal to the perspective angle of the generally overhead view; and associating a geographic coordinate of the generally overhead view of the object to the rotated, scaled, or aligned 3D representation. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20)
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17. A computer-storage device containing instructions that cause a processor to perform a method for registering a three-dimensional (3D) representation of an object, the method comprising:
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generating an edge map showing edges of objects based on a two-dimensional (2D) image of the objects, the image having an associated geographic coordinate; filtering the generated edge map to generate a filtered edge map having edges extending along generally the same direction; determining a best fit of the 3D representation at a particular one of the scales, rotations, and 2D translations based on the filtered edge map of the 2D image; and associating the geographic coordinate of the 2D image to the determined best fit of the 3D representation.
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21. A computer-implemented method for registering a three-dimensional (3D) representation of an object, the method comprising:
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displaying the 3D representation and a generally overhead view of the object on a computer; generating contrast regions for the 3D representation displayed on the computer, the contrast regions individually having a lower opacity at an edge than at a center of the contrast regions; performing at least one of rotating, scaling, or aligning the displayed 3D representation to at least approximately match the displayed generally overhead view of the object; and associating a geographic coordinate of the generally overhead view of the object to the rotated, scaled, or aligned 3D representation. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification