Methods and apparatus for geospatial management and visualization of events

• US 8,878,871 B2
• Filed: 08/09/2011
• Issued: 11/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermopylae Sciences & Technology (Hexagon AB)
• Original Assignee: Thermopylae Sciences & Technology (Hexagon AB)
• Inventors: Clark, Abraham J., Clark, John-Isaac, Mears, Jordon
• Primary Examiner(s): Merouan, Abderrahim
• Application Number:
  US13/206,431
• Publication Number:
  US 20120038633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 345/419, 345/629, 345/636, 345/634, 707/756, 707/764, 707/729, 707/721, 707/999
• US Class Current: 345/629
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for geospatial management and visualization of events, by presenting a dynamic, user-interactive geospatial environment for performing real-time operations management and pre/post-mission analytical activities. A geospatial event management system integrates geospatial imagery data from geospatial imagery data sources, and determines a geographic area of interest based on user input, stored settings, or other relevant parameters. The geospatial event management system then provides a user-interactive geospatial environment based on the geospatial imagery data associated with the geographic area of interest, and ingests geospatially-referenced event data associated with the events, such as tracking data, telemetry data, or sensor data. The geospatial event management system further filters the event data based on parameters such as geospatial or temporal parameters, and then superimposes the filtered event data over the geospatial imagery data associated with the geographic area of interest.

Claims

1. A method of providing geospatial management and visualization of one or more events, comprising:

accessing geospatial imagery data from one or more geospatial imagery data sources;

providing a plurality of user-interactive three-dimensional geospatial environments based on the geospatial imagery data, wherein the plurality of geospatial environments share one or more display parameters;

receiving event data associated with the one or more events;

providing the event data to be fused with the geospatial imagery data into fused data for display in the plurality of geospatial environments;

receiving at least one interface display parameter via a first geospatial environment of the plurality of geospatial environments subsequent to providing the event data, wherein the at least one interface display parameter includes at least one of a zoom level of the display of the fused data in the first geospatial environment, a tilt parameter for tilting the display of the fused data in the first geospatial environment, or a panning parameter for panning the display of the fused data in the first geospatial environment;

updating, in real-time, the one or more display parameters of the plurality of geospatial environments based on the at least one interface display parameter, thereby causing the plurality of geospatial environments to provide a common visualization of at least a portion of the fused data in accordance with the at least one interface display parameter received via the first geospatial environment;

receiving a time span via a second geospatial environment of the plurality of geospatial environments;

determining a series of events associated with the time span;

scrolling through the time span in response to input received via the second geospatial environment; and

playing back data associated with the series of events that satisfy the input, superimposed over the geospatial imagery data, in the plurality of geospatial environments, thereby causing the plurality of geospatial environments to provide, in real-time, a common visualization of at least a portion of the data associated with the series of events.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the event data is geospatially-referenced.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the event data includes at least one of tracking data, telemetry data, or sensor data.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an interface display parameter via a second geospatial environment of the plurality of geospatial environments subsequent to providing the event data, wherein the interface display parameter include at least one of a zoom level of the display of the fused data in the second geospatial environment, a tilt parameter for tilting the display of the fused data in the second geospatial environment, or a panning parameter for panning the display of the fused data in the second geospatial environment; and

updating, in real-time, the one or more display parameters of the plurality of geospatial environments based on the interface display parameter, thereby causing the plurality of geospatial environments to provide a common visualization of at least a part of the fused data in accordance with the interface display parameter received via the second geospatial environment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one interface display parameter includes a time span, and wherein the method further comprises:

determining, from the event data, a series of events associated with the time span; and

providing, in real-time, data associated with the series of events superimposed over the geospatial imagery data in the plurality of geospatial environments.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a geographic area of interest based on the at least one interface display parameter.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein providing the event data further comprises:

providing the event data superimposed over the geospatial imagery data associated with the geographic area of interest.

8. A system for providing geospatial management and visualization of one or more events, comprising:

a server configured to;

access geospatial imagery data from one or more geospatial imagery data sources;

provide a plurality of user-interactive three-dimensional geospatial environments based on the geospatial imagery data, wherein the plurality of geospatial environments share one or more display parameters;

receive event data associated with the one or more events;

provide the event data to be fused with the geospatial imagery data into fused data for display in the plurality of geospatial environments;

receive at least one interface display parameter via a first geospatial environment of the plurality of geospatial environments subsequent to providing the event data, wherein the at least one interface display parameter includes at least one of a zoom level of the display of the fused data in the first geospatial environment, a tilt parameter for tilting the display of the fused data in the first geospatial environment, or a panning parameter for panning the display of the fused data in the first geospatial environment;

update, in real-time, the one or more display parameters of the plurality of geospatial environments based on the at least one interface display parameter, thereby causing the plurality of geospatial environments to provide a common visualization of at least a portion of the fused data in accordance with the at least one interface display parameter received via the first geospatial environment;

receive a time span via a second geospatial environment of the plurality of geospatial environments;

determine, from the event data, a series of events associated with the time span;

scroll through the time span in response to input received via the second geospatial environment; and

play back data associated with the series of events that satisfy the input, superimposed over the geospatial imagery data, in the plurality of geospatial environments, thereby causing the plurality of geospatial environments to provide, in real-time, a common visualization of at least a portion of the data associated with the series of events.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the server is further configured to:

receive an interface display parameter via a second geospatial environment of the plurality of geospatial environments subsequent to providing the event data, wherein the interface display parameter include at least one of a zoom level of the display of the fused data in the second geospatial environment, a tilt parameter for tilting the display of the fused data in the second geospatial environment, or a panning parameter for panning the display of the fused data in the second geospatial environment; and

update, in real-time, the one or more display parameters of the plurality of geospatial environments based on the interface display parameter, thereby causing the plurality of geospatial environments to provide a common visualization of at least a part of the fused data in accordance with the interface display parameter received via the second geospatial environment.

10. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that cause a computer to provide geospatial management and visualization when executed by the computer, comprising;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to access geospatial imagery data from one or more geospatial imagery data sources;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to provide a plurality of user-interactive three-dimensional geospatial environments based on the geospatial imagery data, wherein the plurality of geospatial environments share one or more display parameters;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to receive event data associated with the one or more events;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to provide the event data to be fused with the geospatial imagery data into fused data for display in the plurality of geospatial environments;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to receive at least one interface display parameter via a first geospatial environment of the plurality of geospatial environments subsequent to providing the event data, wherein the at least one interface display parameter includes at least one of a zoom level of the display of the fused data in the first geospatial environment, a tilt parameter for tilting the display of the fused data in the first geospatial environment, or a panning parameter for panning the display of the fused data in the first geospatial environment;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to update, in real-time, the one or more display parameters of the plurality of geospatial environments based on the at least one interface display parameter, thereby causing the plurality of geospatial environments to provide a common visualization of at least a portion of the fused data in accordance with the at least one interface display parameter received via the first geospatial environment at least one instruction for causing the computer to receive a time span via a second geospatial environment of the plurality of geospatial environments;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to determine, from the event data, a series of events associated with the time span;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to scroll through the time span in response to input received via the second geospatial environment; and

at least one instruction for causing the computer to play back data associated with the series of events that satisfy the input, superimposed over the geospatial imagery data, in the plurality of geospatial environments, thereby causing the plurality of geospatial environments to provide, in real-time, a common visualization of at least a portion of the data associated with the series of events.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for causing the computer to receive an interface display parameter via a second geospatial environment of the plurality of geospatial environments subsequent to providing the event data, wherein the interface display parameter include at least one of a zoom level of the display of the fused data in the second geospatial environment, a tilt parameter for tilting the display of the fused data in the second geospatial environment, or a panning parameter for panning the display of the fused data in the second geospatial environment; and

at least one instruction for causing the computer to update, in real-time, the one or more display parameters of the plurality of geospatial environments based on the interface display parameter, thereby causing the plurality of geospatial environments to provide a common visualization of at least a part of the fused data in accordance with the interface display parameter received via the second geospatial environment.