Pathway management using model analysis and forecasting

• US 9,069,104 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2012
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Datta, Ankur, Feris, Rogerio S., Pankanti, Sharathchandra U., Zhai, Yun
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEN, ALAN S
• Application Number:
  US13/711,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20140164306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/10 Devices for predicting weather conditions computers per se G06; display devices G09
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/007 using computer methods

Abstract

A computer generates a three dimensional map of a pathway area using a plurality of overhead images. The computer determines a forecasted weather pattern to occur in the pathway area. The computer analyzes the three dimensional map and the forecasted weather pattern to predict one or more violations of the pathway. The computer generates a priority for the one or more predicted violations of the pathway. The computer generates a plan for pathway management of the pathway area.

Claims

1. A method for pathway management, the method comprising:

a computer generating a three dimensional map of a pathway area using a plurality of overhead images;

the computer determining a forecasted weather pattern to occur in the pathway, based on, at least in part, previous weather patterns for the pathway area;

the computer analyzing the three dimensional map and the forecasted weather pattern to determine an object, a state of the object, and an event that are likely to cause a violation of the pathway area if the forecasted weather pattern occurs;

the computer generating a priority for one or more likely violations of the pathway; and

the computer generating a plan for pathway management of the pathway area based, at least in part, on the priority for the one or more likely violations of the pathway, wherein the plan guides maintenance activity that reduces a likelihood of occurrence of the violation of the pathway by the object prior to an occurrence of the forecasted weather pattern.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of overhead images indicate one or both of a location of the object and the state of the object, and wherein the plurality of overhead images include one or more of overhead images taken from a plurality of vantage points, overhead images taken using a variety of spectroscopic regions, overhead images taken using a variety of spectroscopic filters, and overhead images that have been modified by a computer.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the forecasted weather pattern includes one or more of an average of precipitation, an average wind speed, an average temperature, and records of precipitation, wind speed, and temperature which deviate from the respective average by a specified threshold.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the plan for pathway management includes one or more of a map, a prioritized list, a schedule, and a location of a predicted violation of the pathway.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the computer analyzing the three dimensional map and forecasted weather pattern to determine an object, a state of the object, and an event that are likely to cause a violation of the pathway area if the forecasted weather pattern occurs includes:

the computer generating long-term regional-level predictions by analyzing a plurality of weak predictors that generate short-term local-level predictions, wherein the long-term regional-level predictions indicate the object, the state of the object, and the event that are likely to cause the violation of the pathway area by the object.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the analysis of the plurality of weak predictors that generates short-term local-level predictions includes an analysis of one or more of a local geographic feature, the forecasted weather pattern, and a vegetation.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the generation of the long-term regional-level predictions includes analyzing a cumulative effect of the plurality of short-term local-level predictions.

8. A computer program product for pathway management, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable storage media and program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable storage media, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to generate a three dimensional map of a pathway area using a plurality of overhead images;

program instructions to determine a forecasted weather pattern to occur in the pathway area, based on, at least in part, previous weather patterns for the pathway area;

program instructions to analyze the three dimensional map and the forecasted weather pattern to determine an object, a state of the object, and an event that are likely to cause a violation of the pathway area by the object if the forecasted weather pattern occurs;

program instructions to generate a priority for one or more likely violations of the pathway; and

program instructions to generate a plan for pathway management of the pathway area based, at least in part, on the priority for the one or more likely violations of the pathway, wherein the plan guides maintenance activity that reduces a likelihood of occurrence of the violation of the pathway by the object prior to an occurrence of the forecasted weather pattern.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the plurality of overhead images indicate one or both of a location of the object and the state of the object, and wherein the plurality of overhead images include one or more of overhead images taken from a plurality of vantage points, overhead images taken using a variety of spectroscopic regions, overhead images taken using a variety of spectroscopic filters, and overhead images that have been modified by a computer.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the forecasted weather pattern includes one or more of an average of precipitation, an average wind speed, an average temperature, and records of precipitation, wind speed, and temperature which deviate from the respective average by a specified threshold.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the plan for pathway management includes one or more of a map, a prioritized list, a schedule, a location of a predicted violation of the pathway, and a location of a predicted violation of the pathway.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the program instructions to analyze the three dimensional map and forecasted weather pattern to determine an object, a state of the object, and an event that are likely to cause a violation of the pathway area if the forecasted weather pattern occurs includes:

program instructions to generate long-term regional-level predictions by analyzing a plurality of weak predictors that generate short-term local-level predictions, wherein the long-term regional-level predictions indicate the object, the state of the object, and the event that are likely to cause the violation of the pathway area by the object.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the analysis of the plurality of weak predictors that generates short-term local-level predictions includes an analysis of one or more of a local geographic feature, the forecasted weather pattern, and a vegetation.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the generation of the long-term regional-level predictions includes analyzing a cumulative effect of the plurality of short-term local-level predictions.

15. A computer system for pathway management, the computer system comprising:

one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to generate a three dimensional map of a pathway area using a plurality of overhead images;

program instructions to determine a forecasted weather pattern to occur in the pathway area, based on, at least in part, previous weather patterns for the pathway area;

program instructions to analyze the three dimensional map and the forecasted weather pattern to determine an object, a state of the object, and an event that are likely to cause a violation of the pathway area by the object if the forecasted weather pattern occurs;

program instructions to generate a priority for one or more likely violations of the pathway; and

program instructions to generate a plan for pathway management of the pathway area based, at least in part, on the priority for the one or more likely violations of the pathway, wherein the plan guides maintenance activity that reduces a likelihood of occurrence of the violation of the pathway by the object prior to an occurrence of the forecasted weather pattern.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of overhead images indicate one or both of a location of the object and the state of the object, and wherein the plurality of overhead images include one or more of overhead images taken from a plurality of vantage points, overhead images taken using a variety of spectroscopic regions, overhead images taken using a variety of spectroscopic filters, and overhead images that have been modified by a computer.

17. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the forecasted weather pattern includes one or more of an average of precipitation, an average wind speed, an average temperature, and records of precipitation, wind speed, and temperature which deviate from the respective average by a specified threshold.

18. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the plan for pathway management includes one or more of a map, a prioritized list, a schedule, and a location of a predicted violation of the pathway.

19. The computer system of claim 18, wherein the program instructions to analyze the three dimensional map and forecasted weather pattern to determine an object, a state of the object, and an event that are likely to cause a violation of the pathway area if the forecasted weather pattern occurs includes:

program instructions to generate long-term regional-level predictions by analyzing a plurality of weak predictors that generate short-term local-level predictions, wherein the long-term regional-level predictions indicate the object, the state of the object, and the event that are likely to cause the violation of the pathway area by the object.

20. The computer system of claim 18, wherein the analysis of the plurality of weak predictors that generates short-term local-level predictions includes an analysis of one or more of a local geographic feature, the forecasted weather pattern, and a vegetation.