Semi-automatic polyline extraction from point cloud
First Claim
1. A method for semi-automatically extracting a polyline from a linear feature in a point cloud, comprising:
- receiving, from a user, a selected point in the point cloud about the linear feature in the point cloud;
receiving, from the user, a starting search direction;
returning a plurality of line segments based on the linear feature by a process executing on an electronic device, by;
successively following one or more linear segments of the linear feature, beginning with a current search direction set to the starting search direction and a current search location set about the selected point, and modeling the linear segments with line segments, whereinwhen an end of a linear segment is reached, determining whether there is an intersection based on detection of greater than a threshold number of points of the linear feature in multiple directions,in response to there being an intersection, prompting the user to provide an updated search direction that is used as the current search direction,in response to there not being an intersection, continuing to successively follow one or more linear segments of the linear feature after the intersection, and modeling the one or more linear segments after the intersection with line segments,when an end of a linear segment is reached, determining whether there is a jumpable gap,in response to determining there is a jumpable gap, continuing to successively follow one or more linear segments of the linear feature after the jumpable gap, and modeling the one or more linear segments after the jumpable gap with line segments, andin response to there not being a jumpable gap, returning the line segments; and
creating a polyline from the returned line segments.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one embodiment, a technique is provided for semi-automatically extracting a polyline from a linear feature in a point cloud. The user may provide initial parameters, including a point about the linear feature and a starting direction. A linear feature extraction process may automatically follow the linear feature beginning in the starting direction from about the selected point. The linear feature extraction process may attempt to follow a linear segment of the linear feature. If some points may be followed that constitute a linear segment, a line segment modeling the linear segment is created. The linear feature extraction process then determines whether the end of the linear feature has been reached. If the end has not been reached, the linear feature extraction process may repeat. If the end has been reached, the linear feature extraction process may return the line segments and create a polyline from them.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for semi-automatically extracting a polyline from a linear feature in a point cloud, comprising:
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receiving, from a user, a selected point in the point cloud about the linear feature in the point cloud; receiving, from the user, a starting search direction; returning a plurality of line segments based on the linear feature by a process executing on an electronic device, by; successively following one or more linear segments of the linear feature, beginning with a current search direction set to the starting search direction and a current search location set about the selected point, and modeling the linear segments with line segments, wherein when an end of a linear segment is reached, determining whether there is an intersection based on detection of greater than a threshold number of points of the linear feature in multiple directions, in response to there being an intersection, prompting the user to provide an updated search direction that is used as the current search direction, in response to there not being an intersection, continuing to successively follow one or more linear segments of the linear feature after the intersection, and modeling the one or more linear segments after the intersection with line segments, when an end of a linear segment is reached, determining whether there is a jumpable gap, in response to determining there is a jumpable gap, continuing to successively follow one or more linear segments of the linear feature after the jumpable gap, and modeling the one or more linear segments after the jumpable gap with line segments, and in response to there not being a jumpable gap, returning the line segments; and creating a polyline from the returned line segments. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus to semi-automatically extract a polyline from a linear feature in a point cloud, comprising:
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a display screen configured to display a user interface; a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor and configured to store instructions for a line extraction software process that when executed by the processor is operable to; successively follow one or more linear segments of the linear feature in the point cloud, beginning with a current search location set about a selected point and a current search direction set to a starting search direction that are provided by a user in the user interface and model the linear segments with line segments, wherein when an end of a linear segment is reached, determine whether there is an intersection based on detection of greater than a threshold number of points of the linear feature in multiple directions, in response to there being an intersection, prompt the user to provide an updated search direction that is used as the current search direction, in response to there not being an intersection, continue to successively follow one or more linear segments of the linear feature after the intersection, and model the one or more linear segments after the intersection with line segments, when an end of a linear segment is reached, determine whether there is a jumpable gap, in response to determining there is a jumpable gap, continue to successively follow one or more linear segments of the linear feature after the jumpable gap, and model the linear segments after the jumpable gap with line segments, in response to there not being a jumpable gap, return the line segments; and create a polyline from the returned line segments. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium that includes instructions executable on a processor, the instructions, when executed, operable to:
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receive a user-provided selected point in a point cloud about a linear feature in a point cloud; receive a user-provided starting search direction; follow the linear feature beginning with a current search direction set to be the starting search direction and a current search location set to be about the selected point, by successively; searching for points associated with the linear feature in a plurality of search spheres disposed about the current search location, determining whether there is greater than a threshold number of points of the linear feature in multiple search spheres of the plurality of search spheres, when there is not greater than the threshold number of points of the linear feature in multiple search spheres, extending the linear feature by detecting one or more points that define a linear segment, modeling the linear segment with a line segment, advancing the current search location, and updating the current search direction, and when there is greater than the threshold number of points of the linear feature in multiple search spheres, determining an intersection is reached; in response to there being an intersection, prompt a user to provide an updated search direction, and continue to follow the linear feature with the current search direction set to the updated search direction; and create a polyline from any line segments. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification