System, Apparatus and Method for Mapping

• US 20110267355A1
• Filed: 06/06/2011
• Published: 11/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 1626628 Ontario Limited
• Original Assignee: 1626628 Ontario Limited
• Inventors: Burchfield, Marcy L., Geile, Wolfhard, Coombes, Anthony C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,346,471 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/441
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3852 Data derived from aerial or satellite images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/20 Drawing from basic elements, e.g. lines or circles
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/422 Technical drawings; Geographical maps
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/10 Map spot or coordinate position indicators; Map reading aids optical projection apparatus per se G03B
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 29/106 using electronic means

Abstract

The present invention provides a novel apparatus and method for mapping of urban regions. An apparatus includes the remote sensing equipment that is connected to a computer processor. The remote sensing equipment gathers imaging data about an urban region. The computer processor interprets the imaging data to generate a map of the urban region comprising representations that identify a first set of indicia representing physiographic characteristics, a second set of indicia representing different types of built forms, and a third set of indicia representing patterns of human activity associated with both the physiographic characteristics and the built forms. The map can also include a fourth set of indicia representing an intensity level that at least one of the other types of indicia occurs.

Claims

1-39. -39. (canceled)

40. A computer generated map of an urban region comprising:

a first set of indicia representing physiographic characteristics of said region;

a second set of indicia representing a plurality of different types of built forms, and their locations, that are located within said region; and

a third set of indicia representing patterns of human activity associated with both said physiographic characteristics and said built forms.

41. The computer generated map of claim 40 further comprising a fourth set of indicia representing an intensity level associated with at least one of said sets of indicia representing a degree to which said indicia occurs.

42. A computer generated map of an urban region comprising

representations that identify at least two different precincts, each of said precincts comprising a first set of indicia representing physiographic characteristics of said region;

a second set of indicia representing at least three different types of built forms, and their locations, that are located within said region;

a third set of indicia representing patterns of human activity associated with both said physiographic characteristics and said built forms.

43. The computer generated map of claim 42 further comprising a fourth set of indicia representing an intensity level that at least one of said sets of indicia occurs and wherein said at least a portion of said sets of indicia respective to each of said precincts are different.

44. A computer-implemented method of generating a map comprising:

receiving, in at least one processing unit, a first set of data of an urban region representing physiographic characteristics;

receiving, in said at least one processing unit, a second set of data of said urban region representing built forms and their locations;

receiving, in said at least one processing unit, a third set of data of said urban region representing patterns of human activity associated with both said physiographic characteristics and said built forms;

determining, using said at least one processing unit, different types of entities for each said set of data; and

generating user output containing indicia respective to each set of data that corresponds to said determined entities.

45. The method according to claim 44 wherein said user output is in a graphical form that includes a plurality of precincts, each of said precincts formed based on areas within said region that have a predefined set of common indicia.

46. The method of claim 44 further comprising associating an intensity level associated with each set of indicia.

47. The method according to claim 44 wherein said first set of data and said second set of data are obtained from remotely sensed data sources.

48. The method according to claim 44 wherein said third set of data is obtained from census data.

49. An apparatus for generating a map comprising the steps of:

at least one input device for receiving a first set of data of an urban region representing physiographic characteristics,

a second set of data of said urban region representing built forms and their locations and a third set of data of said urban region representing patterns of human activity associated with both said physiographic characteristics and said built forms;

a microprocessor connected to said input device operable to determine different types of entities for each said set of data; and

a user output device connected to said microprocessor for presenting indicia respective to each set of data that corresponds to said entities.

50. The apparatus of claim 49 wherein said indicia is presented in a graphical form that includes a plurality of precincts, each of said precincts defined by areas within said region that have a predefined set of common indicia.

51. The apparatus of claim 50 further comprising the step of associating an intensity level associated with each set of indicia.

52. The apparatus according to claim 50 wherein said first set of data and said second set of data are obtained from remotely sensed data sources.

53. The apparatus according to claim 50 wherein said third set of data is obtained from census data.