Method and apparatus for capturing, geolocating and measuring oblique images

• US 9,443,305 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pictometry International Corporation (Eagleview Technologies, Inc. /Wa/)
• Original Assignee: Pictometry International Corporation (Eagleview Technologies, Inc. /Wa/)
• Inventors: Schultz, Stephen L., Giuffrida, Frank D., Gray, Robert L., Mondello, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Carter, Aaron W
• Application Number:
  US13/793,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20150269720A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 11/02 Picture taking arrangements specially adapted for photogrammetry or photographic surveying, e.g. controlling overlapping of pictures
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 11/04 Interpretation of pictures
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 15/006 Apparatus mounted on flying objects
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 37/02 with scanning movement of lens or cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/203 Drawing of straight lines or curves
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10032 Satellite or aerial image; Remote sensing
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30204 Marker
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/4038 Image mosaicing, e.g. composing plane images from plane sub-images
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/60 Analysis of geometric attributes

Abstract

A computerized system for displaying and making measurements based upon captured oblique images. The system includes a computer system executing image display and analysis software causing the computer system to display at least one oblique image having corresponding geo-location position data; receive one or more signals indicative of user selection of at least two points on a man-made structure depicted within the at least one oblique image; and calculate at least one measurement between the at least two points on the man-made structure depicted within the at least one oblique image using the geo-location position data associated with the at least one oblique image. The system may calculate at least one measurement using a series of interconnected line segments between at least two points on a geographic structure depicted within the at least one oblique image using the geo-location position data associated with the at least one oblique image.

Claims

1. A computerized system for displaying and making measurements, comprising:

a computer system executing image display and analysis software causing the computer system to;

display at least one oblique image having corresponding geo-location position data;

receive one or more signals indicative of user selection of at least two points on a man-made structure depicted within the at least one oblique image; and

calculate at least one measurement between the at least two points on the man-made structure depicted within the at least one oblique image using the geo-location position data associated with the at least one oblique image and using multiple values of elevation data from a data table storing a plurality of elevation data associated with terrain displayed within the oblique image;

wherein causing the computer system to calculate the at least one measurement between the at least two points involves selection of intermediate points.

2. The computerized system of claim 1, wherein a first point of the at least two points has a first elevation, and a second point of the at least two points has a second elevation, and wherein the first elevation and the second elevation are different.

3. The computerized system of claim 1, wherein the measurement is a size of the man-made structure.

4. The computerized system of claim 1, wherein the measurement is a length of the man-made structure.

5. The computerized system of claim 1, wherein the measurement is a width of the man-made structure.

6. A computerized system for displaying and making measurements, comprising:

a computer system executing image display and analysis software causing the computer system to;

display at least one oblique image having corresponding geo-location position data;

receive one or more signals indicative of user selection of at least two points on a building within the at least one oblique image; and

calculate at least one measurement between the at least two points on the building depicted within the at least one oblique image using the geo-location position data associated with the at least one oblique image and using multiple values of elevation data from a data table storing a plurality of elevation data associated with terrain displayed within the oblique image and using a selection of intermediate points.

7. The computerized system of claim 6, wherein a first point of the at least two points has a first elevation, and a second point of the at least two points has a second elevation, and wherein the first elevation and the second elevation are different.

8. The computerized system of claim 6, wherein the measurement is a summation of at least two line segments.

9. The computerized system of claim 8, wherein the at least two line segments are straight line segments.

10. The computerized system of claim 8, wherein the at least two line segments are non-straight line segments.

11. The computerized system of claim 6, wherein the measurement is a size of the building.

12. The computerized system of claim 6, wherein the measurement is a length of the building.

13. The computerized system of claim 6, wherein the measurement is a width of the building.

14. A computerized system for displaying and making measurements, comprising:

a computer system executing image display and analysis software causing the computer system to;

display at least one oblique image having corresponding geo-location position data; and

calculate at least one measurement using a series of interconnected line segments between at least two points on a geographic structure depicted within the at least one oblique image using the geo-location position data associated with the at least one oblique image.

15. The computerized system of claim 14, wherein a first point of the at least two points has a first elevation, and a second point of the at least two points has a second elevation, and wherein the first elevation and the second elevation are different.

16. The computerized system of claim 14, wherein calculating the at least one measurement between the at least two points involves selection of intermediate points.

17. The computerized system of claim 14, wherein the measurement is a summation of at least two line segments.

18. The computerized system of claim 17, wherein the at least two line segments are straight line segments.

19. The computerized system of claim 17, wherein the at least two line segments are non-straight line segments.

20. The computerized system of claim 14, wherein the measurement is a size of the geographic structure.

21. The computerized system of claim 14, wherein the measurement is a length of the geographic structure.

22. The computerized system of claim 14, wherein the measurement is a width of the geographic structure.

23. A computerized system for displaying and making measurements, comprising:

a computer system executing image display and analysis software causing the computer system to;

display at least one oblique image having corresponding geo-location position data;

receive one or more signals indicative of user selection of at least two points on a man-made structure depicted within the at least one oblique image; and

calculate at least one measurement between the at least two points on the man-made structure depicted within the at least one oblique image using the geo-location position data associated with the at least one oblique image and using multiple values of elevation data from a data table storing a plurality of elevation data associated with terrain displayed within the oblique image;

wherein the measurement is a summation of at least two line segments.

24. The computerized system of claim 23, wherein the at least two line segments are straight line segments.

25. The computerized system of claim 23, wherein the at least two line segments are non-straight line segments.