System and method for updating a geographic database using satellite imagery
View Patent ↗A reporting program and system for updating a master copy of a geographic database is disclosed. According to the method and system, reports are obtained that relate to data contained in a geographic database. Satellite images of the geographic locations represented by the data in the reports are obtained. The satellite images are analyzed to confirm a need to make changes to the master copy of the geographic database based on the reports. After confirming the need to make the changes, the master copy of the geographic database is updated.
1. A system for identifying corrections for a geographic database comprising:
an error reporting program run on a server allowing an end user of the geographic database to submit a report of a perceived error in how data contained in the geographic database represents a geographic feature, wherein the report by the end user indicates a geographic location of the perceived error,
a report database storing the report submitted by the end user,
a computer workstation capable of obtaining and evaluating the report, wherein a satellite image containing the geographic feature of the report is presented on a display of the computer workstation, while the satellite image is presented on the display, presenting the geographic feature as represented by data contained in the geographic database on the display, wherein the satellite image is analyzed to determine a correction to the data that represents the geographic feature; and
a master copy of the geographic database, wherein the correction is used to update the master copy of the geographic database.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the report indicates a version of the geographic database to which the report pertains.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the report provides information regarding the perceived error.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the report is also presented on said display of the computer workstation.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the satellite image for display is identified using a geographic location provided in the report.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the geographic feature as represented by data contained in the geographic database is presented as an overlay on the satellite image being displayed at the workstation.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the satellite image and the geographic feature as represented by data contained in the geographic database are presented side-by-side on the display of the workstation.
8. A computer implemented method for identifying corrections for a geographic database comprising:
obtaining a report from an end user about an error in data that represents a geographic feature, wherein the report includes a drawing of the error on a map;
obtaining an image including said geographic feature of said report;
displaying the image at a computer workstation;
while displaying the image, displaying data contained in the geographic database that represents the geographic feature of the report;
evaluating the image to determine a correction to the data that represents said geographic feature; and
updating the geographic database with the correction.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the report is obtained from a report database containing reports submitted by end users of the geographic database.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein the report contains information indicating a location of the geographic feature.
11. The method of claim 8 wherein the report relates to a road.
12. The method of claim 8 wherein displaying data contained in the geographic database that represents the geographic feature of the report shows the geographic feature as represented by data contained in the geographic database on the computer workstation.
13. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
indicating a position on the image being displayed wherein said position corresponds to a location of said geographic feature of the report.
14. The method of claim 8 further comprising:
displaying the report on the computer workstation.
15. A method for updating a master copy of a geographic database comprising:
obtaining a report indicating an error in data that represent a geographic feature from an end user of the geographic database, wherein the report by the end user indicates a geographic location of the error;
displaying an image at a computer workstation, wherein the image shows the geographic feature indicated in said report;
while displaying the image, displaying said geographic feature as represented by data contained in the master copy of a geographic database at the computer workstation;
analyzing the image to determine how to update the master copy of the geographic database; and
updating the master copy of the geographic database.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the report indicates a version of the geographic database to which the report pertains.
17. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
displaying the report on the computer workstation.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein the geographic feature as represented by data contained in the geographic database is displayed as an overlay on the image being displayed at the workstation.
19. The method of claim 15 wherein the image and the geographic feature as represented by data contained in the geographic database are presented side-by-side on the computer workstation.
20. The method of claim 15 further comprising:
indicating a position on the image being displayed wherein said position corresponds to a location of said geographic feature of the report.
21. A system for identifying corrections for a geographic database comprising:
an error reporting program run on a server allowing an end user of the geographic database to submit a report about an error in data that represents a geographic feature, wherein the report by the end user indicates a geographic location of the error;
a computer workstation capable of obtaining and evaluating the report, wherein an image containing the geographic feature of the report is presented on a display of the computer workstation, while the image is presented on the display, presenting the geographic feature as represented by data contained in the geographic database on the display, wherein the image is analyzed to determine a correction to the data that represents the geographic feature; and
a master copy of the geographic database, wherein the correction is used to update the master copy of the geographic database.
22. The system of claim 21 wherein the report includes a textual description of the error.
23. The system of claim 21 wherein the geographic location of the error is provided with a drawing on a map.