IP Library Granted Patent US 10,607,357
Granted Patent B2
US 10,607,357 · App. 15/802,173 · Granted Mar 31, 2020

Method and apparatus for capturing, geolocating and measuring oblique images

Inventors: Stephen L. Schultz (West Henrietta, NY); Frank D. Giuffrida (Honeoye Falls, NY); Robert L. Gray (Canandiagua, NY); Charles Mondello (Pittsford, NY)
Assignee: Pictometry International Corp.
G06T7/60G01C11/02G01C11/04G03B15/006G03B37/02G06K9/0063G06T3/4038G06T11/203G06T17/05G06T2207/10032G06T2207/30204
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,607,357
App. No.
15/802,173
Granted
Mar 31, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed including a computerized system, comprising: a computer system running image display and analysis software that when executed by the computer system causes the computer system to: display an oblique image; reference positional data for the oblique image; create a ground plane for the oblique image, the ground plane comprising a plurality of facets, the facets conforming to a topography of an area captured within the oblique image; receive a selection of at least two pixels within the oblique image; and calculate a desired measurement using the selection of the at least two pixels and the ground plane, the desired measurement taking into account changes within the topography of the area captured within the oblique image.

Claims (50)

1. A computerized system, comprising:

a computer system running image display and analysis software that when executed by the computer system causes the computer system to:

display an oblique image;

reference positional data for the oblique image;

create a ground plane for the oblique image, the ground plane comprising a plurality of facets, the facets conforming to a topography of an area captured within the oblique image;

receive a selection of at least two pixels within the oblique image; and

calculate a desired measurement using the selection of the at least two pixels and the ground plane, the desired measurement taking into account changes within the topography of the area captured within the oblique image.

2. The computerized system of claim 1 , wherein the oblique image was captured by an image-capturing device, and wherein said positional data further comprises:

time data representing a time when the oblique image is captured;

location data representing a location of the image-capturing device when the oblique image is captured;

orientation data representing an orientation of the image-capturing device when the oblique image is captured;

correction data representing correction factors for the image-capturing device; and

elevation data representing an average elevation of a surface captured by the image-capturing device.

3. The computerized system of claim 2 , wherein said location data includes a latitude, a longitude, and an altitude of the image-capturing device when the oblique image is captured.

4. The computerized system of claim 2 , wherein said orientation data includes roll, pitch, yaw and heading of said image-capturing device when the oblique image is captured.

5. The computerized system of claim 2 , wherein said image-capturing device is a camera and said correction data includes at least one of focal length, sensor size, aspect ratio, principle point offset, distortion, and pixel pitch.

6. The computerized system of claim 1 , wherein the ground plane is a look-up table, and wherein the image display and analysis software causes the computer system to create the ground plane for the oblique image with data from a topographical map.

7. The computerized system of claim 1 , wherein the ground plane is a look-up table, and wherein the image display and analysis software causes the computer system to create the ground plane for the oblique image with data from digital raster graphics.

8. The computerized system of claim 1 , wherein the ground plane is a look-up table, and wherein the image display and analysis software causes the computer system to create the ground plane for the oblique image with survey data.

9. A method, comprising:

displaying, with a computer system, an oblique image;

referencing, with the computer system, positional data for the oblique image;

creating, with the computer system, a ground plane for the oblique image, the ground plane comprising a plurality of facets, the facets conforming to a topography of an area captured within the oblique image;

receiving a selection of at least two pixels within the oblique image; and

calculating a desired measurement using the selection of the at least two pixels and the ground plane, the desired measurement taking into account changes within the topography of the area captured within the oblique image.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the oblique image was captured by an image-capturing device, and wherein said positional data further comprises:

time data representing a time when the oblique image is captured;

location data representing a location of the image-capturing device when the oblique image is captured;

orientation data representing an orientation of the image-capturing device when the oblique image is captured;

correction data representing correction factors for the image-capturing device; and

elevation data representing an average elevation of a surface captured by the image-capturing device.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said location data includes a latitude, a longitude, and an altitude of the image-capturing device when the oblique image is captured.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein said orientation data includes roll, pitch, yaw and heading of said image-capturing device when the oblique image is captured.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein said image-capturing device is a camera and said correction data includes at least one of focal length, sensor size, aspect ratio, principle point offset, distortion, and pixel pitch.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the ground plane is a look-up table, and further comprising creating the ground plane for the oblique image with data from a topographical map.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the ground plane is a look-up table, and further comprising creating the ground plane for the oblique image with data from digital raster graphics.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the ground plane is a look-up table, and further comprising creating the ground plane for the oblique image with survey data.

17. A computerized system, comprising:

a computer system running image display and analysis software that when executed by the computer system causes the computer system to:

display an oblique image;

reference positional data for the oblique image;

create a ground plane for the oblique image, the ground plane comprising a plurality of facets, the facets conforming to a topography of an area captured within the oblique image;

receive a selection of one pixel within the oblique image; and

calculate a desired measurement using the selection of the one pixel and the ground plane, the desired measurement taking into account changes within the topography of the area captured within the oblique image.

18. A computerized system, comprising:

a computer system running image display and analysis software that when executed by the computer system causes the computer system to:

display at least one oblique image;

receive one or more signals indicative of user selection of at least two points depicted within the at least one oblique image;

calculate real-world locations of the at least two points with the calculation of each point 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

calculate at least one measurement between the at least two points depicted within the at least one oblique image using the calculated real-world locations of the points and involving selection of intermediate points.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2025
From: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC
To: PICTOMETRY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
Reel/Frame 070828/0266 →
RELEASE OF FIRST LIEN SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Apr 9, 2025
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC.
To: PICTOMETRY INTERNATIONAL CORP.; EAGLE VIEW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; OMNIEARTH, INC.
Reel/Frame 070786/0022 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 8, 2019
From: SCHULTZ, STEPHEN; GIUFFRIDA, FRANK D.; GRAY, ROBERT L.; MONDELLO, CHARLES
To: PICTOMETRY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
Reel/Frame 050972/0324 →
FIRST LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 23, 2018
From: PICTOMETRY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 046919/0065 →
SECOND LIEN PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 14, 2018
From: PICTOMETRY INTERNATIONAL CORP.
To: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC,
Reel/Frame 046823/0755 →
Continuity (10)
Continuation 15246038 · Aug 24, 2016
Continuation 13793110 · Mar 11, 2013
Continuation 13534907 · Jun 27, 2012
Continuation 13217885 · Aug 25, 2011
Continuation 12950643 · Nov 19, 2010
Continuation 12853616 · Aug 10, 2010
Continuation 12186889 · Aug 6, 2008
Continuation 10701839 · Nov 5, 2003
Provisional Application 60425275 · Nov 8, 2002
Related Publication 20180122093A1 · May 3, 2018