IP Library Granted Patent US 12,276,523
Granted Patent B2
US 12,276,523 · App. 18/085,992 · Granted Apr 15, 2025

Methods and systems for providing a real-time viewshed visualization

Inventor: Bert Jeffrey Lutzenberger (Hood River, OR)
Assignee: ONXMAPS, INC.
G01C21/3859G06T15/60G06T17/05
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,276,523
App. No.
18/085,992
Granted
Apr 15, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for providing a real-time viewshed visualization. Provided here is a method for generating viewshed map for one or more client nodes, comprising (a) receiving a first set light source data associated with an area; (b) obtaining a set of elevation data associated with the area; (c) generating a shadow map based at least in part on the first set light source data and the elevation data associated with the area; (d) receiving interactive position data from the one or more client nodes; and (e) generating a real-time viewshed map visualization of the area by rendering the shadow map based on the interactive position data.

Claims (30)

1. A method for generating a viewshed map for one or more client nodes, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a first set of light source data associated with an area;

(b) obtaining a set of elevation data associated with the area;

(c) generating a shadow map based at least in part on the first set of light source data and the elevation data associated with the area;

(d) receiving interactive position data from the one or more client nodes, wherein the interactive position data comprises a location of a reference point of view on the shadow map; and

(e) generating a real-time viewshed map visualization of the area as visible from a perspective of the reference point of view based at least in part on the shadow map and the interactive position data.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, subsequent to (b), receiving a second set of light source data associated with the area.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein (c) further comprises generating the shadow map based at least in part on the first set of light source data, the second set of light source data, and the elevation data associated with the area.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, subsequent to (b), receiving a set of radar data indicative of a real-time weather condition associated with the area.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein (c) further comprises generating the shadow map based at least in part on the first set of light source data, the set of radar data, and the elevation data associated with the area.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interactive position data is indicative of a real-time position of the one or more client nodes.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the interactive position data is indicative of a user's choice of a location of the area via an API.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, subsequent to (d), generating a plurality of concentric rings for presentation in the real-time viewshed map visualization.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of concentric rings is indicative of a distance from position of the interactive position data to each of the plurality of concentric rings, respectively.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the distance is a horizontal distance, an actual distance, or a combination thereof.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising machine-executable code that, upon execution by one or more computer processors, implements a method for generating a viewshed map for one or more client nodes, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a first set of light source data associated with an area;

(b) obtaining a set of elevation data associated with the area;

(c) generating a shadow map based at least in part on the first set of light source data and the elevation data associated with the area;

(d) receiving interactive position data from the one or more client nodes, wherein the interactive position data comprises a location of a reference point of view; and

(e) generating a real-time viewshed map visualization of the area as visible from a perspective of the reference point of view based at least in part on by rendering the shadow map and the interactive position data.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , further comprising, subsequent to (b), receiving a second set of light source data associated with the area.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein (c) further comprises generating the shadow map based at least in part on the first set of light source data, the second set of light source data, and the elevation data associated with the area.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , further comprising, subsequent to (b), receiving a set of radar data indicative of a real-time weather condition associated with the area.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14 , wherein (c) further comprises generating the shadow map based at least in part on the first set of light source data, the set of radar data, and the elevation data associated with the area.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the interactive position data is indicative of a real-time position of the one or more client nodes.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the interactive position data is indicative of a user's choice of a location of the area via an API.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 11 , further comprising, subsequent to (d), generating a plurality of concentric rings for presentation in the real-time viewshed map visualization.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of concentric rings is indicative of a distance from position of the interactive position data to each of the plurality of concentric rings, respectively.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the distance is a horizontal distance, an actual distance, or a combination thereof.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 15, 2025
From: ONXMAPS, INC.
To: WESTERN ALLIANCE BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 071719/0563 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 21, 2023
From: LUTZENBERGER, BERT JEFFREY
To: ONXMAPS, INC.
Reel/Frame 063043/0795 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63331625 · Apr 15, 2022
Related Publication 20230332922A1 · Oct 19, 2023
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