Pictometry International Corporation

Robert Bradacs

Stephen L Schultz

Frank Giuffrida

Robert L Gray

Charles Mondello

Craig D Woodward

Mark A Winkelbauer

Matt Kusak

Scott D Lawrence

Kevin G Willard

Matthew Kusak

Systems and methods are disclosed for creating a mosaic image of two or more geo-referenced source images, the geo-referenced source images having the same orientation, based on a ground confidence map created by analyzing pixels of one or more of the geo-referenced source images, the ground confidence map having values and data indicative of particular geographic locations represented by the values, at least one of the values indicative of a statistical probability that the particular geographic locations represented by the values represents the ground; and using routes for steering mosaic cut lines based at least in part on the values indicative of the statistical probability that the particular geographic locations represented by the values represents the ground of the ground confidence map, such that the routes have an increased statistical probability of cutting through pixels representative of the ground versus routes not based on the ground confidence map.

Cut-line steering methods for forming a mosaic image of a geographical area

Systems and methods are disclosed including a moving platform system suitable for mounting and use on a moving platform for communicating in real-time, comprising: a position system monitoring location of the moving platform and generating a sequence of time-based position data; a non-line of sight communication system; a high-speed line of sight communication system; and a computer system monitoring an availability of the non-line of sight communication system and the high-speed line of sight communication system and initiating connections when the non-line of sight communication system and the high-speed line of sight communication system are available, and receiving the sequence of time-based position data and transmitting the sequence of time-based position data via the at least one of the currently available non-line of sight communication system and the high-speed line of sight communication system.

Real-time moving platform management system

The present disclosure describes a method for transmitting sensor data and positional data for geo-referencing oblique images from a moving platform to a ground station system in real-time. The method involves the aid of a moving platform system to capture sensor data and positional data for the sensor data, save the sensor data and positional data to one or more directories of one or more computer readable medium, monitor the one or more directories of the one or more computer readable medium for sensor data and positional data, and transmit the sensor data and positional data from the moving platform system to the ground station system over a wireless communication link responsive to the sensor data and positional data being detected as within the one or more directories.

Systems and methods for creating a ground confidence map of a geographic area, comprising the steps of creating a ground confidence map of a geographic area, the ground confidence map having a plurality of pixels with each pixel corresponding to a particular geographic location; assigning the pixels in the ground confidence map with pixel values indicative of composite ground confidence scores; and storing pixel values indicative of a statistical probability that the geographical location represented by the particular pixels represent the ground.

Cut line steering methods for forming a mosaic image of a geographical area

Systems and methods for creating a ground confidence map of a geographic area, comprising the steps of creating a ground confidence map of a geographic area, the ground confidence map having a plurality of pixels with each pixel corresponding to a particular geographic location; assigning the pixels in the ground confidence map with pixel values indicative of composite ground confidence scores by calculating composite ground confidence scores for the pixel values of common geographic regions within the overlapping portions of the source images within a kernel corresponding to the particular geographic location of the pixels; and storing pixel values indicative of a statistical probability that the geographical location represented by the particular pixels represent the ground.

The present disclosure describes a method for displaying data products onto a geospatial map in real-time using a computer program. In one version, the method includes the steps of monitoring the one or more directories of one or more computer readable media for newly created data products, automatically reading the newly created data products, correlating positional information of the data products with the geospatial map of the computer program for mapping and exploitation, and rendering information onto the geospatial map indicative of the area covered by each newly created data product.

The present disclosure describes a method for creating data products in real-time with the aid of a ground station system. The method includes the steps of monitoring one or more communication links for newly captured sensor data and positional data of oblique images, saving the sensor data and positional data to one or more directories of one or more computer readable media, monitoring the one or more directories of one or more computer readable media for sensor data and positional data, processing the sensor data and positional data to create one or more data products for use by one or more mapping and exploitation systems responsive to the sensor data and positional data being saved in the one or more directories, and storing the one or more data products to one or more directories of one or more computer readable media.

A method for automatically steering mosaic cut lines along preferred routes to form an output mosaic image includes creating an assignment map corresponding to the output mosaic image where each pixel has an initial designation of unassigned; marking each pixel of the assignment map that intersects the preferred routes as being a Preferred Cut Line pixel to divide the Assignment Map into one or more regions; searching for each region to locate one or more source images that cover that region; and using a Selection Heuristic or Pairing Heuristic to determine quality of coverage. The Preferred Cut Line pixels are redesignated to match the image assignments of their bounded regions, and the output mosaic image is formed by contributing pixel values from the source images based upon the designations set forth in the assignment map.

A method for determining preferred routes for steering mosaic cut line to form an output mosaic image included the steps of generating a ground confidence map of a geographic area by analyzing overlapping portions of digital source images of the geographic area with such digital source images captured from different vantage points with respect to the geographic area, certain pixels of the ground confidence map indicating a statistical probability that a same geographic area in at least two of the overlapping source images represent the ground; indentifying contiguous pixels in the ground confidence map indicating that the same geographic area in at least two of the overlapping source images represent the ground; and determining preferred routes for steering mosaic cut lines utilizing the identified contiguous pixels in the ground confidence map.

A moving platform system suitable for mounting and use on a moving platform, comprising a position system monitoring the location of the moving platform and generating a sequence of time-based position data, a non-line of sight communication system, a high-speed line of sight communication system, and a computer system monitoring the availability of the non-line of sight communication system and the high-speed line of sight communication system and initiating connections when the non-line of sight communication system and the high-speed line of sight communication system are available, and receiving the sequence of time-based position data and transmitting the sequence of time-based position data via the at least one of the currently available non-line of sight communication system and the high-speed line of sight communication system.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, NY, United States of America

Robert Bradacs