System for generating geocoded three-dimensional (3d) models

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to the visualization of geographical information and the combination of image information to generate geographical information. Specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to a process and system for correlating oblique images data and terrain data without extrinsic information about the oblique imagery. Embodiments include a visualization tool to allow simultaneous and coordinated viewing of the correlated imagery. The visualization tool may also provide distance and measuring, three-dimensional lens, structure identification, path finding, visibility and similar tools to allow a user to determine distance between imaged objects.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system of generating three-dimensional (3D) models, the system comprising:
 persistent storage for storing at least orthogonal and oblique images corresponding to at least one structure;   a geocoding engine correlating one or more images of the at least orthogonal and oblique images corresponding to the at least one structure and producing a solution set output comprising a plurality of x, y, z coordinates for each of the correlated one or more oblique images; and   a visualization and analysis tool receiving the solution set and including at least a structure identification component configured to extract a 3D model by:   identification of a façade of the at least one structure;   identification of walls of the at least one structure; and   texturing the identified façade and walls of the at least one structure.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the oblique images include at least ground based oblique images. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein for two or more of the oblique images, the geocoding engine matches multiple boundary points to the one or more at least orthogonal images. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the multiple boundary points identify one or more aspects of the at least one structure. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the identification of the façade comprises extracting a bounded space of the multiple boundary points for at least one of the aspects of the at least one structure. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the identification of the walls comprises extracting a bounded space of the multiple boundary points for at least one of the aspects of the at least one structure. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the structure identification component extraction reveals 3D positions of one or more of the multiple boundary points. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the texturing comprises retrieved textures from corresponding ones of the one or more images of the at least orthogonal and oblique images corresponding to the at least one structure. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a distance measurement component configured to measure distances between two or more of the plurality of x, y, z coordinates. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the structure identification component is further configured to match texturing patterns to determine occlusions. 
     
     
         11 . A system of generating three-dimensional (3D) models, the system comprising:
 storage for storing at least orthogonal and ground based oblique images corresponding to at least one structure;   a geocoding engine correlating one or more images of the at least orthogonal and ground based oblique images corresponding to the at least one structure and producing a solution set output comprising a plurality of coordinates for each of the correlated one or more ground based oblique images; and   a visualization and analysis tool receiving the solution set and including the at least a structure identification component configured to extract a 3D model by:   identification of a façade of the at least one structure;   identification of walls of the at least one structure; and   texturing the identified façade and walls of the at least one structure.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the identification of the façade includes identification of a plurality of façade boundary points. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the visualization and analysis tool is further configured for dragging one or more of the plurality façade boundary points. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the structure identification component is further configured, during texturing, to recover 3D coordinate data of a texture pattern determined from one or more texture pattern matching algorithms to correct for inaccurate structure identification. 
     
     
         15 . A system of generating three-dimensional (3D) models, the system comprising:
 storage for storing at least orthogonal and ground based oblique images corresponding to the at least one structure;   a geocoding engine correlating one or more images of the at least orthogonal and ground based oblique images corresponding to at least one structure and producing a solution set output comprising a plurality of coordinates for each of the correlated one or more ground based oblique images; and   a visualization and analysis tool receiving the solution set and including at least a structure identification component configured to extract a 3D model by:   identification of a façade of the at least one structure;   identification of walls of the at least one structure;   texturing the identified façade and walls of the at least one structure; and   overlaying the texture onto the 3D model.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the structure identification component is further configured to adjust for orientation of the texturing. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the structure identification component is further configured, during texturing, to locate textures using one or more pattern matching algorithms. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the structure identification component is further configured to recover 3D coordinate data of a pattern determined from the one or more pattern matching algorithms to correct for inaccurate structure identification. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the identification of the façade includes identification of a plurality of façade boundary points. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the visualization and analysis tool is further configured for dragging one or more of the plurality of façade boundary points.