Estimating dimensions of geo-referenced ground-level imagery using orthogonal imagery

Abstract

A system and method is provided for measurements of building façade elements by combining ground-level and orthogonal imagery. The measurements of the dimension of building façade elements are based on ground-level imagery that is scaled and geo-referenced using orthogonal imagery. The method continues by creating a tabular dataset of measurements for one or more architectural elements such as siding (e.g., aluminum, vinyl, wood, brick and/or paint), windows or doors. The tabular dataset can be part of an estimate report.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method of generating measurements of a three-dimensional building model, comprising:
 receiving a plurality of ground-level images capturing a building object;   determining a location associated with the plurality of ground-level images;   generating a three-dimensional building model based on the plurality of ground-level images, wherein the three-dimensional building model represents the building object as a projection in three-dimensional space;   receiving a geo-referenced top-view orthogonal image of the building object based on the location associated with the plurality of ground-level images;   matching at least a first point and a second point of the three-dimensional building model to corresponding pixels in the geo-referenced top-view orthogonal image;   deriving a scale of the three-dimensional building model by geo-referencing all points within the three-dimensional building model based on the matching; and   generating a measurement between a third point and a fourth point of the three-dimensional building model based on the derived scale.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of ground-level images are captured using a smartphone. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein generating the three-dimensional building model comprises:
 generating a three-dimensional point cloud of the building object based on the plurality of ground-level images.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein generating the three-dimensional building model further comprises:
 identifying architectural features of the three-dimensional point cloud.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 generating measurements of the architectural features based on the derived scale.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein matching at least the first point and the second point of the three-dimensional building model to corresponding pixels in the geo-referenced top-view orthogonal image comprises:
 matching at least two vertices of a planar surface of the three-dimensional building model to corresponding pixels in the geo-referenced top-view orthogonal image.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein generating the measurement between the third point and the fourth point of the three-dimensional building model based on the derived scale comprises:
 receiving a selection of the third point;   receiving a selection of the fourth point;   determining, in three-dimensional space, a linear distance between the third point and the fourth point; and   converting the linear distance to a geometric distance based on the derived scale,   wherein generating the measurement is further based on the geometric distance.   
     
     
         19 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed by a system comprising one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a plurality of ground-level images capturing a building object;   determining a location associated with the plurality of ground-level images;   generating a three-dimensional building model based on the plurality of ground-level images, wherein the three-dimensional building model represents the building object as a projection in three-dimensional space;   receiving a geo-referenced top-view orthogonal image of the building object based on the location associated with the plurality of ground-level images;   matching at least a first point and a second point of the three-dimensional building model to corresponding pixels in the geo-referenced top-view orthogonal image;   deriving a scale of the three-dimensional building model by geo-referencing all points within the three-dimensional building model based on the matching; and   generating a measurement between a third point and a fourth point of the three-dimensional building model based on the derived scale.   
     
     
         20 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of ground-level images are captured using a smartphone. 
     
     
         21 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 19 , wherein generating the three-dimensional building model comprises:
 generating a three-dimensional point cloud of the building object based on the plurality of ground-level images.   
     
     
         22 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 21 , wherein generating the three-dimensional building model further comprises:
 identifying architectural features of the three-dimensional point cloud.   
     
     
         23 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 generating measurements of the architectural features based on the derived scale.   
     
     
         24 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 19 , wherein matching at least the first point and the second point of the three-dimensional building model to corresponding pixels in the geo-referenced top-view orthogonal image comprises:
 matching at least two vertices of a planar surface of the three-dimensional building model to corresponding pixels in the geo-referenced top-view orthogonal image.   
     
     
         25 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of  claim 19 , wherein generating the measurement between the third point and the fourth point of the three-dimensional building model based on the derived scale comprises:
 receiving a selection of the third point;   receiving a selection of the fourth point;   determining, in three-dimensional space, a linear distance between the third point and the fourth point; and   converting the linear distance to a geometric distance based on the derived scale,   wherein generating the measurement is further based on the geometric distance.