Geographic information system

Abstract

To provide a geographic information system that can be applied to a wide range of different applications or user needs.SOLUTION: A geographic information system 1 comprises a database 11, a content registration part 13 that registers a geographic content uploaded by a user to the database, and a content display unit 19 that provides a geographic information screen displaying the registered geographic content to a user terminal. The geographic contents that can be registered include single-image, ortho-image, dynamic image, 3D model data, and their analysis result data. On the geographic information screen, either an overlapping display or a division display can be selected. In the overlapping display, the display arrangement for content is in the following order from back to front: a map, an ortho-image, and an icon of another content. In the division display, multiple pieces of content can be viewed in contrast. When a dynamic image is played back, a camera position mark is displayed at the position on the map corresponding to the point of playback.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a geographic information system for managing and visually displaying information on geographic spaces where geographical objects such as land, natural objects, or artificial objects exist, in association with the geographical locations of those geographical spaces. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a disaster prevention and recovery support system that uses a geographic information system. The purpose of this disaster prevention and recovery support system is to support the planning of measures to prevent damage before a disaster occurs, and to support recovery work after a disaster occurs.

[0003] Based on the input flood depth information, this system creates a flood depth layer that associates the flood depth information with topographical map information, colors the flood depth layer differently depending on the flood depth, and then superimposes the flood depth layer on the topographical map information. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-220030 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Geographic information systems can be used for a wide range of purposes in addition to disaster prevention measures as mentioned above. Furthermore, even for the same purpose, different users will have different needs for map information systems. Therefore, the type of geographic information that should be managed by a geographic information system will differ depending on the purpose and user.

[0006] For example, the disaster prevention and disaster recovery support system described in Patent Document 1 displays a flood depth layer, which is useful for flood prevention measures, but may not be suitable for other uses or needs.

[0007] In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a geographic information system that is adaptable to a wider range of different applications or user needs.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a geographic information system that can manage a wider variety of geographic information.

[0009] It is still another object of the present invention to provide a geographic information system that can visually display each piece of geographic information in a manner that utilizes not only its geographic location but also time. Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] According to one disclosed embodiment, a geographic information system that is communicatively connected to a user terminal and provides geographic information to the user terminal includes a database for managing one or more geographic contents, a content registration means that receives one or more geographic contents arbitrarily selected by a user and uploaded from the user terminal and registers the received geographic contents in the database, and a content display means that provides the user terminal with one or more types of geographic information screens that display at least a portion of the geographic contents registered in the database.

[0011] The geographic content does not necessarily have to be terrestrial data, but may be aerial data, underground data, underwater data, etc., and each piece of data can be linked to a corresponding geographic space.

[0012] The user terminal is not limited to a personal computer, but may be a smartphone, tablet, head-mounted display, or a new terminal device that may be developed in the future, regardless of the type of structure, function, or use.

[0013] Each of the geographic contents uploaded from the user terminal has one of a plurality of predetermined content types.

[0014] When the content registration means receives one or more pieces of geographic content uploaded from the user terminal, it identifies the content type of each of the received geographic content and registers each of the received geographic content in the database in a predetermined registration format corresponding to the identified content type.

[0015] The predetermined registration format for any of the one or more content types includes geographic coordinates associated with the geographic content.

[0016] If the received geographic content does not include geographic coordinates, the content registration means can associate geographic coordinates with the received geographic content by having the user specify the geographic coordinates directly or by having the user specify a point on a map to be linked to the geographic content.

[0017] The content display means searches the database for geographic content that matches one or more specified search conditions using specified conditions arbitrarily specified by the user, creates a first type of geographic information screen having a first content display section that displays a display image of the searched geographic content superimposed on a position on a specified map corresponding to the geographic coordinates, and provides the first type of geographic information screen to the user terminal.

[0018] The types of geographic content include at least orthoimagery and one or more other types.

[0019] The type of the geographic content includes at least a moving image. When the geographic content uploaded from the user terminal includes a moving image, the content registration means identifies the geographic coordinates of each of the start point and end point of the moving image and registers the moving image in the database in a moving image registration format that associates the moving image with the geographic coordinates of each of the start point and end point.

[0020] The geographic coordinates associated with the video images and registered need not be limited to the start and end points, and any number of points designated by the user as necessary for displaying the movement trajectory when shooting the video on a map may be registered. The movement trajectory passing through the points designated by the user is not limited to a straight line, and non-linear shapes, such as a U-shaped trajectory indicating a round trip route, a polygonal line trajectory, or a curved trajectory, may be registered.

[0021] When creating the first type of geographic information screen, the content display means arranges, within the first type of geographic information screen, a solid image display section that plays and displays the moving image together with the first content display section.

[0022] The content display means further displays a camera position mark on the map of the first content display unit at a position between the geographic coordinates of the start point and the geographic coordinates of the end point of the video.

[0023] The content display means further moves the camera position mark from the start point to the end point in accordance with the playback time point when the moving image is played back on the solid image display section.

[0024] The camera position mark may be a mark that indicates not only the camera position at the time of shooting but also the line of sight of the camera.

[0025] The type of the geographic content may include at least a panoramic image (a spherical image, a 360-degree image, or an image captured at a much wider angle range than a normal photograph). When a panoramic photograph is included in the geographic content uploaded from the user terminal, the content registration means can identify geographic coordinates indicating the location where the panoramic photograph was taken and register the coordinates in the database.

[0026] If the received panoramic photograph does not include geographic coordinates, the content registration means can register it in the database in a panoramic photograph registration format associated with geographic coordinates, for example, by having the user specify the coordinates of the shooting location on a map.

[0027] The types of the geographic content may include at least a DSM (Digital Surface Model). A DSM refers to a file that represents three-dimensional data consisting of the elevation of the surface of a feature in a two-dimensional mesh format. When the geographic content uploaded from the user terminal includes a DSM, the content registration means can identify geographic coordinates that define a planar geographic area corresponding to the DSM and register them in the database. When the received DSM does not include geographic coordinates of a geographic area corresponding to the received DSM, the content registration means can register the DSM in the database in a DSM registration format associated with the geographic coordinates, for example, by having the user specify the geographic coordinates on a map. Similar handling may also be performed for other types of geographic models, such as a DEM (Digital Elevation Model), a DTM (Digital Terrain Model), a DHM (Digital Height Model), and a DLM (Digital Land Use Map). Alternatively, the system may automatically create a geographic model of a geographic area using a large number of photographic images of the geographic area uploaded from a user terminal, and register the model as described above. These geographic models may be placed on the same layer as the ortho-rectified map image and displayed to the user as an image. Alternatively, icons of the geographic models may be displayed superimposed on the ortho-rectified map image, and when the user clicks on the icon, a viewer for the model may be launched, and the model may be displayed as an image.

[0028] The types of the geographic content may include at least 3D (three-dimensional) point cloud data. 3D point cloud data refers to a collection of point data having three-dimensional coordinates. When the geographic content uploaded from the user terminal includes 3D point cloud data, the content registration means can identify geographic coordinates indicating a geographic area corresponding to the 3D point cloud data and register them in the database. 3D point cloud data may also be handled in the same way as the DSM described above.

[0029] The types of the geographic content may include at least 3D (three-dimensional) mesh data. 3D mesh data refers to three-dimensional data composed of polygons with vertices corresponding to the points of the 3D point cloud data, and the surface of the polygon is called a mesh. When the geographic content uploaded from the user terminal includes 3D mesh data, the content registration means can identify geographic coordinates indicating the shooting area of ​​the 3D mesh data and register them in the database. 3D mesh data may also be handled in the same way as the DSM described above.

[0030] The type of the geographic content may include at least a label. A label refers to geographic content consisting of an arbitrary point designated by a user on a map and information attached to the point. The information attached to the point may be a label name, a memo, a file, a URL link, etc. The content registration means allows the user to designate a point on the map where the user wants to place a label, thereby identifying the geographic coordinates that manage the label and registering the label in the database by linking it to the geographic coordinates.

[0031] Among the geographical content, orthoimages, DSM, 3D point cloud data, 3D mesh data, etc. do not necessarily need to be input from an external source; the system may generate such data by, for example, performing SfM / MVS analysis based on images and videos registered in the database.

[0032] Of the geographical content, panoramic photographs do not necessarily need to be input from an external source; the system may generate a panoramic image by combining images and videos registered in the database.

[0033] The content display means may allow the user to specify a measurement area on the orthoimage, measure the distance, area, volume, etc. of the specified area, and display the measurement results superimposed on the orthoimage in the form of, for example, a graph.

[0034] The content display means may be capable of switching the displayed background image to any geographic content (e.g., one of orthoimages from multiple periods, or an image of a geographic model such as a DSM instead of an orthoimage) when the user specifies the measurement area or when the measurement result is displayed, thereby enabling the user to grasp the situation of the measurement target area in more detail or accurately.

[0035] The measurement area and the measurement results themselves can be registered in the database as geographic content. This allows the measurement area and the measurement results to be searched using any search means, just like other geographic content registered by the user. Furthermore, when the measurement area and the measurement results are registered in the database, any comments or tags entered by the user can be added, just like other geographic content.

[0036] The geographic coordinates of the vertices of the measurement area may be freely updated by a user even after the measurement area is registered in the database, and the updated vertex coordinates may be overwritten and saved in the database.

[0037] The content display means can allow the user to select one or more geographic contents on the first type of geographic information screen, and can allow the user to select a format for displaying the geographic contents between an overlaid display format and a split display format. The selection method can be a method in which the user selects each geographic content item in turn, or a method in which the user designates a geographic area and simultaneously selects one or more geographic contents that exist within the geographic area.

[0038] When the user selects one or more geographic contents and selects the split display format on the first type of geographic information screen, the content display means creates a second type of geographic information screen having a second content display section that displays the selected geographic contents in a split display format that allows them to be viewed in comparison, and provides the second type of geographic information screen to the user terminal.

[0039] The content display means may divide the geographic information screen into as many geographic contents as there are geographic contents present in the geographic area selected by the user on the map, and display the geographic contents. The number of divisions of the geographic information screen is not limited to two, and the user may display as many geographic contents as desired in the divided display format.

[0040] When displaying a plurality of panoramic photographs in a split display format, the content display means may be capable of automatically changing the viewing direction of the other displayed panoramic photographs in response to a user's operation to change the viewing direction of one of the panoramic photographs.

[0041] When displaying a plurality of panoramic photographs in a split display format, the content display means may be able to change the viewing direction of the displayed plurality of panoramic photographs so that they are directed in the direction toward the point specified by the user when the user specifies any one point on the map.

[0042] When geographical content from multiple different periods exists in a geographical area, the content display means may not only be able to display the geographical content, but also be able to analyze the differences between the geographical content from the different periods and display the results of the difference analysis.

[0043] If the geographic contents from the multiple periods each have a position error, the content display means may automatically correct the position error of the geographic contents by analyzing each of the geographic contents and extracting overlapping feature points before performing the difference analysis, and performing a local iterative calculation to minimize the difference between the overlapping feature points.

[0044] When the geographic content from multiple periods each has a position error, the content display means does not necessarily have to perform the difference analysis entirely automatically. The content display means may semi-automatically correct the position error of the geographic content by manually clicking on a map or directly specifying a numerical value from a screen or file to identify overlapping feature points in the geographic content, and performing a local iterative calculation to minimize the difference between these overlapping feature points.

[0045] The content registration and display means may not only be able to register and display a certain geographic content, but may also be able to register and display the analysis results of image analysis or AI analysis using that geographic content as input as another geographic content.

[0046] When there are multiple image analysis results or AI analysis results from different times in a certain geographical area, the content display means may be able to analyze the differences between the image analysis results or AI analysis results from those different times and display the difference analysis results.

[0047] The analysis results may not only be displayed on the content display means, but may also be output externally so that they can be imported into an external system.

[0048] When the content registration means receives one or more pieces of geographic content uploaded from the user terminal, it identifies the date and time of each piece of received geographic content, and allows the user to set one or more tags of their choice for each piece of received geographic content, and registers each piece of received geographic content in the database in a predetermined registration format corresponding to each content type associated with the identified date and time and the set tags.

[0049] The one or more predetermined search conditions include at least a period condition for narrowing down the geographic content to be searched by the date and time, and a tag condition for narrowing down the geographic content to be searched by the tag.

[0050] The content registration means can register one or more pieces of geographic content uploaded from the user terminal in association with one or more projects arbitrarily set by the user.

[0051] The content registration means can allow the user to select between a first registration method for registering one or more geographic contents in association with one project, and a second registration method for registering multiple geographic contents in association with multiple projects.

[0052] When the second registration method is selected and multiple geographic contents are uploaded from the user terminal, the content registration means automatically classifies the uploaded multiple geographic contents into multiple groups, allows the user to perform desired modifications for each of the classified multiple groups, allows the user to set a project for each of the classified multiple groups, and registers the geographic contents belonging to each of the classified multiple groups in the database in association with the set project.

[0053] The content display means receives a request from the user terminal to open a project desired by the user, and creates the first type of geographic information screen using geographic content in the database associated with the desired project and provides it to the user terminal.

[0054] The first type of geographic information screen has a tag editing section for the user to edit tags of each piece of geographic content displayed on the first type of geographic information screen. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0055] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall hardware configuration of a geographic information system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a management table stored in a database. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a project display screen. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a split screen displaying a plurality of contents. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a control flow for opening a project by the content display unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a control flow for searching and displaying content by a content display unit. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a control flow for switching between split display and superimposed display of content by the content display unit. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displaying a video. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the flow of processing for controlling a camera position mark according to the playback time of a video by a content display unit. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the flow of processing for controlling the playback point of a video in accordance with a camera position mark by a content display unit. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for selecting how to register content. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for selecting content to be registered. [Figure 13]FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed as a result of selecting content to be registered. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen resulting from automatic grouping of selected content. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for modifying a content group. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for registering a project for each group. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a control flow for registering content by a content registration unit. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a more detailed control flow when the content display unit uploads content. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flow of one control example of calculation processing of a content analysis tool. [Figure 20] 10 is a diagram showing the flow of one mode of controlling the viewing direction of a plurality of panoramic images by the content display unit when the panoramic images are displayed in a split display format. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the flow of another mode of controlling the viewing direction of a plurality of panoramic images by the content display unit when the panoramic images are displayed in a split display format. [Figure 22] FIG. 1 illustrates a control flow for aligning multiple pieces of geographic content that reside in the same geographic area. [Figure 23] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a project screen displaying a panoramic image. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0056] FIG. 1 shows the overall hardware configuration of a geographic information system according to an embodiment.

[0057] A geographic information system 1 according to one embodiment is communicatively connected to one or more user terminals 3 via a communication network 5, and provides geographic information to the user terminals 3. That is, the geographic information system 1 can receive various types of geographic content from the user terminals 3, and store and register the received geographic content. The geographic information system 1 can provide geographic information to the user terminals 3 in various ways, such as superimposing the registered geographic content on a map, comparing and displaying multiple geographic content items, and displaying detailed information about the geographic content items. The types of geographic content (hereinafter simply referred to as "content") that the geographic information system 1 can handle include, for example, a single still image (hereinafter also referred to as a single image) taken by a camera at an arbitrary point, a 360-degree image and / or a celestial sphere image for a panoramic display, a video image, an orthoimage of an arbitrary area, multiple still images for creating the orthoimage, three-dimensional or two-dimensional model data of an arbitrary geographic object or area (for example, a DEM (Digital Elevation Model), a DTM (Digital Terrain Model), a DHM (Digital Height Model), 3D point cloud data (a collection of point data with three-dimensional coordinates), 3D mesh data (three-dimensional data composed of polygons with each point of the three-dimensional point cloud data as a vertex), a DLM (Digital Land Use Map), etc.), and analysis data obtained by analyzing such content, but are not limited to these. The above analysis data may include, for example, differential analysis results between multiple registered geographic content, image analysis results, AI analysis results obtained by analyzing geographic content using artificial intelligence (AI), differential analysis results between multiple image analysis results, and / or differential analysis results between multiple AI analysis results.

[0058] The geographic information system 1 includes a processor 7, a memory 9, and a database 11. Various computer programs are stored in the memory 9, and the processor 7 executes these computer programs to realize various functions for providing geographic information, which will be described in detail below.

[0059] The computer programs stored in the memory 9 include, for example, a content registration unit 13, an ortho image generation unit 15, a tile image generation unit 17, a content display unit 19, and a content analysis unit 21. The content registration unit 13 is a program that receives content from the user terminal 3 and stores and registers it in the database 11. The ortho image generation unit 15 is a program that creates an ortho image from multiple registered single images of a certain area. The tile image generation unit 17 is a program that creates multiple tile images from a display target image, such as an ortho image or a single image, to display the image at a zoom ratio desired by the user. The content display unit 19 is a program that displays content desired by the user in a manner desired by the user. The content analysis unit 21 is a collection of one or more content analysis tools 23, and each content analysis tool 23 is a program that analyzes a specific type of content in a specific manner for a specific purpose.

[0060] The database 11 stores and manages one or more types of management tables 25, files 17 of various registered content, etc. The database 11 may also hold one or more types of maps (not shown) (alternatively, the maps may be received by the geographic information system 1 from an external map providing system via the network 5 in real time when the maps are displayed).

[0061] FIG. 2 shows an example of the configuration of the management table 25 stored in the database 11. As shown in FIG.

[0062] FIG. 2 illustrates a project management table 25A for managing projects and a content management table 25B for managing content (although not shown, there may also be a user management table for managing users).

[0063] One or more projects set by a user are registered in a project registration format in the project management table 25A. That is, for each project (i.e., the purpose or task for which the user uses the geographic information system 1), the project name, the address of the location or area on the map to be displayed in that project, the user group that can view that project, the content analysis tool that can be used in that project, etc. are registered in the project management table 25A.

[0064] In the content management table 25B, one or more pieces of content (content files) uploaded from the user terminal 3 are registered in a predetermined registration format according to the type of each piece of content. That is, in the content management table 25B, for each piece of content received (uploaded) from the user terminal 3, the file name, the file type (i.e., the type of content), the geographic coordinates (latitude, longitude, altitude) of the shooting start point, the geographic coordinates (latitude, longitude, altitude) of the shooting end point, the camera orientation at the start of shooting, the camera orientation at the end of shooting, the name of the project in which the content is used, tags attached to the content (concepts related to the purpose, use, characteristics, location, utility, value, etc. of the content, arbitrarily set by the user), the date and time of the content (at the time of shooting or registration), etc. Note that when the content type is a single image or an orthoimage, the same shooting position and orientation are registered at the start and end of shooting, but for a moving image, different shooting positions and orientations may be registered at the start and end of shooting. In the case of an orthoimage, the geographic coordinates of the representative four corner points of the orthoimage are registered as the geographic coordinates of the shooting start point.

[0065] FIG. 3 shows an example of a project screen that the geographic information system 1 displays on the user terminal 3.

[0066] When a user logs in to the geographic information system 1 and opens one of the projects that the user can view, a project screen for working on that project is displayed on the user terminal 3. There are several types of project screens, but the one shown in Figure 3 is one typical project screen.

[0067] 3, the upper part of the project screen 31 has a project name field 33, a tag search field 35, and a period search field 37. In the center of the project screen 31 is a content display frame 39, and to the left of that is a detail display frame 41. Also, an upload button 62 is located above the content display frame 39, and a download button 71 is located below the detail display frame 41.

[0068] The project name field 33 displays the name of the currently open project. In the tag search field 35, the user can enter any tag, and only content with that tag can be searched from the database 11 and displayed in the content display frame 39. In the period search field 37, the user can enter any period (start and end dates of the period), and only content with dates and times within that period can be searched from the database 11 and displayed in the content display frame 39. In this way, by searching for content by selectively or combining different types of search conditions, namely tags and periods, the user can prevent content that is not conceptually or chronologically necessary for the work from being displayed in the content display frame 39.

[0069] The content display format can be switched between two types, superimposed display and split display, in the content display frame 39. The switching can be performed by clicking the split / superimposed display switching button 59 on the content display frame 39.

[0070] The example in Figure 3 shows a case where the superimposed display format is currently selected. In the superimposed display format, a predetermined map 43 (one type of map selected by the user from multiple types of maps prepared in advance (for example, maps with different images such as illustrations from different vendors or satellite photos)) is displayed as the background of the content display frame 39. The location or area of ​​the map initially displayed when a project is opened is the location or area corresponding to the representative part of the project registered in the project management table 25A (Figure 2) (the user can then freely change the displayed location or area by scrolling, etc.). Content registered by the user (and searched for by tag and / or period) is displayed superimposed on this background map 43.

[0071] In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, an orthoimage 45 of the area is displayed with its solid image overlaid on top of the map 43 (the set of tile images used to display the solid image varies depending on the zoom ratio). Content other than the orthoimage (e.g., single image, image for panoramic display, video, 3D model data, analysis result data, etc.) is not displayed as a solid image, but rather as an icon indicating the respective content type, such as 47 (single image taken with a normal camera), 49 (single image taken with a smartphone), 51 (360-degree still image for panoramic display), 53 (video), or 55 (analysis result data), overlaid on top of the map 43 or orthoimage 47. Therefore, the front-to-back arrangement of the content is, from back to front, first the map 43 at the back, then the orthoimage 45, and finally the icons 47, 49, 51, 53, and 55 of the other content at the front. This display order is unrelated to the order of the date and time of the content. The display position of each content (or its icon) on the map is a position corresponding to the geographic coordinates of each content registered in the content management table 25B.

[0072] Furthermore, when multiple orthoimages are displayed superimposed on one another, there is no anteroposterior positional relationship between the orthoimages, and each orthoimage is displayed with clarity according to the transparency set by the user for each orthoimage.

[0073] In addition, when icons of content other than orthoimages are displayed on top of each other, they are arranged in chronological order (for example, a newer icon is placed on top of an older icon), and even icons with the exact same geographic coordinates are displayed slightly shifted so that the icons behind them are not hidden.

[0074] Instead of the above-described display order of map, orthoimage, and icons of other geographic content from back to front, the following display order may be adopted: the map is displayed in the backmost layer, the orthoimage and actual images of 3D model data are displayed in the middle layer above it, and icons of other geographic content are displayed in the frontmost layer. The transparency of the orthoimage and actual images of 3D model data in the middle layer may be adjustable so that their relationship with each other can be seen.

[0075] Furthermore, if the displayed geographic content includes analytical data, the following display order may be adopted: a map is displayed in the backmost layer, an orthoimage (or an orthoimage and actual image of 3D model data) is displayed in an intermediate layer above that, analytical data is displayed in a second intermediate layer above that, and icons of other geographic content are displayed in the foreground layer above that.

[0076] By displaying a plurality of contents in an overlapping manner in this manner, the user can easily grasp where on the map each content is located.

[0077] Furthermore, if the user wishes, a list 57 of the contents displayed on the map 43 of the content display frame 39 can be displayed in the foreground of the content display frame 39. Thumbnail images 58 of the contents displayed on the map 43 are displayed in the display content list 57 (the actual thumbnail images are omitted from FIG. 3 ). When the user selects any one or more pieces of content on the map 43, the thumbnail images 58 of the selected contents are also selected in the display content list 57 (for example, a check mark is added). Conversely, when the user selects any one or more thumbnail images 58 in the display content list 57, the selected contents are also selected on the map 43 (for example, the display color of the icon or orthoimage of the selected contents changes). This makes it easier for the user to confirm what content is located where on the map.

[0078] Furthermore, when the user clicks the split / overlap display switching button 59 on the content display frame 39, the display format of the content display frame 39 switches from overlaid display to split display (or vice versa). FIG. 4 shows an example of the display of the content display frame 39 when switched to the split display format. The example in FIG. 4 shows an example in which the user previously selects four pieces of content (e.g., orthoimages 73A to 73D of approximately the same area captured at different times) in the overlaid display format exemplified in FIG. 3, and then switches the content display frame 39 from overlaid display to split display. As shown in FIG. 4, in the split display format, the entities of the multiple pieces of content selected by the user are displayed in a comparative manner. Furthermore, if analysis result data 75 exists for the selected pieces of content 73A to 73D, the entities of the analysis result data 75 are also displayed. This makes it easy for the user to visually and numerically grasp the differences and changes between the multiple pieces of content selected.

[0079] 4, when a plurality of orthoimages 73A to 73D are displayed for comparison in a split display format, if a user specifies an arbitrary point, a line segment connecting two points, or an area with three or more points as vertices on one orthoimage (for example, 73A) (in the example of FIG. 4, the user specifies a rectangular area indicated by a dashed line), points, line segments, or areas with the same geographic coordinates as specified by the user are automatically identified and displayed on the other orthoimages 73B to 73D. If each of the orthoimages 73A to 73D is accompanied by 3D model data created during its creation, the respective 3D model data can be used to perform various measurements and analyses (for example, distance measurement, area measurement, deposition measurement, comparison of measurement values, statistical processing, etc.) on the point, line segment, or area specified by the user using one of the above-mentioned analysis tools 23.

[0080] 3 again, when the user requests detailed information display for any one piece of content on the content display frame 39 (for example, by double-clicking on the icon or thumbnail image of that content), the detailed information for that content is displayed in the detailed display frame 41. As an example, FIG. 3 shows a case where detailed information for an orthoimage 45 is displayed. The types of multiple columns in the detailed information displayed in the detailed display frame 41 vary depending on the type of content, but columns common to all content types include a content entity image column 63, a basic information column 65, a comment editing column 67, a tag editing column 69, etc.

[0081] The content solid image field 63 displays the solid image of the content. This solid image can be displayed in full screen or at any other size desired by the user. In the case of an orthoimage, the user can set the transparency of the orthoimage in this field 63. In the case of a moving image, the moving image can also be played in this field 63.

[0082] The user can enter and add any comment for the content or modify an existing comment and register the comment in the comment editing field 67. The user can enter and register any tag for the content in the tag editing field 69, or delete an existing registered tag.

[0083] Furthermore, by clicking the download button 71, the file of the content displayed in the details display frame 41 can be downloaded from the geographic information system 1 to the user terminal 3.

[0084] Furthermore, by clicking the upload button 62, any content file can be uploaded from the user terminal 3 to the geographic information system 1.

[0085] FIG. 5 shows a control flow for opening the above-mentioned project and displaying the project screen 31 by the content display unit 19 (FIG. 1).

[0086] As shown in FIG. 5, when a user specifies a project to open (step S1), a project screen 31 for that project, such as the one shown in FIG. 3, is displayed on the user terminal 3. In the content display frame 39 within the screen 31, a map specified by the user is displayed as a background, and various registered content (such as orthoimages and icons of other types of content) associated with the project (the project is registered in the content management table 25A) are displayed superimposed on the map (S2). Each content is displayed at a position on the map corresponding to the geographic coordinates of the content. As described above, the order of the content is from back to front: map, orthoimage, and other content icons. Furthermore, icons of the analysis tools 23 used in the project (registered in the project in the project management table 25A) are also displayed within the content display frame 39 (S3).

[0087] In this state, when the user requests the display of detailed information about any one piece of content (S4), the detailed information about that content is displayed (S5) in the detailed display frame 41. The user can update the registered information in the content management table 25B by editing the detailed information in the various fields displayed in the detailed display frame 41 (S6) and adding, changing, or deleting additional information such as tags attached to the content (S7).

[0088] FIG. 6 shows a control flow for searching for and displaying content on the project screen 31 by the content display unit 19 (FIG. 1).

[0089] As shown in Fig. 6, when a user requests a search (narrowing down) by specifying an arbitrary tag in the tag search field 35 of the project screen 31 (Fig. 3) (S11), only content tagged with that tag is searched from among the content associated with that project (S12). When the user scrolls, zooms in and out of the map displayed in the content display frame 39, or selects an arbitrary area on the map to specify the display range of the map (S13), only content that exists in the specified area is searched from among the content associated with that project (S14). Also, when a user requests a search (narrowing down) by specifying an arbitrary period in the period search field 37 (S15), only content associated with the project with a date and time that falls within that period is searched from among the content associated with that project (S16).

[0090] When a search is narrowed down using one or more specified conditions that combine one or more of the three search conditions, namely, tag, map display range, and period, only content that matches the specified conditions will be selected from the content associated with the project, and only the selected content will be displayed on the map in the content display frame 39 (S17).

[0091] FIG. 7 shows a control flow for switching the display format in the content display frame 39 of the project screen 31 between split display and overlapping display by the content display unit 19 (FIG. 1).

[0092] As shown in Fig. 7, when the content display frame 39 on the project screen 31 (Fig. 3) is in the superimposed display format, the user selects one or more pieces of content on the map or from the content list in the content display frame 39 (S21) and then clicks the split / superimposed display switch button 59 (S22). Analysis result data for the selected content is searched for in the database 11 (S23), and if analysis result data is available, the analysis result data and an actual image of the selected content are displayed in the split display format (S24). If analysis result data is not available, the actual image of the selected content is displayed in the split display format so that the images can be viewed side by side (S25).

[0093] Thereafter, when the user clicks the split / overlapped display switching button 59 (S26), the display format of the content display frame 39 switches to the overlapped display (S27). Thereafter, (although not clearly shown in FIG. 7) each time the user clicks the split / overlapped display switching button 59, the display alternates between the overlapped display and the split display.

[0094] FIG. 8 shows a display example when a moving image is displayed on the project screen 31 as shown in FIG.

[0095] As shown in Fig. 8, when detailed information about a video is displayed in the detailed display frame 41 on the project screen 31 (for example, by the user double-clicking on the video icon 47), the video 83 is displayed in the entity image field 81 at the top of the detailed display frame 41. Clicking on the play button 85 below the video 83 allows the video 83 to be played. Also, a playback time point display 87 for the video 83 (playback time from the start frame) is shown, and a playback time point mark 89 is also displayed on the playback control bar.

[0096] When a moving image is displayed in the detailed display frame 41 in this way, a trajectory setting field 91 is displayed within the detailed display frame 41. This trajectory setting field 91 displays the geographic coordinates and camera direction of each of the start point (shooting start position) and end point (shooting end position) of the moving image (this information can be set when registering content, which will be described later), and the user can also change the geographic coordinates and camera direction of the start point and end point in the trajectory setting field 91.

[0097] Furthermore, in this case, a start point mark 93 and an end point mark 97 are automatically displayed in the content display frame 39 on the geographic coordinates of the start point and end point of the video, respectively, and a trajectory mark 95, which connects the start point mark 93 and the end point mark 97, for example, with a straight line, is also automatically displayed. The trajectory mark 95 approximately represents the movement trajectory of the camera when shooting the video. Note that if the movement trajectory of the camera that shot the video is a curved or broken line, the user may be able to set not only the start point and end point, but also the coordinates of one or more waypoints on the movement trajectory. In this case, a broken or curved trajectory mark 95 may be displayed that starts from the start point, passes through one or more waypoints in order, and reaches the end point.

[0098] Furthermore, a camera position mark 99 is automatically displayed at a position on the locus mark 95 corresponding to the playback time point 87. In other words, a position is automatically calculated by proportionally allocating the entire length of the locus mark 95 based on the ratio of the playback time point to the total playback duration of the video, and the camera position mark 99 is displayed at that position. Therefore, while the video is being played, the camera position mark 99 moves from the start point to the end point along the locus mark 95, allowing the user to understand from which position on the map the scene they are currently viewing was filmed.

[0099] Furthermore, when the user moves the playback time mark 89 (playback time) on the playback control bar of the video, the camera position mark 99 on the map also moves in conjunction with this. Similarly, when the user moves the camera position mark 99 on the map, the playback time mark 89 (playback time) of the video also moves in conjunction with this.

[0100] FIG. 9 shows the flow of processing by the content display unit 19 (FIG. 1) to control the camera position mark 99 in accordance with the playback time of the video 83.

[0101] 9, a start point mark 93, an end point mark 97, and a trajectory mark 95 are displayed on the map in the content display frame 39 (S31). Furthermore, a position on the trajectory mark 95 corresponding to the playback time of the video 83 is calculated, and a camera position mark 99 is displayed at that position (S32).

[0102] FIG. 10 shows the flow of processing by the content display unit 19 (FIG. 1) to control the playback point of the video 83 in accordance with the camera position mark 99.

[0103] As shown in FIG. 10, when the user moves the camera position mark 99 on the map along the trajectory mark 95 (S41), the playback time point of the video 83 corresponding to the position of the camera position mark 99 is calculated, and the actual playback time point of the video is changed to the calculated playback time point (S42).

[0104] Referring again to Figure 3, when the user clicks on the upload button 62 in the project screen 31, the user can upload and register various types of content such as those described above from the user terminal 3 to the map information system 1.

[0105] 11 to 16 show an example of a series of screens that the geographic information system 1 displays on the user terminal 3 when uploading and registering content.

[0106] When the above-mentioned upload button 62 is clicked, a registration method selection screen 106 is first displayed as shown in Fig. 11. On this screen 106, it is possible to select either a method of registering one or more pieces of content in one project, or a method of registering multiple pieces of content in multiple projects. The former can be selected by clicking button 103, and the latter by clicking button 105.

[0107] Regardless of whether button 103 or 105 is clicked, control then proceeds to the content selection step, and a content selection screen 106 such as that shown in FIG. 12 is displayed. This screen 106 has a file selection field 107 and a map display field 109. The user can use the file selection field 107 to select one or more content files that the user wishes to register from any directory on the user terminal 3 or network 5. The map display field 109 displays a map of any area selected by the user, or a map of the area that includes the location coordinates described in the content file the user has selected to register.

[0108] When the user selects one or more content files to be registered using the file selection field 107, a list of thumbnail images 111 of the selected content is displayed in the content selection field 107, as shown in Fig. 13. In addition, a content icon 113 representing the serial number of the selected content is displayed at a position on the map in the map display field 109 that corresponds to the geographic coordinates of the selected content.

[0109] After selecting the content to be registered in this way, when the user clicks Next button 114, the next step and the screen displayed differ depending on whether the content is to be registered in one project or in multiple projects. In the former case, control proceeds to the project registration step, and project registration screen 121 as shown in Fig. 16 is displayed. On the other hand, in the latter case, control proceeds to the content classification step, and content classification screen 115 as shown in Fig. 14 is displayed.

[0110] In the latter case, when the process proceeds to the content classification step, the content registration unit 13 (FIG. 1) of the geographic information system 1 automatically classifies the selected content into multiple groups. This classification classifies content that is expected to be registered in the same project into the same group, and content that is expected to be registered in different projects into different groups. This classification can be performed, for example, using a machine-learned neural network based on the type (identifier) ​​of the content file, the geographic coordinates recorded in the content file, the camera orientation, the shooting date and time, etc. The results of this automatic classification are displayed on a content classification screen 115, an example of which is shown in FIG. 14. That is, the results of the automatic classification are displayed in a file classification column 117 on this screen 115.

[0111] When the user requests a correction to the classification results shown in the file classification field 117 of this screen 115, the screen switches to a classification correction screen 118 as shown in Fig. 15. On this classification correction screen 118, the user can correct the group classification of the content by selecting any content in the file selection field 107 or map display field 109 and moving it to any group in the destination group box 119. When the user clicks the confirm button 120 on this screen, the correction results are confirmed, and the screen changes to the content classification screen 115 shown in Fig. 14.

[0112] When the user clicks the Next button 116 on the content classification screen 115 shown in FIG. 14, control proceeds to the project registration step, and a project registration screen 121 such as that shown in FIG. 16 is displayed.

[0113] 16, for each content group, icons 113 of the content belonging to that group are displayed in the map display field 109, and a project setting field 123 for setting the project to which those contents are to be registered is displayed. In the project setting field 123, the user can set the name of the project to which the contents are to be registered and the content processing to be performed on the content of that group (for example, orthoimage processing, tile image processing, etc.).

[0114] When the user makes the necessary project settings on this project registration screen 121 and then clicks the Next button 125, the content files of that group are uploaded from the user terminal 3 to the geographic information system 1 and registered in the destination project. At that time, the geographic information system 1 performs the set content processing on the uploaded content. Furthermore, if the content is a video, the geographic information system 1 has the user specify the start and end points of the video and the camera direction on a map in the map display field 109 as shown in Fig. 16 (specific screens for this purpose are not shown), and registers the geographic coordinates of the start and end points and the camera direction together with the video file.

[0115] FIG. 17 shows a control flow for registering the above-mentioned content by the content registration unit 13 (FIG. 1).

[0116] As shown in Fig. 17, the user selects on registration method selection screen 101 (Fig. 11) whether the content will be registered (uploaded) to one project or multiple projects (S41). Regardless of which option is selected, the user then selects one or more pieces of content to register using content selection field 107 on content selection screen 106 (Fig. 12) (S42). Then, icons for the selected content are displayed at the corresponding positions on the map in map display field 109 on content selection screen 106 (Fig. 12) (S43).

[0117] Thereafter, only if registration to multiple projects is selected in step S41, automatic group classification of the selected content is performed (S44). Thereafter, the user corrects the automatic classification results. That is, the user displays classification correction screen 118 (FIG. 15), moves the cursor onto the map in map display field 109 on screen 118 (Yes in S45), selects any content on the map, and moves it to any group in destination group box 119, thereby correcting the group (S46). Alternatively, the user moves the cursor onto file selection field 107 on classification correction screen 118 (FIG. 15) (No in S45), selects any content from the content list in field 107, and moves it to any group in destination group box 119, thereby correcting the group (S47).

[0118] After the content to be registered in each project has been determined in this way, the user sets information for each project on project registration screen 121 (FIG. 16) (S48). Furthermore, the user sets the processing to be performed on the content on project registration screen 121 (FIG. 16) (S49).

[0119] After completing the above settings, when the user clicks the Next button 125 on the project registration screen 121 (Figure 16), the content files to be registered in each project are uploaded to the geographic information server 1 along with the various information set above, and are stored and registered in the database 11 (S50).

[0120] FIG. 18 shows a more detailed control flow of the content upload step shown in step S50 of FIG.

[0121] As shown in Fig. 18, the extension of the uploaded content file is checked (S51), and the type of the content is identified (S52 to S55). Although Fig. 18 shows examples of content types such as single images (still images), orthoimages, moving images, and 3D model data, other types are also possible (for example, data from analysis results, 360-degree still images or moving images for panoramic display with different identifiers for each camera, report documents regarding a certain location or region, etc.).

[0122] If the identification result is a single image (Yes in S52), and if orthoimage processing is not set for that single image (No in S56), it is stored and registered in the database 11 in a predetermined registration format for single images (S59).

[0123] Furthermore, if orthoimage processing is set for multiple overlapping single images of a certain area captured by a camera (Yes in S56), an orthoimage of the area is created from the multiple single images (S57), and tile images for display are created from the orthoimage (S58). These single images, orthoimages, and tile images are then associated with each other and stored and registered in database 11 in a predetermined registration format for each image type (S59). Note that in the process of creating the orthoimage in step S57, 3D model data of the area is usually created as an intermediate product. This 3D model data may also be stored and registered in database 11 in a predetermined registration format for 3D model data, associated with the orthoimage or independent of the orthoimage (S59).

[0124] Furthermore, if the above identification result is an orthoimage (Yes in S53), a tile image for display is created from the orthoimage (S58), and the orthoimage and tile image are associated with each other and stored and registered in the database 11 in a predetermined registration format for each image type (S59).

[0125] Furthermore, if the above identification result is a video (Yes in S54), the user is prompted to set the start and end positions of the camera's movement trajectory during shooting of the video and the direction of the camera's line of sight on the map display field 109 of the project registration screen 121 (FIG. 16) (S60) (if the movement trajectory is a broken line or a curve, the positions of one or more waypoints on the movement trajectory may also be set).The video, together with setting information such as the start and end points and camera direction, is then stored and registered in the database 11 in a predetermined registration format for video (S59).

[0126] When uploading geographic content through the above process, if the uploaded geographic content includes one or more geographic coordinates that identify a location or region corresponding to the geographic content, the associated geographic coordinates can be registered in association with the geographic content. On the other hand, if the uploaded geographic content does not include such geographic coordinates, the user can be prompted to enter the numerical values ​​of the geographic coordinates or to specify a location corresponding to the geographic coordinates on a map displayed on the geographic information display screen, and the geographic coordinates provided by the user can be registered in association with the geographic content.

[0127] The one or more geographic coordinates that may be registered in association with each geographic content may include, for example, the coordinates of the shooting location of a single image, the coordinates of the viewpoint (shooting location) of a panoramic image and the orientation of the overall center position of the panoramic image (which may also include the orientation of other specified positions in the panoramic image), the coordinates of the vertices of the contour of an orthoimage, the coordinates of the vertices of the contour of a geographic area in which a three-dimensional model exists, the coordinates of the start and end points of the camera's movement trajectory from the start to the end of shooting a moving image and any passing points as necessary, and the geographic coordinates of the content to be analyzed in the analysis data.

[0128] FIG. 19 shows an example of the flow of control of a tool that measures the area and volume of a geographical region, as an example of the content analysis tool 23.

[0129] 19, when a user specifies a desired geographic area on the orthoimage map displayed on the content display frame 39 (S61), the tool calculates the planar area of ​​the specified area using the geographic coordinates of the vertices of the specified area in the orthoimage (S62). If a three-dimensional model (e.g., 3D point cloud data or 3D mesh data) exists for the specified area, the tool acquires the three-dimensional model (S63), and then calculates the volume of the specified area using the geographic coordinates of points within the specified area of ​​the three-dimensional model (S64).

[0130] If there are multiple 3D models obtained at different times for the same specified area, the volume of the specified area at each time is calculated using the 3D models from each of those different times using the method described above (S65). The calculation results of the area of ​​the specified area and the volume at each time are associated with the geographic coordinates of the specified area, registered in database 11 as the geographic content of the measurement data, and then displayed on the geographic information display screen in the form of, for example, a graph (S66).

[0131] This tool further allows the user to select desired geographic content (e.g., an orthoimage or 3D data image from one of the different time periods) as the background of the content display frame 39 when the calculation results are displayed (S67). When the user selects a certain geographic content as the background, the selected content is displayed as the background (S68). In this way, when the calculation results of the area of ​​the specified region and the volume at different time periods are displayed, displaying the desired geographic content, particularly the geographic content from the desired time period, as the background makes it easier for the user to understand changes in geographic conditions over time.

[0132] 20 shows the flow of one mode of controlling the viewing direction of multiple panoramic images when they are displayed in a split display format. In this mode, the viewing direction of multiple panoramic images is controlled so that it changes by the same pan (left-right viewing angle) and tilt (up-down viewing angle) angles.

[0133] 20, panoramic images (for example, panoramic photograph images) present in the map area displayed in the content display frame 39 are searched for in the database 11 (S71). When the user specifies multiple panoramic images that he or she wants to display in a split display format from among the searched panoramic images (S72), the specified multiple panoramic images are displayed in the content display frame 39 in a split display format (S73).

[0134] Mouse operations by the user on the displayed panoramic images are monitored (S74), and when a mouse operation on one of the panoramic images is detected (S75), the pan operation amount and tilt operation amount (up and down movement of the line of sight) of the mouse operation are calculated (S76).The calculated pan (up and down movement of the line of sight) operation amount (pan) and the calculated tilt operation amount (tilt) are then applied to all the displayed panoramic images simultaneously (S77), and the lines of sight of all the panoramic images are simultaneously changed by the same pan angle and the same tilt angle.

[0135] In addition, when multiple panoramic images are initially displayed in step S73, the viewing direction of all panoramic images can be controlled to be aligned in the same direction, such as north.In this case, the viewing direction of all displayed panoramic images can be aligned in the same direction by the process shown in Figure 20.

[0136] Figure 21 shows the flow of another mode of controlling the viewing direction of multiple panoramic images when they are displayed in a split display format. In this mode, the viewing direction of multiple panoramic images is controlled to be directed toward a specific point on a map.

[0137] As shown in FIG. 21 , panoramic images (e.g., panoramic photograph images) present in the map area displayed in the content display frame 39 are searched from the database 11 (S81). From among the searched panoramic images, the user specifies multiple panoramic images to be displayed in a split display format (S82). The user then specifies a point to which the panoramic images are to be directed on the displayed map or by inputting geographic coordinate values ​​(S83). Based on the geographic coordinates of the specified point and the geographic coordinates of the viewpoints of each of the specified panoramic images (i.e., the locations where the panoramic photographs were taken), pan angles for directing each of the panoramic images toward the specified point are calculated (S84). The multiple specified panoramic images, each with the calculated pan angles applied, are then displayed in the content display frame 39 in a split display format (S85). Thus, the pan direction of the line of sight of all of the displayed panoramic images is directed toward the same specified point.

[0138] Then, the mouse operations by the user on the multiple panoramic images are monitored (S86), and when a mouse operation on one of the panoramic images is detected (S87), the tilt operation amount for that mouse operation is calculated (S88).The tilt of the calculated tilt operation amount is then applied simultaneously to all the displayed panoramic images (S89), and the line of sight of all the panoramic images is changed simultaneously by the same tilt angle.

[0139] Figure 22 shows the flow of control for aligning multiple geographic contents (particularly images) that exist in the same geographic area. This control is performed as preprocessing to enable an analysis tool to perform highly accurate calculations, such as the area and volume calculations shown in Figure 19, that compare geographic contents that exist in the same geographic area or analyze the differences between them.

[0140] 22, it is checked whether the user has designated feature points in the multiple images to be analyzed (S91). If the user has designated feature points (No in S91), the designated feature points are used as clues for alignment, and control proceeds to step S93. On the other hand, if the user has not designated feature points (Yes in S91), multiple feature points are automatically identified in each of the multiple images to be analyzed (S92), and control proceeds to step S93.

[0141] In step S93, pixels in the area surrounding each feature point are extracted from each image, and the feature amount of each feature point is calculated from the extracted pixels. Then, using the feature amount for each feature point between different images, a matching process is performed to find which feature points in one image match which feature points in another image (S94).

[0142] Then, predetermined initial values ​​are set for the parameters of the image transformation matrix for scaling, translating, rotating, skewing, etc. of each image, and these image transformation matrices are applied to each image (S96). After that, for each pair of feature points that match between each pair of images in the multiple images to be analyzed, the error in the geographic coordinate values ​​is calculated (S97), and it is checked whether the error has decreased from the error calculated previously (S97). If the error has not decreased, the parameters of the image transformation matrix are changed by a predetermined unit amount in the direction opposite to the direction of the parameter change from the previous parameters to the current parameters (S98), and the process returns to step S96 to calculate the error again.

[0143] On the other hand, if the error has decreased in step S97, it is checked whether the errors of all feature point pairs of all pairs of images being analyzed have converged within a predetermined allowable error range (S99). If there is an error that has not yet converged, the parameter of the image transformation matrix related to that error is changed by a unit amount in the same direction as the change from the previous time to the current time (S100), and control returns to step S96.

[0144] As the process of steps S96 to S100 is repeated, all errors eventually converge in step S99, and this control ends.

[0145] FIG. 23 shows an example of a screen displaying a panoramic image.

[0146] 23 shows an example in which the user selects one panoramic image icon 51 displayed in the content display frame 39 within the project screen 31, and the selected panoramic image is displayed in the actual image field 63 of the detailed display frame 41. The panoramic image icon 51 is placed at the coordinates of the viewpoint of the panoramic image (or, in the case of a panoramic photograph, the shooting location) on the map within the content display frame 39. The user can pan and tilt the panoramic image displayed in the actual image field 63 by operating the mouse.

[0147] The content display unit 19 calculates the horizontal center direction (i.e., pan angle) of the portion of the panoramic image displayed in the actual image field 63 based on the geographic coordinates of the panoramic image registered in the database 11 (e.g., the horizontal center direction of the entire panoramic image). When the user pans the displayed portion of the panoramic image, the content display unit 19 recalculates the pan angle, i.e., the center direction of the displayed portion, based on the amount of panning by the user, and changes (pans) the displayed portion to match the recalculated orientation. In addition, the content display unit 19 displays a gaze mark 511 indicating the direction (gaze direction) of the center position of the displayed portion of the panoramic image on the map within the content display frame 39, in association with the icon 51 of the panoramic image. This gaze mark 511 allows the user to easily understand in which direction the portion of the panoramic image they are looking.

[0148] Although one embodiment has been described above, this is merely an example for explaining the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. The present invention can be embodied in various other forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0149] 1: Geographic information system, 3: User terminal, 11: Database, 13: Content registration unit, 15: Ortho generation unit, 17: Tile image generation unit, 19: Content display unit, 21: Content analysis unit, 23: Analysis tool, 25: Management table, 25A: Project management table, 25B: Content management table, 27: Content file, 31: Project screen, 39: Content display frame, 43: Map, 45: Ortho image, 47, 49, 51, 53, 55: Content icon, 57: Display content list, 58: Content thumbnail image, 59: Split / overlap display switch button, 61: Analysis tool icon, 63: Upload button ,63: Actual image column, 65: Basic information column, 67: Comment editing column, 69: Tag editing column, 75: Analysis result data, 83: Video image, 85: Play button, 87: Playback time display, 89: Playback time mark, 93: Start point mark, 95: Track mark, 97: End point mark, 99: Camera position mark, 91: Track setting column, 101: Registration method selection screen, 106: Content selection screen, 107: Content selection column, 109: Map display column, 111: Thumbnail image, 113: Content icon, 115: Content classification screen, 117: File classification column, 118: Classification modification screen, 119: Destination group box, 121: Project registration screen, 123: Project setting column

Claims

1. A geographic information system communicatively connected to a user terminal and providing geographic information to the user terminal, a database for managing one or more geographic contents; a content registration means for receiving one or more pieces of geographic content uploaded from the user terminal and registering the received pieces of geographic content in the database; a content display means for providing one or more types of geographic information screens that display at least a part of the geographic content registered in the database to the user terminal; Equipped with Each of the geographic contents uploaded from the user terminal has one of a plurality of predetermined content types; the content registration means identifies a content type of each of one or more pieces of geographic content uploaded from the user terminal, and registers each piece of the uploaded geographic content in the database in a predetermined registration format corresponding to the identified content type; the predetermined registration format corresponding to any of the one or more content types includes geographic coordinates associated with the geographic content; the content display means searches the database for geographic content that matches one or more predetermined search conditions arbitrarily designated by the user, creates a first type of geographic information screen having a first content display section that displays a display image of the searched geographic content superimposed on a position on a predetermined map corresponding to the geographic coordinates, and provides the first type of geographic information screen to the user terminal; A geographic information system configured as follows:

2. 2. The geographic information system according to claim 1, the types of geographic content include at least orthoimagery and one or more other types; When the searched geographic content includes an orthoimage and one or more types of other geographic content, the content display means displays the map, the actual image of the orthoimage, and icons of the one or more types of other content in superimposed order from back to front on the first content display unit when creating the first type of geographic information screen. A geographic information system configured as follows:

3. 3. The geographic information system according to claim 1, wherein: The type of the geographic content includes at least a video image; When the geographic content uploaded from the user terminal includes a moving image, the content registration means identifies the geographic coordinates of a start point and an end point of the moving image, and registers the moving image in the database in a moving image registration format in which the moving image is associated with the geographic coordinates of the start point and the end point, when creating the first type of geographic information screen, the content display means arranges, within the first type of geographic information screen, a solid image display unit that plays and displays the moving image together with the first content display unit; the content display means further displays a camera position mark on the map of the first content display unit at a position on a movement trajectory between the geographic coordinates of the start point of the video and the geographic coordinates of the end point of the video; the content display means further moves the camera position mark from the start point to the end point along the movement trajectory in accordance with a playback time point when the moving image is played back on the solid image display unit. A geographic information system configured as follows:

4. 3. The geographic information system according to claim 1, wherein: The type of the geographic content includes at least analysis data obtained by analyzing the geographic content, When creating the first type of geographic information screen, the content display means displays the map, the solid image of the orthoimage, the analysis data, and icons of the one or more other types of content in the first content display unit in a superimposed manner from back to front. A geographic information system configured as follows:

5. 3. The geographic information system according to claim 1, wherein: the type of geographic content includes at least a panoramic image; When the geographic content uploaded from the user terminal includes a panoramic image, the content registration means registers the panoramic image in the database in association with the geographic coordinates of the viewpoint of the panoramic image and / or the orientation of a predetermined point on the panoramic image; When creating the first type of geographic information screen, the content display means arranges, within the first type of geographic information screen, a panoramic image display section that displays the panoramic image together with the first content display section; the content display means further displays a mark on the map of the first content display unit at a position corresponding to the geographic coordinates of the viewpoint of the panoramic image; The content display means further displays, on the map of the first content display unit, an orientation of a center position of the portion of the panoramic image displayed on the panoramic image display unit. A geographic information system configured as follows:

6. 3. The geographic information system according to claim 1, wherein: the type of the geographic content includes at least three-dimensional data; When the geographic content uploaded from the user terminal includes the three-dimensional data, the content registration means registers the three-dimensional data in the database in association with the geographic coordinates of the geographic area in which the three-dimensional data exists; When creating the first type of geographic information screen, the content display means arranges, within the first type of geographic information screen, a three-dimensional data display section that displays the three-dimensional data together with the first content display section. A geographic information system configured as follows:

7. 7. The geographic information system according to claim 1, the content display means allows the user to select one or more geographic contents on the first type of geographic information screen, and allows the user to select an overlapping display format or a split display format as a format for displaying the geographic contents; When the user selects one or more geographic contents and also selects the split display format on the first type of geographic information screen, the content display means creates a second type of geographic information screen having a second content display section that displays the selected geographic contents in a split display format that allows comparison and viewing, and provides the second type of geographic information screen to the user terminal. A geographic information system configured as follows:

8. 8. The geographic information system according to claim 7, the type of geographic content includes at least a panoramic image; When the plurality of panoramic images are displayed in a split display format, when the user performs an operation to pan or tilt any one of the plurality of displayed panoramic images, the content display means pans or tilts all of the plurality of displayed panoramic images in accordance with the operation of the user. A geographic information system configured as follows:

9. 9. The geographic information system according to claim 7 or 8, and when the plurality of panoramic images are displayed in a split display format, when the user designates a point on the map of the first type of geographic information screen, the content display means directs all of the displayed plurality of panoramic images to the designated point. A geographic information system configured as follows:

10. 10. The geographic information system according to claim 1, When the content registration means receives one or more pieces of geographic content uploaded from the user terminal, it identifies the date and time of each piece of geographic content received, and allows the user to set one or more tags for each piece of geographic content received, and registers each piece of geographic content received in the database in a predetermined registration format corresponding to each content type associated with the identified date and time and the set tags; The one or more predetermined search conditions include at least a period condition for narrowing down the geographic content to be searched by the date and time, and a tag condition for narrowing down the geographic content to be searched by the tag. A geographic information system configured as follows:

11. 11. The geographic information system according to claim 1, the content registration means is capable of registering one or more pieces of geographic content uploaded from the user terminal in association with one or more projects arbitrarily set by the user, the content registration means allows the user to select between a first registration method for registering one or more pieces of geographic content in association with one project and a second registration method for registering a plurality of pieces of geographic content in association with a plurality of projects; When the second registration method is selected and multiple pieces of geographic content are uploaded from the user terminal, the content registration means automatically classifies the uploaded pieces of geographic content into multiple groups, prompts the user to make desired modifications to each of the multiple classified groups, prompts the user to set a project for each of the multiple classified groups, and registers the geographic content belonging to each of the multiple classified groups in the database in association with the set project; the content display means receives a request from the user terminal to open a project desired by the user, and creates the first type of geographic information screen using geographic content in the database associated with the desired project, and provides the first type of geographic information screen to the user terminal. A geographic information system configured as follows:

12. 12. The geographic information system according to claim 1, the first type of geographic information screen has a tag editing section for allowing the user to edit tags of each of the geographic contents displayed on the first type of geographic information screen; A geographic information system configured as follows:

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