Real-Time 2D Geospatial Draping on 3D Scenes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Real-time rendering of two-dimensional geospatial data on three-dimensional data is computationally complex and costly, particularly in browser environments due to network bandwidth limitations and browser constraints, making it challenging to integrate 2D data seamlessly with 3D data without affecting interactivity.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method that decouples the draping view camera from the main view camera, determining the draping area based on the previous frame and rendering 2D data on the earth ellipsoid, transforming coordinates, and sampling with a fragment shader to overlay 2D data on 3D data efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If 2D geospatial data is draped on 3D geospatial data in real-time rendering, then the visualization completeness is improved, but the computational cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisualization completenessVSAvoidcomputational efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the rendering process into two independent cameras: a main view camera for rendering 3D geospatial data and a draping view camera for rendering 2D geospatial data. This segmentation allows each camera to focus on specific data types, improving overall rendering efficiency while maintaining complete visualization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent renders 2D geospatial data at higher resolution than strictly necessary for the final composite image. This excessive rendering of the draping view ensures that when the 2D data is overlaid on the 3D data, the full resolution and detail are available, improving visualization completeness without requiring excessive post-processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Manufacturing precision

If 2D geospatial data is draped on 3D geospatial data, then the data representation accuracy is improved, but the interactivity is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata representation accuracyVSAvoidinteractivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the rendering of 2D and 3D data into independent camera passes, the patent enables real-time interaction with the 3D scene while the 2D data is rendered separately and overlaid. This maintains interactivity without sacrificing data representation accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The draping view camera acts as an intermediary that captures the 2D geospatial data in a separate pass. This intermediary process allows the main view camera to focus on interactive 3D rendering while the 2D data is prepared independently and combined in the final composite, preserving both accuracy and interactivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If complete 2D geospatial data is rendered for draping, then the draping quality is improved, but the network bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedraping qualityVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent determines a specific draping area based on the main view camera's current position and orientation, and only renders 2D geospatial data within this localized region. This local quality approach ensures high draping quality where needed while avoiding the network bandwidth consumption of rendering complete global 2D data sets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Device complexity

If a single camera is used for both main view and draping, then the device complexity is reduced, but the rendering precision is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecamera system complexityVSAvoidrendering precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses two separate cameras: a main view camera optimized for 3D geospatial data rendering and a draping view camera optimized for 2D geospatial data rendering. This segmentation allows each camera to be independently optimized for its specific function, achieving high rendering precision for both data types simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a second camera dimension (the draping view camera) that operates independently from the main view camera. This dimensional addition allows simultaneous optimization for both 3D and 2D rendering tasks, improving overall rendering precision without being constrained by a single camera's limitations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP4625339A1Data draping in real-time rendering
Publication Date: 2025.10.01 LUCIAD NV
  • EP4625339A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4625339A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4625339A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Example embodiments disclose a computer-implemented method for draping two-dimensional, 2D, geospatial data (218) on three-dimensional, 3D, geospatial data (212) when real-time rendering a 3D scene (210) in a spatial reference system (214) to successive 2D frames (211); wherein the 2D geospatial data and the 3D geospatial data cover a same area on an earth ellipsoid (215) in the spatial reference system; and wherein the spatial reference system comprises an adjustable main view camera (216) that defines a main view according to which the 3D scene is rendered to the successive 2D frames; the computer-implemented method comprising, upon rendering a next 2D frame of the successive 2D frames according to a next main view: determining (202) a draping area (217) on the earth ellipsoid; determining (203) a position and an orientation of a draping view camera (220) including the draping area; rendering (204) the 2D geospatial data on the earth ellipsoid according to the draping view, thereby obtaining (204) a texture map (221); determining (205) zero-elevation coordinates; transforming (206) the zero-elevation coordinates on the earth ellipsoid to view coordinates in a camera reference system (213) defined by the draping view camera; and sampling (207), by a fragment shader, the texture map (221) at the view coordinates.