3D Building Modeling From Ground-Level Images for Accurate Facade Dimensions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 3D building models generated from aerial imagery have limited texture resolution, geometry quality, are expensive, time-consuming, and lack robust real-time image data analytics, making them unsuitable for consumer and commercial use cases.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for creating 3D blueprints using ground-level images captured from multiple perspectives, employing image processing techniques to identify architectural elements, calculate dimensions, and generate scaled multi-dimensional models with material and cost estimates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If aerial imagery is used to generate 3D building models, then coverage area is improved, but texture resolution and geometry quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines aerial imagery with ground-level images to create composite 3D building models. The system merges data from multiple sources (aerial photos for overall structure, ground-level images for detailed textures) to simultaneously achieve wide coverage area and high texture resolution, resolving the contradiction between these two parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from purely aerial (top-down) 2D imagery to multi-dimensional modeling by incorporating ground-level perspective images. This dimensional change allows the system to capture both macro-scale building footprints and micro-scale architectural details, improving texture resolution and geometry quality while maintaining coverage area.
2Manufacturing precision
If specialized camera-equipped vehicles are used, then image quality is improved, but cost and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs standard smartphones with conventional cameras as imaging devices, making the system universally accessible and cost-effective. The multi-functional approach allows the same device to capture both aerial photos (when mounted on drones or buildings) and ground-level images, eliminating the need for specialized expensive equipment while maintaining image quality through software processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical imaging systems (specialized camera-equipped vehicles) with software-based image processing techniques. Advanced algorithms process images from simple camera devices to generate high-quality 3D models, substituting mechanical complexity with computational intelligence, thereby reducing cost and time while maintaining image quality.
3Measurement precision
If traditional 3D mapping methods are used, then model accuracy is improved, but update difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic updating mechanism where the system can continuously capture new images using mobile devices and automatically regenerate 3D building models. This dynamic approach allows frequent, easy updates to maintain model accuracy without the complexity of traditional re-surveying processes, resolving the contradiction between model accuracy and update difficulty.
4Device complexity
If aerial imagery alone is used, then data collection is simplified, but real-time analytics capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data collection process into distinct components: aerial imagery for structural information and ground-level images for detailed architectural features. This segmentation allows the system to process different types of images through specialized algorithms, enabling comprehensive real-time analytics on building materials, dimensions, and features while keeping the overall system manageable through modular processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method is provided for constructing a labeled and dimensioned multidimensional (e.g., 3D) building model from building object imagery (e.g., ground-level imagery). The method begins by retrieve building object imagery, the building object imagery collected based on directed capture with a mobile device. The method continues by constructing a scaled multi-dimensional building model, the scale based on sizing of at least one selected architectural feature. The method continues by identifying architectural elements within facades of the multi-dimensional building model. The method continues by determining dimensions of at least one of the architectural elements, the dimensions based on the scale. The method continues by determining dimensions (e.g., area) of at least one of the architectural elements. The method continues by labeling each identified architectural element with at least an identifier and by labeling at least one of the architectural elements with the determined dimensions.