Carving 3D Building Models from City Block Meshes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing three-dimensional geographic information systems, like Google Earth, often display less detailed block models alongside more detailed user-generated models, forcing a choice between quality and completeness, as they cannot coexist in their original forms.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method to carve less detailed building representations from larger city block models, allowing more detailed user-generated models to replace them, by identifying and merging overlapping roof portions and inserting vertical surfaces to close gaps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a single automatically generated model is used to represent an entire city block, then the coverage area is maximized, but the detail quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the city block model into multiple building-level models by carving individual buildings from the block model. Each building is identified through roof polygon analysis and extracted as a separate three-dimensional model, allowing detailed representation of individual buildings while maintaining overall block context. This segmentation enables the system to display both comprehensive coverage and high detail quality simultaneously.
2Manufacturing precision
If user-generated detailed models are created for individual buildings, then the detail quality is improved, but the model complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges automatically generated block models with user-generated detailed building models through a unified data structure. The system combines these models by integrating building-level details into the block model framework, allowing both model types to coexist and be displayed together. This merging approach maintains high detail quality for user-generated models while managing overall system complexity through structured integration.
3Manufacturing precision
If automatic model replacement is used to insert detailed models, then the detail quality is improved, but the data consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by selectively replacing only the specific building portions that overlap with user-generated models while preserving the rest of the automatically generated block model. The system identifies overlapping buildings through roof polygon analysis and performs targeted replacements rather than complete model substitution. This approach maintains data consistency by preserving the structural integrity of the block model while incorporating detailed building information where appropriate.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments relate to carving three dimensional models of buildings out of larger models of city blocks to make way for more detailed models. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a computer-implemented method for carving a building from a first three-dimensional model is described. The first three-dimensional model may represent a city block. The three-dimensional model may include a plurality of polygons which represent one or more buildings in a three-dimensional environment. One or more polygons are identified as a portion of a roof, and roof portions that are not discontinuous are combined in roof meshes. Based on a roof mesh, a three-dimensional volume portion of a three-dimensional model is determined, which may represent a first building. The first building representation may then be carved from the three-dimensional model.