Satellite Coastline Extraction Using High-Tide Image Overlay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accurately determining the coastline, which is not constant due to tidal variations, requires analyzing high tide levels over extended periods, considering spatial and temporal variations, which is practically difficult.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus using satellite images acquired at predefined time slots around predicted high tide times, extracting and overlaying coastlines to determine the highest tide line as the coastline, considering spatial distribution and temporal variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high tide levels are analyzed over 18.6 years to determine the coastline, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-dividing the tidal cycle into standardized time slots (e.g., high tide, low tide, mid-tide) and pre-establishing the 18.6-year lunar nodal cycle knowledge. This allows the system to determine coastlines using only a few strategically timed satellite images within the predefined time slots, rather than continuously monitoring for 18.6 years, thus dramatically reducing the actual data collection time while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuity of useful action by utilizing the periodic nature of tides and the 18.6-year lunar cycle. Instead of requiring continuous monitoring throughout the entire period, the system captures satellite images at continuous intervals within each tidal cycle (high tide, low tide, mid-tide), leveraging the repeating pattern to determine the coastline from a much shorter observation window that still captures the full range of tidal variations.
2Measurement precision
If satellite images are acquired at multiple time slots around high tide, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the tidal cycle into specific time slots (high tide, low tide, mid-tide) and acquiring satellite images only at these segmented intervals rather than continuously. This selective sampling at key tidal phases captures the essential spatial distribution of water levels while dramatically reducing the number of images required, thus lowering energy consumption for data acquisition while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses partial action by acquiring satellite images at only the necessary time slots (high tide, low tide, mid-tide) rather than continuously monitoring all tidal variations. This partial sampling of the tidal cycle provides sufficient information to determine the coastline and analyze spatial distribution, avoiding the excessive energy consumption that would result from continuous or near-continuous image acquisition.
3Measurement precision
If coastline extraction is performed through image analysis of multiple satellite images, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by isolating and analyzing only the specific time slots that contain the highest tide information (high tide and mid-tide images). The system extracts the coastline from these selected images and identifies the highest tide line by comparing only the relevant extracted coastlines, rather than processing all satellite images. This focused extraction approach maintains measurement precision while reducing device complexity by eliminating unnecessary processing steps.
Data Source
AI summary
A coastline determination apparatus and method are disclosed. The method for determining a coastline includes: obtaining a predicted high tide time, setting a plurality of time slots by equally dividing a preset time range before and after the obtained predicted high tide time, acquiring satellite images including the coastline for each of the set plurality of time slots, extracting the coastline from each of the acquired satellite images through image analysis, and overlaying the satellite images from which the coastline has been extracted for the respective time slots to extract the highest tide line, and determining the extracted highest tide line as the coastline of a sea area.