Geolocalization Module for Inferring Location from Captured Depictions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional geolocalization methods face challenges in determining the geographic location of captured depictions, such as images, without explicit location metadata, especially when comparing aerial or satellite images with ground plane images from different perspectives, leading to computational difficulties due to angle discrepancies and multiple coordinate systems.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a geolocalization module to infer the geographic location of captured depictions by extracting features from a database of geo-referenced data, including satellite, 3D models, and oblique aerial imagery, and matching these features using statistical methods to determine the location by annotating objects and adjusting for pose, thereby overcoming perspective differences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional image comparison methods are used to determine location, then the process is simple, but it cannot account for angle discrepancies and multiple coordinate systems between aerial/satellite images and ground plane images
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary transformation process that converts ground plane images to aerial view representations, mediating between the two different perspectives. This allows comparison between satellite/aerial images and ground plane images by translating them into a common coordinate system and viewpoint, thereby resolving the angle discrepancy issue while maintaining computational feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms images by changing key parameters including coordinate system transformation, viewpoint conversion from ground plane to aerial perspective, and geometric distortion correction. These parameter changes enable accurate matching between images captured from different perspectives while systematically managing the computational complexity through standardized transformation procedures
2Ease of operation
If explicit location metadata is embedded in depictions, then geolocalization is straightforward, but this requires additional data storage and processing infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts location information indirectly by comparing visual features and geometric characteristics of images against reference databases, rather than relying on embedded metadata. This extraction approach derives location from the image content itself and its relationship to known geographic features, eliminating the need for additional metadata storage while maintaining geolocalization capability
3Productivity
If aerial/satellite images are compared directly with ground plane images, then the process is fast, but angle discrepancies and coordinate system differences cause matching failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary transformations on ground plane images before comparison, including coordinate system conversion, viewpoint transformation to aerial perspective, and geometric normalization. These preliminary actions prepare the images in advance to match the reference aerial/satellite images, ensuring both speed and accuracy by avoiding iterative correction during the matching process
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for determining a geographic location of a scene in a captured depiction comprising extracting a first set of features from the captured depiction by algorithmically analyzing the captured depiction, matching the extracted features of the captured depiction against a second set of extracted features associated with reference depictions with known geographic locations and when the matching is successful, identifying the geographic location of the scene in the captured depiction based on a known geographic location of a matching reference depiction from the reference depictions.