Geospatial Image Accuracy Enhancement via Virtual Sensor Copying

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current geospatial image processing technologies face challenges in accurately and efficiently detecting changes in sensor images, particularly due to difficulties in replicating original collection scenarios, leading to underutilization of imagery data and the need for time-consuming, manual, or iterative methods.

Innovation Solution

An accuracy enhancing system that uses an image processor and database to generate a reference geospatial image, detect changes between collected and reference images, and enhance accuracy values, including geospatial collection values such as position and orientation, by synthetically positioning a virtual geospatial image sensor within a geospatial scene model.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If geospatial image processing is performed to detect changes between images collected by different sensors, then change detection capability is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to difficulties in replicating original collection scenario and sensor position/orientation variations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechange detection capabilityVSAvoidsensor position and orientation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual geospatial image sensor that copies the essential characteristics (position, orientation, field-of-view) of the actual airborne sensor. This virtual sensor operates within a geospatial scene model to generate synthetic reference images that can be directly compared with actual collected images, eliminating the need to physically replicate the original collection scenario while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a geospatial scene model as an intermediary between the actual sensor data and the change detection process. This scene model serves as a mediator that allows virtual sensor positioning and reference image generation without requiring direct access to the original collection conditions, thus resolving the contradiction between change detection capability and measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If manual methods are used to delineate objects and process geospatial data, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to time-consuming and labor-intensive processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegeospatial accuracyVSAvoidmodel generation speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs automated algorithms that process geospatial data without requiring manual intervention. The virtual geospatial image sensor automatically generates reference images, and the change detection algorithm automatically compares these with collected images, enabling the system to serve itself rather than requiring human operators for each processing step.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical processing methods with automated computational algorithms. Instead of human operators manually delineating objects and processing geospatial data, the system uses computer-based image processing algorithms to perform these tasks automatically, significantly improving productivity while maintaining precision through consistent algorithmic application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If existing imagery data is collected without precise sensor positioning, then productivity is improved by enabling rapid data collection, but measurement precision deteriorates making the data underutilized for change detection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata collection speedVSAvoidsensor location accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the sensor's positional and orientational characteristics within the geospatial scene model. Even when original sensor positioning data is imprecise or unavailable, the virtual sensor can be positioned based on available information, and the scene model compensates for inaccuracies, allowing rapid data collection to continue while maintaining usable measurement precision for change detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS7630797B2Accuracy enhancing system for geospatial collection value of an image sensor aboard an airborne platform and associated methods

Publication Date: 2009.12.08 HARRIS CORP

AI summary

An accuracy enhancing system may include an image processor cooperating with a database for generating a reference geospatial image corresponding to the collected geospatial image, a change detector cooperating with the image processor for detecting a change between the collected geospatial image and the reference geospatial image, and an accuracy enhancer. The accuracy enhancer may cooperate with the change detector for generating at least one enhanced accuracy value corresponding to the at least one geospatial collection value based upon the change detected between the collected geospatial image and the reference geospatial image. The airborne platform may traverse an actual flight path based upon a planned flight path, and the image processor may generate the reference geospatial image based upon a desired match with the collected geospatial image. The at least one geospatial collection value may be a geospatial collection sensor position, a geospatial collection sensor orientation or a geospatial collection sensor field-of-view.