Oblique Aerial Image Bounding Boxes Using Horizon Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques for generating bounding boxes from aerial imagery that depict a horizon are ineffective, resulting in inaccurate or unusable geolocalization due to the horizon's presence, which traditional methods fail to account for.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced to modify images depicting a horizon by adjusting the frame to cut out the horizon, using a visibility radius and tangent line to determine a meaningful distance, thereby generating accurate bounding boxes for geolocalization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional bounding box generation methods are used on aerial imagery depicting a horizon, then the processing is simple and fast, but the geolocalization accuracy becomes inaccurate or unusable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting the horizon in the aerial image before generating the bounding box. The horizon detection step identifies the horizon line and calculates the visible Earth radius, which is then used to adjust the bounding box generation process. This preliminary detection and calculation ensures that the subsequent bounding box accurately reflects the visible Earth portion, resolving the contradiction between simple processing and accurate geolocalization.
2Productivity
If images depicting horizons are excluded from processing, then geolocalization accuracy is maintained, but resource utilization decreases and unnecessary image capture occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of the horizon (which traditionally makes images unusable) into a beneficial element by using the horizon detection to define the visible Earth radius. The horizon line becomes a reference for calculating the tangent line and determining the appropriate bounding box extent. This approach allows images with horizons to be processed effectively, improving resource utilization while maintaining geolocalization accuracy.
3Measurement precision
If the visible Earth radius is not considered in bounding box generation, then the processing is simpler, but the bounding box extends beyond the visible Earth portion reducing accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary calculation of the visible Earth radius based on camera altitude and the horizon line detection before generating the bounding box. This pre-calculated radius is then used to constrain the bounding box extent, ensuring it does not extend beyond the visible Earth portion. The preliminary action of calculating the visible radius prevents the need for complex iterative adjustments later, balancing accuracy with processing efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus for receiving a first image file recording a first image and a first set of metadata associated with the first image, determining that the first image depicts a horizon, and in response, providing a modified first set of metadata by applying a visibility radius to a projection of the Earth depicted in the first image, determining a tangent line based on the visibility radius, and adjusting a height of the first image based on the tangent line to provide a modified height in the modified first set of metadata, and outputting a first geographic features file that is generated using the modified first set of metadata, the first geographic features file including data representing one or more geographic features represented in the first image file.