Pavement Element Annotation via Point Cloud to Overhead Image Fusion

The patent applies preliminary action by performing automatic pre-annotation using a pre-trained model before manual annotation. The model generates initial annotation results that annotators then refine, significantly reducing the time and labor required for complete annotation while maintaining accuracy through the combination of automated preprocessing and human review.

The patent extracts and removes dynamic objects from the point cloud data before annotation, isolating only the static pavement elements that need to be annotated. This reduction in data complexity decreases hardware requirements and processing complexity while maintaining annotation accuracy by focusing computational resources on the relevant static elements.

The patent merges multiple consecutive frames of point cloud data into a unified annotation result. By combining information from multiple frames, the system overcomes occlusion and holes present in individual frames, achieving complete annotation of pavement elements while maintaining operational simplicity through automated multi-frame processing.

The patent segments the three-dimensional annotation task into two distinct stages: first, the pre-trained model performs automatic annotation in 3D space, and second, annotators perform manual refinement primarily in the two-dimensional overhead view. This segmentation reduces the dimensional complexity annotators must handle simultaneously, improving efficiency while maintaining accuracy through the combined approach.