Photogrammetric Rendering for As-Built AEC Drawings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional 3D computer models and photogrammetric techniques in the AEC industry are labor-intensive and costly, producing inadequate wire frame drawings that lack detail, making it difficult to accurately represent existing structures and maintain records of 'as-built' conditions.

Innovation Solution

The use of photogrammetric and graphic arts techniques to generate rendered drawings from detailed images, allowing for the preservation and presentation of significant detail in a reproducible one-color format, such as blueprints, which can be economically produced and easily updated, reducing the need for extensive field measurements and manual processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If traditional photogrammetric techniques are used to produce wire frame drawings, then the drawings can be produced in one-color blueprint format, but the drawings lack detail and accuracy in representing existing structures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetail preservationVSAvoiddrawing accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses digital copies of photographs combined with automated photogrammetric processing to create accurate wire frame drawings. The system digitally copies spatial relationships from photographs and automatically extracts geometric information, replacing manual measurement and redrafting while preserving detailed information about existing structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement and redrafting processes with automated digital photogrammetric software. The system automatically processes photographs to generate accurate wire frame drawings, eliminating the need for manual correlation of field measurements with drawing scale and traditional mechanical redrafting operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If traditional CAD/CAM methods are used to redraft drawings to as-built conditions, then drawings can be produced in standard format, but the process is labor intensive and costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrawing production efficiencyVSAvoidtime for field measurements and manual processing

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service through automated photogrammetric processing where the system independently processes photographs to generate accurate wire frame drawings without requiring manual intervention. The automated software performs measurement, correlation, and drawing generation tasks that would otherwise require skilled operators and extensive manual labor.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary digital processing of photographs to extract geometric information before final drawing generation. By pre-processing images to automatically identify and correlate spatial relationships, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming field measurements and manual redrafting operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of information

If detailed feature information is included in as-built drawings, then accuracy of structure representation is improved, but traditional methods cannot display this information in blueprint form

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetailed feature informationVSAvoidreproducibility in blueprint form

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the drawing into multiple layers or data structures that separate detailed feature information from the overall drawing structure. This allows the system to preserve and display detailed feature information while maintaining compatibility with traditional blueprint reproduction methods, as the segmented data can be selectively rendered in the required format.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8866814B2Systems and methods for photogrammetric rendering

Publication Date: 2014.10.21 BROWN BATTLE M

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided for producing a rendered drawing or rendering from a detailed image of an object (e.g. photograph) resulting in a rendering that is photogrammetric and that preserves detail in the said image of said object. The combination of the metric nature and image detail preservation in a rendering resulting from the process enhances the usefulness of the rendering to users. The invention is useful in particular for large format renderings such as wire frame style drawings used for blueprints in the architecture, engineering and construction industry (AEC industry) when used for existing structures. The processes combine graphic arts techniques with photogrammetric techniques to preserve, fully or partially, information about an object as captured in image detail of said object and to present said information in photogrammetrically correct rendering, which rendering may be incorporated into drawings useful to and/or familiar to end users of said drawings.