Techniques for automatically determining, on a pixel by pixel basis, whether imagery includes ground images or is obscured by cloud cover. The techniques include training a Neural Network, making an initial determination of cloud or ground by using the Neural Network, and performing a max-flow, min-cut operation on the image to determine whether each pixel is a cloud or ground imagery.
Systems and methods for large-scale geospatial mosaic generation with image processing in a cloud computing environment. The approaches described herein specifically leverage scalable cloud computing features to facilitate highly parallel, granular image processing. Front-end image processing techniques allow for generation of a user interface that may provide automated material selection with human operator refinement. The user interface may be a web-based design that provides browse version images at lower resolutions to improve performance of the user interface and generating mosaic recipe. In turn, the mosaic recipe may be provided to back-end image processing that coordinates strip-level jobs and tile-level jobs and highly parallel fashion scalable cloud computing nodes. In turn, very large-scale mosaic images may be generated from geospatial images in computationally and cost-effective manner.
A system for simplified generation of systems for analysis of satellite images to geolocate one or more objects of interest, A plurality of training images labeled for a study object or objects with irrelevant features loaded into a preexisting feature identification subsystem causes automated generation of models for the study object. This model is used to parameterize pre-engineered machine learning elements that are running a preprogrammed machine learning protocol. Training images with the study are used to train object recognition filters. This filter is used to identify the study object in unanalyzed images. The system reports results in a requestor's preferred format.
A system for broad area geospatial object recognition, identification, classification, location and quantification, comprising an image manipulation module to create synthetically-generated images to imitate and augment an existing quantity of orthorectified geospatial images; together with a deep learning module and a convolutional neural network serving as an image analysis module, to analyze a large corpus of orthorectified geospatial images, identify and demarcate a searched object of interest from within the corpus, locate and quantify the identified or classified objects from the corpus of geospatial imagery available to the system. The system reports results in a requestor's preferred format.
A system for analysis and viewing of social interactions based on user devices, comprising an analysis and geolocation platform stored and operating on a network-connected computing device, that receives social interaction information and analyzes the information, and a visualization engine stored and operating on a network-connected computing device that forms visual representations of the social interaction information, and a method for analysis and viewing of social interactions based on user devices.
G06Q 50/00 - Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism
A system for incorporating geographical data into a map-related system, adding objects being tracked while moving within a specific geographic area and automatically analyzing their movement characteristics; wherein the tracking is done by visual means from a sky-borne platform.
A database for creating orthomosaics, where the database is tailored to retrieve the most recent imagery for each pixel, in an efficient manner that partitions the orthomosaic into sufficiently small chunks that can each be quickly processed. Also disclosed is a plurality of separate services, wherein the services include at least a mosaic generation service, a cutline service, and a tonal balancing service. The mosaic generation service obtains images from the database, requests and obtains cutlines from the cutline service, requests and obtains tonal balancing results from the tonal balancing service, and generates an orthomosaic image therefrom.
A database for creating orthomosaics, where the database is tailored to retrieve the most recent imagery for each pixel, in an efficient manner that partitions the orthomosaic into sufficiently small chunks that can each be quickly processed. Also disclosed is a plurality of separate services, wherein the services include at least a mosaic generation service, a cutline service, and a tonal balancing service. The mosaic generation service obtains images from the database, requests and obtains cutlines from the cutline service, requests and obtains tonal balancing results from the tonal balancing service, and generates an orthomosaic image therefrom.
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
(1) Provision of commercial information via a website regarding online access to geospatial imagery using pricing levels corresponding to different levels of available functionality relative to the geospatial imagery
(2) Hosting and maintenance of a website that allows access and manipulation of geospatial imagery and related data pertaining to the geospatial imagery, namely, image metadata, imagery collection information, collection date and time, and imagery features, namely, viewing and saving data related to the geospatial imagery; Hosting a website for searching functionality, filtering, annotation, bookmarking, alerting, monitoring, and accessing other Internet accessible programs for manipulation of geospatial imagery
39 - Transport, packaging, storage and travel services
Goods & Services
(1) Providing information services, namely, providing geographic information through the collection, manipulation, processing, and formatting of images and geographic measurements of the earth.
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Providing information services, namely, providing geographic
information through the collection, manipulation,
processing, and/or formatting of images and geographic
measurements of the earth.
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Provision of commercial information regarding online access to geospatial imagery using pricing levels corresponding to different levels of available functionality via the Internet. Hosting and maintenance of websites that allow access and manipulation of geospatial imagery and related data including viewing and saving data related to the geospatial imagery; hosting of platforms on the Internet for searching functionality, filtering, annotation, bookmarking, alerting, monitoring, and accessing integrated web services for use as tools in relation to geospatial imagery.
13.
MULTI-SPECTRAL IMAGE LABELING WITH RADIOMETRIC ATTRIBUTE VECTORS OF IMAGE SPACE REPRESENTATION COMPONENTS
Automatic characterization or categorization of portions of an input multispectral image based on a selected reference multispectral image. Sets (e.g., vectors) of radiometric descriptors of pixels of each component of a hierarchical representation of the input multispectral image can be collectively manipulated to obtain a set of radiometric descriptors for the component. Each component can be labeled as a (e.g., relatively) positive or negative instance of at least one reference multispectral image (e.g., mining materials, crops, etc.) through a comparison of the set of radiometric descriptors of the component and a set of radiometric descriptors for the reference multispectral image. Pixels may be labeled (e.g., via color, pattern, etc.) as positive or negative instances of the land use or type of the reference multispectral image in a resultant image based on components within which the pixels are found.
Generation of a plurality of orthomosaic image layers for a geographical area, wherein the layers comprise different spatial resolutions and are radiometrically normalized to facilitate improved radiometric consistency when zooming relative to the geographic area. In applications that facilitate zooming with respect to a geographic area imaged by the orthomosaic layers, radiometric normalization of the orthomosaic image layers may reduce radiometric discontinuities when zooming in, zooming out, and/or panning a displayed portion that is output to the user. The orthomosaic layers may be generated based on one or more orthomosaic image layer or may be developed independently using a source images. In any regard, the radiometric normalization may include generating a normalization function based on image metadata that is calculated and may be independent of the spatial resolution of the image.
Systems and methods for large-scale crowdsourcing of map data location, cleanup, and correction, comprising an application server that generates image data, sends image data to a user device, receives tagging data provided by the device user, and provides tags to a crowdsourced search and locate server based on tagging data from a user device, a crowdsourced search and locate platform that receives tags from an application server, computes agreement and disagreement values and performs expectation-maximization analysis, and a map data server that stores and provides map data.
Techniques for automatically removing slivers from orthomosaics. First, slivers may be identified, which may be based upon user-configurable characteristics such as width and length. Second, slivers may be replaced with portions of another image, such as an older image. Third, boundary slivers may optionally be removed. Fourth, remaining boundary or interior slivers can be inflated by expanding the sliver until it is no longer a sliver, which may include replacing a portion of an adjacent image portion with older imagery.
Processing and analyzing at least one remotely-sensed image to automatically detect and identify parking lots within a region of the remotely-sensed image. This may include: (1) receiving a remotely-sensed image having zero or more parking lots; (2) identifying a set of pixels related to parking lot features within the remotely-sensed image; (3) identifying at least one parking row within the remotely-sensed image; and (3) identifying a parking lot based on the identified parking rows. Identifying at least one parking lot may further include using first, second, third, and fourth level modules, such as a concrete/asphalt detection module, a road marking detection module, a vehicle detection module, and a Hough aggregation for parking row detection module.
Land classification based on analysis of image data. Feature extraction techniques may be used to generate a feature stack corresponding to the image data to be classified. A user may identify training data from the image data from which a classification model may be generated using one or more machine learning techniques applied to one or more features of the image. In this regard, the classification module may in turn be used to classify pixels from the image data other than the training data. Additionally, quantifiable metrics regarding the accuracy and/or precision of the models may be provided for model evaluation and/or comparison. Additionally, the generation of models may be performed in a distributed system such that model creation and/or application may be distributed in a multi-user environment for collaborative and/or iterative approaches.
G06F 19/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific applications (specially adapted for specific functions G06F 17/00;data processing systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or forecasting purposes G06Q;healthcare informatics G16H)
Feature extraction of image data using feature extraction modules. The feature extraction modules may be provided in an architecture that allows for modular, decoupled generation and/or operation of the feature extraction modules to generate feature data corresponding to image data. In this regard, the feature extraction modules may communicate with a file system storing image data and feature data by way of a common interface format. Accordingly, regardless of the nature of the execution of the feature extraction module, each feature extraction module may be communicative by way of the common interface format, thereby providing a modular approach that is highly scalable, flexible, and adaptive.
G06F 19/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific applications (specially adapted for specific functions G06F 17/00;data processing systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or forecasting purposes G06Q;healthcare informatics G16H)
20.
GENERATION OF HIGH RESOLUTION POPULATION DENSITY DATA SETS THROUGH EXPLOITATION OF HIGH RESOLUTION OVERHEAD IMAGERY DATA AND LOW RESOLUTION POPULATION DENSITY DATA SETS
Utilities (e.g., systems, methods, etc.) for automatically generating high resolution population density estimation data sets through manipulation of low resolution population density estimation data sets with high resolution overhead imagery data (e.g., such as overhead imagery data acquired by satellites, aircrafts, etc. of celestial bodies). Stated differently, the present utilities make use of high resolution overhead imagery data to determine how to distribute the population density of a large, low resolution cell (e.g., 1000m) among a plurality of smaller, high resolution cells (e.g., 100m) within the larger cell.
A system for automatically extracting interesting structures or areas (e.g., built-up structures such as buildings, tents, etc.) from HR/VHR satellite imagery data using corresponding LR satellite imagery data. The system breaks down HR/VHR input satellite images into a plurality of components (e.g., groups of pixels), organizes the components into a first hierarchical data structure (e.g., a Max-Tree), generates a second hierarchical data structure (e.g., a KD-Tree) from feature elements (e.g., spectral and shape characteristics) of the components, uses LR satellite imagery data to categorize components as being of interest or not, uses the feature elements of the categorized components to train the second data structure to be able to classify all components of the first data structure as being of interest or not, classifies the components of the first data structure with the trained second data structure, and then maps components classified as being of interest into a resultant image.
Techniques for improving overhead image bathymetry include obtaining depth information from image data based on one or more of the spectral domain, the angular domain (e.g., stereo or photogrammetry), the temporal domain (e.g., monitoring the movement of waves in a body of water), or any other suitable domain, together with a priori information about the area of interest. These different pieces of depth information from the various different domains are combined together using any combination of Optimal Estimation and Continuity Constraints to improve the accuracy of the results.
A system for automatically extracting or isolating structures or areas of interest (e.g., built-up structures such as buildings, houses, shelters, tents; agricultural areas; etc.) from HR/VHR overhead imagery data by way of making as little as a single pass through a hierarchical data structure of input image components (where pixels are grouped into components based on any appropriate definition or measure of dissimilarity between adjacent pixels of the input image) to identify candidate components (e.g., possible structures of interest) free of necessarily having to re-iterate the same operator configured with different threshold parameters for a plurality of values.
G06K 9/34 - Segmentation of touching or overlapping patterns in the image field
G06K 9/46 - Extraction of features or characteristics of the image
G06K 9/66 - Methods or arrangements for recognition using electronic means using simultaneous comparisons or correlations of the image signals with a plurality of references, e.g. resistor matrix references adjustable by an adaptive method, e.g. learning
G06K 9/62 - Methods or arrangements for recognition using electronic means
A system for automated car counting comprises a satellite-based image collection subsystem; a data storage subsystem; and an analysis software module stored and operating on a computer coupled to the data storage subsystem. The satellite-based image collection subsystem collects images corresponding to a plurality of areas of interest and stores them in the data storage subsystem. The analysis module: (a) retrieves images corresponding to an area of interest from the data storage subsystem; (b) identifies a parking space in an image; (c) determines if there is a car located in the parking space; (d) determines a location, size, and angular direction of a car in a parking space; (e) determines an amount of overlap of a car with an adjacent parking space; (f) iterates steps (b)-(e) until no unprocessed parking spaces remain; and (g) iterates steps (a)-(f) until no unprocessed images corresponding to areas of interest remain.
G06K 9/64 - Methods or arrangements for recognition using electronic means using simultaneous comparisons or correlations of the image signals with a plurality of references, e.g. resistor matrix
G08G 1/065 - Traffic control systems for road vehicles by counting the vehicles in a section of the road or in a parking area, i.e. comparing incoming count with outgoing count
Techniques for atmospheric compensation in satellite imagery that include converting an image including an array of radiance values to an array of surface reflectance values. The conversion is performed in an automated fashion by identifying one or more portions of the image for which the surface reflectance can be estimated and determining the Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) by iteratively comparing the radiance value captured by the image sensor to a calculated radiance value (based on the known surface reflectance, historical values for other atmospheric parameters, and the AOD) and adjusting the AOD until the calculated radiance value is substantially the same as the captured radiance value.
A system for oil storage tank monitoring, comprising an extraction module and an analysis module, wherein an extraction module is utilized to determine information from an oil storage tank image and an analysis module is utilized to perform operations on extracted information, such as for determining measurements or values of oil storage tanks.
A system for modular image mining and search, comprising a plurality of image capture devices, a search engine, an indexing engine, a database, and user interface software. A plurality of image capture devices capture images and store them to a database. The indexing engine indexes images to create image data for each image with associated metadata and stores the information to the database. The interface software is used to request search queries via a search engine. The search engine accesses the image data to find images or parts of images that satisfy the search query.
A number of embodiments that accommodate automatic generation of a mosaic comprising a plurality of geospatial images are disclosed. As opposed to mosaic generation by a human operator manually reviewing and manually selecting images to define a mosaic, which is time consuming, costly, and involves human subjectivity which could result in radiometric distortions in the image, an embodiment of the automatic mosaic generation includes automated source image selection that in turn includes comparison of source images to a common base layer image to determine radiometrically-similar similar source images. The comparison between the source images and the base layer may be performed using an algorithmic approach, such that selection of source images may be performed in an at least partially computer-automated manner.
Automatic generation of a mosaic comprising a plurality of geospatial images. An embodiment of the automatic mosaic generation may include automated source image selection that includes comparison of source images to base layer image to determine radiometric similar source images. Additionally, an embodiment of an automatic cutline generator may be provided to automatically determine a cutline when merging two images such that radiometric differences between the images along the cutline are reduced. In this regard, less perceivable cutlines may be provided. Further still, an embodiment of a radiometric normalization module may be provided that may determine radiometric adjustments to source images to match certain properties of the base layer image. In some embodiments, when processing source images, the source images may be downsampled during a portion of the processing to reduce computational overhead. Additionally, some highly parallel computations may be performed by a GPU to further enhance performance.
Automatic generation of a mosaic comprising a plurality of geospatial images. An embodiment of the automatic mosaic generation may include automated source image selection that includes comparison of source images to base layer image to determine radiometric similar source images. Additionally, an embodiment of an automatic cutline generator may be provided to automatically determine a cutline when merging two images such that radiometric differences between the images along the cutline are reduced. In this regard, less perceivable cutlines may be provided. Further still, an embodiment of a radiometric normalization module may be provided that may determine radiometric adjustments to source images to match certain properties of the base layer image. In some embodiments, when processing source images, the source images may be downsampled during a portion of the processing to reduce computational overhead. Additionally, some highly parallel computations may be performed by a GPU to further enhance performance.
Automatic generation of a mosaic comprising a plurality of geospatial images. An embodiment of the automatic mosaic generation may include automated source image selection that includes comparison of source images to base layer image to determine radiometric similar source images. Additionally, an embodiment of an automatic cutline generator may be provided to automatically determine a cutline when merging two images such that radiometric differences between the images along the cutline are reduced. In this regard, less perceivable cutlines may be provided. Further still, an embodiment of a radiometric normalization module may be provided that may determine radiometric adjustments to source images to match certain properties of the base layer image. In some embodiments, when processing source images, the source images may be downsampled during a portion of the processing to reduce computational overhead. Additionally, some highly parallel computations may be performed by a GPU to further enhance performance.
Techniques for making, using and updating a Modeled Atmospheric Correction Object (MACO) cluster and the MACO sites that are selected from within a given MACO cluster. The MACO construct is a novel application of a Model of Reality (MOR) that provides synthetic ground truth essential to converting imagery from top-of-the-atmosphere radiance to surface reflectance given a variety of spatial, spectral and radiance effects involving non-uniform distributions of opaque clouds, cirrus clouds, aerosols, water vapor, surface ice, surface snow, shadows and bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) effects.
G06F 19/00 - Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific applications (specially adapted for specific functions G06F 17/00;data processing systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial, supervisory or forecasting purposes G06Q;healthcare informatics G16H)
A crowdsourced search and locate platform, comprising an application server and a crowdrank server. The application server: receives connections from crowdsourcing participants; navigates a first crowdsourcing participant to a specific geospatial location; sends an image corresponding to the geospatial location to the first crowdsourcing participant; receives tagging data from the first crowdsourcing participant, the tagging data corresponding to a plurality of objects and locations identified by the first crowdsourcing participant. The crowdrank server: retrieves a plurality of tags made by participating users computes agreement and disagreement values for each of the plurality of retrieved tags; performs an expectation-maximization or expectation-minimization process iteratively until a configured maximum number of iterations is performed or until an indicia of rate of change between iterations falls below a configured threshold; and provides resulting output values corresponding to geolocations of objects of a plurality of types to an administrative user.
A Metric Information Network (MIN) with a plurality of Ground Control Points (GCPs) that are selected in an automated fashion. The GCP selection includes clustering algorithms as compared to prior art pair-wise matching algorithms. Further, the image processing that takes place in identifying interest points, clustering, and selecting tie points to be GCPs is all performed before the MIN is updated. By arranging for the processing to happen in this manner, the processing that is embarrassingly parallel (identifying interest points, clustering, and selecting tie points) can be performed in a distributed fashion across many computers and then the MIN can be updated.
A Metric Information Network (MIN) with a plurality of Ground Control Points (GCPs) that are selected in an automated fashion. The GCP selection includes clustering algorithms as compared to prior art pair-wise matching algorithms. Further, the image processing that takes place in identifying interest points, clustering, and selecting tie points to be GCPs is all performed before the MIN is updated. By arranging for the processing to happen in this manner, the processing that is embarrassingly parallel (identifying interest points, clustering, and selecting tie points) can be performed in a distributed fashion across many computers and then the MIN can be updated.
A optical system carried by a flying object such as a satellite or aircraft having a pair of optical paths having different Q values for obtaining a pair of images of the same spot on the Earth's (or other celestial body's) surface. The optical paths may have a portion in common with each other and a portion not in common with each other. Light is directed into the optical paths via a field sharing arrangement. One of the optical paths together with an imaging device creates relatively narrower field of view images with a higher ground resolution than the other optical path together with an imaging device.
39 - Transport, packaging, storage and travel services
Goods & Services
(1) Providing information services, namely providing geographic information through the collection, manipulation, processing, and formatting of images and geographic measurements of the earth.
41 - Education, entertainment, sporting and cultural services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
(1) Providing e-mail notification for real-time updates in the field of geospatial imagery relating to natural disaster, man-made disaster, political uprising or other event of high interest; providing an on-line computer database in the field of geospatial imagery for producing satellite imagery, namely, a historical archive of high resolution satellite imagery of a geographic location for comparison with satellite images of the same location following a natural disaster, man-made disaster, political uprising or other event of high interest to provide historical context plus follow up with imagery of the geography.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
38 - Telecommunications services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
(1) Aerial, geographic, and satellite geospatial digital images for use and manipulation. (1) Electronic delivery of images, photographs and maps via a global computer network; software as a service (SAAS) services featuring software in the field of digital imagery for use in connection with the collection, manipulation, processing, electronic formatting and distribution of aerial, geographic, and satellite imagery.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
16 - Paper, cardboard and goods made from these materials
41 - Education, entertainment, sporting and cultural services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
(1) Prerecorded electronic media namely, databases, hard drives, magnetic tapes and optical discs containing images of the earth; and computer software in the field of earth imaging for the purpose of using, viewing and manipulating images of the earth; posters; photographs; calendars; maps featuring images of the earth. (1) Digital imaging services; photography services; aerial photography services; satellite photography services; design, development, implementation, updating and maintenance of computer software and databases; consulting services in the field of design, selection, implementation and use of computer hardware and software systems for others; interpretation of digital aerial and satellite images of the earth; photogrammetry services; geospatial services, namely, making maps and scale drawings from aerial and satellite photographs.
Methods are disclosed for tonally balancing multiple images. In one embodiment, the method comprises using a subset of corresponding points in each of a plurality of image overlap regions to solve a set of minimization equations for gains and biases for each spectral band of each image, the corresponding points being points from different images having locations that correspond to each other, the subset of corresponding points consisting of corresponding points whose intensities differ less than a threshold, applying the gains and biases to the images, and iterating said using and applying actions for a predetermined number of iterations.
The adverse effects of various sources of error present in satellite imaging when determining ground location information are reduced to provide more accurate ground location information for imagery, thereby rendering the information more useful for various entities utilizing the images. The determination of ground location coordinates associated with one or more pixels/sub-pixels of an image acquired by an imaging system includes obtaining a reference image, obtaining a target image associated with an earth view and the target image does not overlap the reference image. Known location information associated with the reference image is used to determine location information associated with the target image.
A system and method for determining the pervious and impervious area within parcels associated with a municipality for purposes of generating bills for storm water runoff to parcel owners. Aerial imagery, collected from an aircraft and/or satellite, of the relevant municapility, or portion thereof, is collected, processed, and analyzed to determine the amount of water impervious area associated with each relevant parcel within the municipality. This information for each parcel may then be used to determine an appropriate amount of money to be charged to the owner of each respective parcel. The amount of impervious area per parcel is calculated based on parcel boundary information specific to the municipality that may contain spatial domain errors.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
16 - Paper, cardboard and goods made from these materials
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Digital imagery computer software. Printed computer software documentation and user manuals, printed advertising and promotional materials, reports, maps and photographs. Providing information services, namely providing geographic information through the collection, manipulation, processing, and/or formatting of images and geographic measurements of the earth.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
16 - Paper, cardboard and goods made from these materials
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Digital imagery computer software. Printed computer software documentation and user manuals, printed advertising and promotional materials, reports, maps and photographs. Providing information services, namely providing geographic information through the collection, manipulation, processing, and/or formatting of images and geographic measurements of the earth.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
16 - Paper, cardboard and goods made from these materials
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
Digital imagery computer software. Printed computer software documentation and user manuals, printed advertising and promotional materials, reports, maps, photographs. Providing information services, namely providing geographic information through the collection, manipulation, processing, and/or formatting of images and geographic measurements of the earth.
