Abstract: A method is disclosed involving receiving GPS data from a personal portable training device. A smoothing operation is performed on the GPS data to generate a more accurate representation of the route travelled for display to a user (504). In the smoothing operation, a cubic spine algorithm is used to obtain an initial estimate of the route representation (500). The estimate is then subjected to a refinement using at least received user motion data recorded by the personal training device (502). In addition one or more of: data indicative of the GPS accuracy; historical route data; and digital map data, such as building footprints and bodies of water, may be used in refining the estimate.

Abstract: A method of processing camera data of a mobile mapping system is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes a) obtaining camera data from at least one camera of the mobile mapping system, b) detecting at least one region in the camera data, c) applying a compression technique on the camera data in a first region, and d) obtaining range sensor data from at least a first range sensor. The range sensor data may at least partially correspond to the camera data. Also, in at least one embodiment, b) includes using the range sensor data to identify the at least one region in the camera data.

Abstract: A method of compressing data output from one or more accelerometers configured to be transported, carried or worn by a user is provided. Acceleration values indicative of the movement of the user are measured at a first frequency and values representative of the measured acceleration values are generated at a second frequency, which is lower than the first frequency. The step of generating comprises: defining a plurality of time windows, each time window containing a plurality of measured acceleration values; and applying a transformation to the measured acceleration values within each time window to generate a plurality of transformed values. For each time window, storing at least one of said plurality of transformed values and/or one or more parameters associated therewith.

Abstract: A method is disclosed involving receiving GPS data from a personal portable training device. A smoothing operation is performed on the GPS data to generate a more accurate representation of the route travelled for display to a user (504). In the smoothing operation, a cubic spine algorithm is used to obtain an initial estimate of the route representation (500). The estimate is then subjected to a refinement using at least received user motion data recorded by the personal training device (502). In addition one or more of: data indicative of the GPS accuracy; historical route data; and digital map data, such as building footprints and bodies of water, may be used in refining the estimate.

Abstract: A computer arrangement is disclosed, including a processor and a memory that stores a computer program, object data originating from a first source and including object location data, and laser samples originating from a second source, including a sub-set of laser samples relating to the object and including laser sample location data as to each laser sample. In at least one embodiment, the processor compares the object location data and the laser sample location data of the sub-set of laser samples, and matches the object location data to the laser sample location data of the sub-set of laser samples based on this comparison, and thereby corrects for relative positional errors between the first and second sources of location data. The object may be a building façade, for example.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for generating an orthorectified tile. In at least one embodiment, the method includes retrieving source images obtained by way of a terrestrial based camera; retrieving position data associated with the source images; retrieving orientation data associated with the source images; and converting source image by means of corresponding position data and orientation data to obtain the orthorectified tile. Orthorectified tiles are used to generate an orthorectified mosaic. As such, images recorded by terrestrial based camera may be used to generate a map of a road surface with corresponding road signs.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for updating digital maps and for matching global navigation devices to a digital map. Such navigation devices rely upon GPS signals (20, 24) from satellites (22, 26). One well-documented cause of position error in navigation devices arises from the phenomenon of GPS multi-path. It has been observed that GPS multi-path errors in the latitude/longitude direction are highly correlated with errors in altitude. By comparing altitude value of GPS probe data with reference specifications for altitude, unreliable probe data (outliers) can be easily identified and culled. Such techniques can be used as well by a mobile navigation device to confirm a match to a particular road segment and if not revert to other positioning techniques such as inertial guidance systems and the like. If the local altitude is not reliably known, an estimation can be derived directly from the collected probe data.

Abstract: A method of compressing data output from an acceleration measurement means configured to be transported, carried or worn by a user is provided. Acceleration values indicative of the movement of the user are measured at a first frequency and values representative of the measured acceleration values are generated at a second frequency, which is lower than the first frequency. The step of generating comprises: defining a plurality of time windows, each time window containing a plurality of measured acceleration values; and applying a transformation to the measured acceleration values within each time window to generate a plurality of transformed values. For each time window, storing at least one of said plurality of transformed values and/or one or more parameters associated therewith.

Abstract: A method of reducing the spatial resolution of images is disclosed. At least one embodiment of the method includes: —acquiring an input image including image parts having a spatial resolution larger than SR pixels/meter; —acquiring a depth map associated with the input image; —determining for each pixel p(x,y) a spatial resolution value by means of the depth map; —processing a region of pixels of the input image for which holds that the spatial resolution value is larger than a predefined threshold corresponding to SR pixels/meter to obtain a corresponding region of pixels having a spatial resolution smaller then or equal to SR pixels/meter in an output image. The method enables to removes privacy information from images by reducing the spatial resolution to a level that the privacy information cannot be recognized in the image anymore.

Abstract: A method of producing lane information for use in a map database is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes acquiring one or more source images of a road surface and associated position and orientation data, the road having a direction and lane markings parallel to the direction of the road; acquiring road information representative of the direction of said road; transforming the one or more source images to obtain a transformed image in dependence of the road information, wherein each column of pixels of the transformed image corresponds to a surface parallel to the direction of said road; applying a filter with asymmetrical mask on the transformed image to obtain a filtered image; and producing lane information from the filtered image in dependence of the position and orientation data associated with the one or more source images.

Abstract: A computer arrangement is disclosed, including a processor that can communicate with a memory. The memory stores a computer program that can be run by the processor, and stores a set of laser scan samples including a sub-set of laser scan samples relating to a façade of a building and stores location data as to each laser scan sample. The memory also stores a picture of the same façade including location data as to pixels of the picture. The picture includes data as to a wall of the façade and data as to texture elements in the wall. In at least one embodiment, the processor automatically identifies the wall and the texture elements in the picture while using the laser scan samples.

Abstract: A method of producing linear features along a reference-line across a surface for use in a map database is disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a method of and apparatus for determining inaccurate GPS samples in a set of GPS samples is disclosed, according to the following actions: a) obtaining GPS samples as taken by a global positioning system on board a vehicle when traveling along a trajectory; b) obtaining a first estimation of the trajectory based on the GPS samples; c) obtaining a second estimation of the trajectory at least based on measurements made by an inertial measurement unit on board vehicle when traveling along the trajectory; d) comparing the first and second estimations; e) establishing locations where the first estimation shows a variation compared with the second estimation above a predetermined threshold; f) if no such locations can be established continue with action j), otherwise continue with action g); g) removing GPS samples associated with the locations of high variation as being inaccurate GPS samples, thus forming a set of remaining GPS samples; h) calculating the first estimati

Abstract: A method of detecting objects from terrestrial based mobile mapping data is disclosed, wherein the terrestrial based mobile mapping data has been captured by way of a terrestrial based mobile mapping vehicle driving on a road having a driving direction, the mobile mapping data including laser scanner data, source images obtained by at least one camera and position and orientation data of the vehicle, wherein the laser scanner data includes laser points, each laser point having associated position and orientation data, and each source image comprises associated position and orientation data.

Abstract: A method of identifying a planar object in source images is disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for updating digital maps and for matching global navigation devices to a digital map. Such navigation devices rely upon GPS signals (20, 24) from satellites (22, 26). One well-documented cause of position error in navigation devices arises from the phenomenon of GPS multi-path. It has been observed that GPS multi-path errors in the latitude/longitude direction are highly correlated with errors in altitude. By comparing altitude value of GPS probe data with reference specifications for altitude, unreliable probe data (outliers) can be easily identified and culled. Such techniques can be used as well by a mobile navigation device to confirm a match to a particular road segment and if not revert to other positioning techniques such as inertial guidance systems and the like. If the local altitude is not reliably known, an estimation can be derived directly from the collected probe data.

Abstract: A method of reducing the spatial resolution of images is disclosed. At least one embodiment of the method includes: —acquiring an input image including image parts having a spatial resolution larger than SR pixels/meter; —acquiring a depth map associated with the input image; —determining for each pixel p(x,y) a spatial resolution value by means of the depth map; —processing a region of pixels of the input image for which holds that the spatial resolution value is larger than a predefined threshold corresponding to SR pixels/meter to obtain a corresponding region of pixels having a spatial resolution smaller then or equal to SR pixels/meter in an output image. The method enables to removes privacy information from images by reducing the spatial resolution to a level that the privacy information cannot be recognized in the image anymore.

Abstract: A method of processing camera data of a mobile mapping system is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes a) obtaining camera data from at least one camera of the mobile mapping system, b) detecting at least one region in the camera data, c) applying a compression technique on the camera data in a first region, and d) obtaining range sensor data from at least a first range sensor. The range sensor data may at least partially correspond to the camera data. Also, in at least one embodiment, b) includes using the range sensor data to identify the at least one region in the camera data.

Abstract: A method of producing lane information for use in a map database is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes acquiring one or more source images of a road surface and associated position and orientation data, the road having a direction and lane markings parallel to the direction of the road; acquiring road information representative of the direction of said road; transforming the one or more source images to obtain a transformed image in dependence of the road information, wherein each column of pixels of the transformed image corresponds to a surface parallel to the direction of said road; applying a filter with asymmetrical mask on the transformed image to obtain a filtered image; and producing lane information from the filtered image in dependence of the position and orientation data associated with the one or more source images.

Abstract: A method of producing linear features along a reference-line across a surface for use in a map database is disclosed.