Abstract: A navigation system may display route information that includes a display of the fixtures that are located on or near the route. The fixtures may be selected and inserted into the digital map as graphical objects. The graphical objects may be classified into a class and at least one sub-class. The classification data may be used to select and generate the graphical objects.

Abstract: Techniques for generating a 3-dimensional map view of a navigation system are disclosed. A position module determines a position of a user to which the 3-dimensional map view is to be displayed, a viewing direction and elevation for the user. A map viewer generates the 3-dimensional map view of the map data, wherein for objects located within a predefined distance to the position of the user the position and the representation of each object is calculated taking into account the viewing direction and the elevation, wherein for objects located outside the predefined distance at least one group of objects, to which the objects belong, is identified, and for each identified group the background image is selected and displayed in which the 3-dimensional objects of the identified group are shown from the determined viewing direction and elevation. A display device displays the generated map view.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to techniques of providing route guidance along a planned route leading through at least one intersection. Predetermined attributes for a respective transition through the at least one intersection are retrieved from a database, the attributes specifying at least a curved path modelling a geometrical form of the transition. The curved path is displayed in a map view for route guidance along a planned route.

Abstract: In a method of generating a database for use in outputting three- dimensional maps, a projection of a two-dimensional road vector onto a three-dimensional surface defined by digital terrain model data is determined. At least one three-dimensional road vector (94, 95, 98, 99) is determined based on the established projection and is stored in the database. The database is generated before it is deployed to a navigation device for use in outputting three-dimensional maps. A method of outputting three-dimensional maps and a navigation device may use the thus generated database.

Abstract: Techniques for displaying a 3d map view of a 3d geographical map are provided. A database stores data which defines the 3d geographical map in a layered hierarchy comprising data layers which can be individually rendered for the 3d map view. The database comprises a data layer of a digital terrain model which is modelling a terrain surface and a data layer of a 3d road network comprising 3d road elements. A processor is configured for selecting specific data layers of the database in response to a resolution setting of the 3d map view and to render the 3d map view using the selected specific data layer.

Abstract: A method and device for displaying road segments are provided. The method uses a map data base storing information on a road network in a road vector data format. Additional parameter values are stored for a subset of road segments. Information on a direction vector and the parameter value for a road segment are retrieved. Based on the parameter value, it is determined whether the road segment exhibits a variation in shape as a function of position along its direction vector. A graphical representation of the road segment is generated based on the retrieved parameter value and the direction vector.

Abstract: A system may determine a number of floors of a building based on image data of the building. The system may determine a background color of a façade of the building shown in the image data. Using this background color, predefined deviations may then be detected that form the background color in the façade of the building. A mean number of predefined deviations in the vertical direction of the façade of the building may be determined, and the number of floors of the building based on the determined mean number of predefined deviations can be then be deduced.

Abstract: An electronic map may be output based on map data including information related to a current configuration of each of a plurality of map objects and historical attributes of at least a portion of the plurality of map objects. The historical attribute associated with a map object may include information related to a historical configuration of the respective map object in the past. A time selection input may be received at a user interface. The map data may be processed to identify a map object having a current configuration different from a historical configuration at a time in the past which is determined based on the time selection input. An optical output device may be controlled to output a graphical representation of the identified map object that is dependent on both the current configuration and the historical configuration of the identified map object.

Abstract: A system for visualization of 3D objects and/or 3D terrain includes a processor, a display in communication with the processor, and a range metering device in communication with the processor. The system visualizes the 3D objects and/or the 3D terrain based upon their respective distances from the mobile device and based upon a respective parameter measuring the detail of the 3D object and/or the 3D terrain.

Abstract: A database for a navigation system has digital elevation model data defining a three-dimensional surface. The database stores, for plural tiles of a tiling, a first array including three-dimensional coordinates of vertices of plural triangulated irregular networks, TINS, for the respective tile, and a plurality of second arrays. Each second array respectively defines triangular faces of a TIN and includes a plurality of vertex indices of the vertices to define triangular faces of the respective TIN. A method of outputting a three-dimensional representation of a terrain and a method of generating the database are also described.

Abstract: A navigation system has a database which stores index data for, respectively, a tile of a tiling. The index data includes, for each one of plural cells of a grid which is superimposed on the tile, respectively an identifier for each triangular face of a triangulated irregular network which at least partially overlaps with the respective cell. The plural cells of the grid are defined so as to cover the respective tile. A processing device of the navigation system is configured to use the index data to determine a triangular face on which a map feature having given lateral coordinates is located, in order to determine a height coordinate of the map feature.

Abstract: A navigation system has a database storing data for reconstructing three-dimensional roof structures. The data includes information on edges of at least one closed polygon and a type identifier respectively stored in the database for each one of the edges. Each one of the type identifiers is respectively selected from a finite set of type identifiers. Plural planar faces are generated to reconstruct the roof structure. The planar faces are respectively determined such that they pass through an edge of the polygon and have an orientation determined based on the type identifier stored for the edge.

Abstract: A system may determine a number of floors of a building based on image data of the building. The system may determine a background color of a façade of the building shown in the image data. Using this background color, predefined deviations may then be detected that form the background color in the façade of the building. A mean number of predefined deviations in the vertical direction of the façade of the building may be determined, and the number of floors of the building based on the determined mean number of predefined deviations can be then be deduced.

Abstract: A terrain modeling system provides a terrain model having variable resolution. The system receives an input terrain made up of raster points. The system identifies raster points that differ in height from an adjacent raster point by a threshold. The system interpolates the identified raster points to calculate one or more B-spline surfaces. The surfaces correspond to a multi-dimensional representation of a physical terrain.

Abstract: A method and device for displaying road segments are provided. The method uses a map data base storing information on a road network in a road vector data format. Additional parameter values are stored for a subset of road segments. Information on a direction vector and the parameter value for a road segment are retrieved. Based on the parameter value, it is determined whether the road segment exhibits a variation in shape as a function of position along its direction vector. A graphical representation of the road segment is generated based on the retrieved parameter value and the direction vector.

Abstract: A scanning system scans a surface of a three-dimensional object from a first position and a second position. Using common alignment at these positions, a first scanning sample and a second scanning sample are generated. The first and second scanning samples include point clouds having data points representing positions of the scanned surfaces. The first scanning sample and the second scanning sample are oriented relative to each other based on the common alignment of the scan positions.

Abstract: An image generation system for developing three-dimensional electronic models of objects includes a scanner and a computing system. The scanner may be selectively positioned adjacent to an object in different geographic positions. The scanner may provide scanner position information and image data representative of the object to the computing system. The computing system may generate a three-dimensional electronic model of the object from the image data and the scanner position information. The three-dimensional electronic model may be stored and utilized in other applications, such as an electronic navigational map.

Abstract: A texturizing system for texturizing electronic representations of objects includes a texture library, a texture engine and a graphical user interface module. A source texture may be stored in the library with an associated unique identifier. The source texture may be manipulated with the graphical user interface module to form a complex texture. Manipulations to form the complex texture may be captured and stored in the texture library as a transformation procedure with a unique identifier. The unique identifier of either the complex texture or the source texture may be associated with a surface of an electronic representation of an image. When the electronic representation is displayed, the transformation procedure is performed and the surface associated with the transformation procedure may be texturized.

Abstract: A terrain modeling system provides a terrain model having variable resolution. The system receives an input terrain made up of raster points. The system identifies raster points that differ in height from an adjacent raster point by a threshold. The system interpolates the identified raster points to calculate one or more B-spline surfaces. The surfaces correspond to a multi-dimensional representation of a physical terrain.

Abstract: A navigation system may display route information that includes a display of the fixtures that are located on or near the route. The fixtures may be selected and inserted into the digital map as graphical objects. The graphical objects may be classified into a class and at least one sub-class. The classification data may be used to select and generate the graphical objects.