Abstract: The method includes divisionally-capturing a target region from a platform such as an airplane (1) by rendering viewing angles as being different from each other as well as rendering a focal length (f, f?) as being different with reference to a predetermined ground resolution, thereafter generating an elevation model (5) of the entire target region (1) in accordance with matching of elevation models (3, 3) generated based on respective divisionally-captured images (2) between image capturing overlap regions (4), and generating an orthophoto image of the entire target region by applying an orthogonal projection transformation processing to the respective divisionally-captured images (2) by use of altitude information of the elevation model (5).

Abstract: In the case where radar image data obtained from a radar device equipped in a flying body and optical image data of a district taken by the radar device are synthesized to produce a terrestrial object information judging image, the radar image data are approximated to a black and white panchromatic image character. The radar image data approximated to the black and white panchromatic character and the optical image data are aligned in position and then synthesized. As a suitable embodiment, in an approximation processing of the radar image data to the black and white panchromatic image character, histogram conversion processing is carried out in accordance with a histogram characteristic of the radar image data.

Abstract: There is provided a system for detecting a shape change of a building based upon an aerial photograph taken by an airplane. The system can process the aerial photograph without waiting for the airplane to land. On the airplane, edges are extracted directly from a central projected photographed image to be transmitted wirelessly to a ground station. This ground station extracts segments from the edges to thereby determine a shape of the building in the photographed image. On the other hand, the ground station generates a projected image of the building, which is obtained by central projecting existing three-dimensional data from a flying position of the airplane, and matches the projected image and the shape of the building obtained from the photographed image. According to a similarity between the two through the matching, it is decided whether or not the shape of the building has changed from the time of registration of the existing three-dimensional data.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for producing land-surface image data, which can correct, with relatively high accuracy, cloud image data included in satellite image data into land-surface image data that would emerge in the absence of a cloud. Geostationary satellite image data 1 of a predetermined time at a production standard date is obtained, and a determination whether each pixel is a pixel reflecting a land surface 4 or a pixel reflecting a cloud 5 is made to set partial image data 6 and a missing region 7. Then, processing is repeated by sequentially adding another imaging date and time according to a predetermined priority until the missing region 7 is filled up with the pixel determined to be the pixel reflecting the land surface 4, thereby producing interpolated image data 9 to produce the land-surface image data.

Abstract: A map information update support device includes a communication interface unit that acquires plural items of radar image data of the same observation area acquired at different times, respectively, a registration processing unit that registrates the plural items of radar image data with respect to one another, a characteristic value calculation unit that calculates a characteristic value representing a state of a surface of the earth in the observation area using the items of radar image data after the registration process, a feature changed area extraction unit that extracts a feature changed area based on the characteristic value, a road change candidate area extraction unit that synthesizes the feature changed area with map information of the observation area and extracts a road change candidate area that is a candidate of a road changed portion, and an output unit that outputs the map information synthesized with the road change candidate area.

Abstract: In a road image analyzing apparatus capable of obviously and rapidly distinguishing a road marking from a guardrail and capable of obtaining precise position information, a pre-processing unit defines sub-areas to main image data obtained by an image pickup unit, and an edge extracting unit extracts an edge component in each of the sub-areas. A linear line extracting unit analyzes the extracted edge component to extract a linear component, and a linear component analyzing unit extracts a continuous component from the linear component by using the linear component. A matching process unit performs a matching process between a vertex of the continuous component and auxiliary image data to obtain three-dimensional position information of each continuous component. An identifying unit identifies whether the continuous component is a road marking or a guardrail on the basis of height information of each continuous component included in the three-dimensional position information.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for evaluating a solar radiation amount that can realize higher accuracy by virtue of consideration of terrain conditions. Static satellite image data 1 and three-dimensional map model 2 are combined, and a mesh 3 based on plane coordinates is set in accordance with a ground resolution of the static satellite image data 1. A shadow area 4 is calculated based on the three-dimensional map model 2 and a solar position specified by photographing chronological data, and whether or not each cell 8 of the mesh 3 belongs to the shadow area 4 is determined. Also, a solar radiation evaluation component 6 of each cell 8 in an area to be evaluated is obtained with reference to a table 7 associating a pixel value 5 of each pixel in the static satellite image data 1 with the solar radiation evaluation component 6 in an area corresponding to each pixel.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for producing land-surface image data, which can correct, with relatively high accuracy, cloud image data included in satellite image data into land-surface image data that would emerge in the absence of a cloud. Geostationary satellite image data 1 of a predetermined time at a production standard date is obtained, and a determination whether each pixel is a pixel reflecting a land surface 4 or a pixel reflecting a cloud 5 is made to set partial image data 6 and a missing region 7. Then, processing is repeated by sequentially adding another imaging date and time according to a predetermined priority until the missing region 7 is filled up with the pixel determined to be the pixel reflecting the land surface 4, thereby producing interpolated image data 9 to produce the land-surface image data.

Abstract: In the case where radar image data obtained from a radar device equipped in a flying body and optical image data of a district taken by the radar device are synthesized to produce a terrestrial object information judging image, the radar image data are approximated to a black and white panchromatic image character. The radar image data approximated to the black and white panchromatic character and the optical image data are aligned in position and then synthesized. As a suitable embodiment, in an approximation processing of the radar image data to the black and white panchromatic image character, histogram conversion processing is carried out in accordance with a histogram characteristic of the radar image data.

Abstract: [Problem to be Solved]Disclosed is a method and apparatus for evaluating a solar radiation amount that can realize higher accuracy by virtue of consideration of terrain conditions. [Solving Means] Static satellite image data 1 and three-dimensional map model 2 are combined, and a mesh 3 based on plane coordinates is set in accordance with a ground resolution of the static satellite image data 1. A shadow area 4 is calculated based on the three-dimensional map model 2 and a solar position specified by photographing chronological data, and whether or not each cell 8 of the mesh 3 belongs to the shadow area 4 is determined. Also, a solar radiation evaluation component 6 of each cell 8 in an area to be evaluated is obtained with reference to a table 7 associating a pixel value 5 of each pixel in the static satellite image data 1 with the solar radiation evaluation component 6 in an area corresponding to each pixel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for generating an orthophoto image. The method can be used to utilize an orthophoto image mainly for creation of a topographic map or as a photographic map. [Problem to be solved] An object is to provide a method for generating an orthophoto image that can realize relatively easy image capturing and generation of an orthophoto image with high image quality. A further object is to provide an image capturing device suitable for image capturing utilizing the method for generating the orthophoto image.

Abstract: In a radar image processing device and a radar image processing method which can accurately extract a change of a ground surface, a communication interface unit (10) obtains a plurality of radar image data of a same observation target obtained at different times and stores in a radar image storage unit (12), and a registration processor (14) reads the plurality of radar image data from the radar image storage unit (12) and registrates the radar image data with respect to each other. Then, a characteristic value calculating unit (18) calculates a plurality of characteristic values indicating a state of a ground surface which is the observation target based on the positioned radar image data.

Abstract: To provide measurement data on a real time basis from a laser measurement device mounted on an air vehicle to a ground station. The laser measurement unit sequentially outputs laser measurement data during a measurement period in which the air vehicle flies along a straight line flight fairway (32). The transmission unit desirably compresses the laser measurement data when the laser measurement data is accumulated to a file size while the air vehicle flies along straight line flight fairway (32), and transmits the laser measurement data to the ground station. The transmission units does not transmit the flight state data obtained by the GPS/IMU to the ground station on the straight line flight fairway (32), but transmits during a measurement suspended period in which the air vehicle flies along a turn fairway (34).

Abstract: A map information update support device includes a communication interface unit that acquires plural items of radar image data of the same observation area acquired at different times, respectively, a registration processing unit that registrates the plural items of radar image data with respect to one another, a characteristic value calculation unit that calculates a characteristic value representing a state of a surface of the earth in the observation area using the items of radar image data after the registration process, a feature changed area extraction unit that extracts a feature changed area based on the characteristic value, a road change candidate area extraction unit that synthesizes the feature changed area with map information of the observation area and extracts a road change candidate area that is a candidate of a road changed portion, and an output unit that outputs the map information synthesized with the road change candidate area.

Abstract: In a road image analyzing apparatus capable of obviously and rapidly distinguishing a road marking from a guardrail and capable of obtaining precise position information, a pre-processing unit defines sub-areas to main image data obtained by an image pickup unit, and an edge extracting unit extracts an edge component in each of the sub-areas. A linear line extracting unit analyzes the extracted edge component to extract a linear component, and a linear component analyzing unit extracts a continuous component from the linear component by using the linear component. A matching process unit performs a matching process between a vertex of the continuous component and auxiliary image data to obtain three-dimensional position information of each continuous component. An identifying unit identifies whether the continuous component is a road marking or a guardrail on the basis of height information of each continuous component included in the three-dimensional position information.

Abstract: To provide measurement data on a real time basis from a laser measurement device mounted on an air vehicle to a ground station. The laser measurement unit sequentially outputs laser measurement data during a measurement period in which the air vehicle flies along a straight line flight fairway (32). The transmission unit desirably compresses the laser measurement data when the laser measurement data is accumulated to a file size while the air vehicle flies along straight line flight fairway (32), and transmits the laser measurement data to the ground station. The transmission units does not transmit the flight state data obtained by the GPS/IMU to the ground station on the straight line flight fairway (32), but transmits during a measurement suspended period in which the air vehicle flies along a turn fairway (34).

Abstract: There is provided a system for detecting a shape change of a building based upon an aerial photograph taken by an airplane. The system can process the aerial photograph without waiting for the airplane to land. On the airplane (2), edges are extracted directly from a central projected photographed image (S22) to be transmitted wirelessly to a ground station (6). This ground station (6) extracts segments from the edges to thereby determine a shape of the building in the photographed image. On the other hand, the ground station (6) generates a projected image of the building, which is obtained by central projecting existing three-dimensional data from a flying position of the airplane (2), and matches the projected image and the shape of the building obtained from the photographed image (S28). According to a similarity between the two through the matching, it is decided whether or not the shape of the building has changed from the time of registration of the existing three-dimensional data.

Abstract: In a radar image processing device and a radar image processing method which can accurately extract a change of a ground surface, a communication interface unit (10) obtains a plurality of radar image data of a same observation target obtained at different times and stores in a radar image storage unit (12), and a registration processor (14) reads the plurality of radar image data from the radar image storage unit (12) and registrates the radar image data with respect to each other. Then, a characteristic value calculating unit (18) calculates a plurality of characteristic values indicating a state of a ground surface which is the observation target based on the positioned radar image data.