Topography (e.g., Land Mapping) Patents (Class 702/5)
  • Patent number: 7487046
    Abstract: A geospatial modeling system may include a geospatial model database and a processor cooperating therewith for performing at least one noise filtering operation on data comprising elevations associated with respective location points. The at least one noise filtering operation may include determining a respective center point elevation difference for each location point and based upon a sum of differences between elevations of a given location point and a plurality of neighboring location points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Rahmes, Stephen Connetti, Harlan Yates, Anthony O'Neil Smith
  • Publication number: 20090024371
    Abstract: A method for irrigating terrain comprising the following steps: generating field surface relative elevation data set using Monte-Carlo simulation; adjusting the simulation data set to ensure it falls in a reasonable numerical range; adjusting the data set to establish certain spatial dependence using Kriging interpolation method; and making further statistical characteristics parameter modification to the data set, so that the final corrected field surface relative elevation data shares the same or similar statistics characteristics parameters as the initial simulation. The method factors in both the randomness and spatial dependence of the field relative elevation distribution, which brings the simulation result closer to the actual micro-topography.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Di XU, Meijian BAI, Yinong LI, Shaohui ZHANG, Fuxiang LI
  • Publication number: 20090024325
    Abstract: The invention comprises a survey pole having a survey pole bottom end, with a position-transducer coupled to a survey pole top end. A ground contact spike is on the bottom end. The survey pole uses an AINS as a combined tilt and heading sensor. The AINS provides heading and Euler angle outputs characterizing the tilt of the survey pole. The heading and Euler angle outputs are used by a computer and program to perform position transfers from a position-transducer at the pole top end to the GCZVI switch or spike on the ground using a set of position offset or transfer equations. The position-transducer is either a GNSS or an RTS serving as a position-transducer. The transfer of the position data from the position of the position-transducer provides the earth referenced or grid referenced position of the spike at the survey pole survey bottom end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventor: Bruno M. Scherzinger
  • Publication number: 20090024326
    Abstract: A system and method of mapping underground utilities and other subsurface objects involves one or more of acquiring utility location data using a number of different detectors and sensors, processing the multiple detector/sensor output data to produce mapping data, storing the mapping data in a database, and providing access to and use of the stored mapping data by subscribing users on a usage fee basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Gary Neal Young, Kevin L. Alft
  • Patent number: 7480572
    Abstract: A method for detecting a hot target on the Earth by a satellite is disclosed. The satellite includes a sensor for acquiring data in spectral channels in the IR spectrum, and a navigation system for detecting position and orientation data of the satellite. The method includes the steps of subjecting the acquired data to a system correction by radiometric and geometric calibration files stored on the satellite; detecting a hot target on board from the system-corrected data by multi-channel thresholding; geo-referencing the hot target by the position and orientation data of the satellite and the geometric calibration files; temporarily storing the geo-referenced hot target on the satellite; and transmitting the temporarily stored hot target by a transmitting unit to a receiving unit on the Earth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt a. V.
    Inventors: Dieter Oertel, Herbert Jahn, Eckehard Lorenz, Wolfgang Baerwald, Winfried Halle, Holger Venus, Thomas Terzibaschian, Boris Zhukov
  • Publication number: 20080319672
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are directed at estimating the value of an attribute at a specified geographic location. In one embodiment, a method is provided that estimates the elevation at a principal point using LiDAR data that was collected from spatially related secondary points. More specifically, the method includes identifying secondary points where sample attribute data was obtained that are within a predetermined distance to the principal point where the attribute is being estimated. A secondary point may be selected and allocated a masking zone and a determination made regarding whether one or more distant secondary points are within the area of the masking zone. In this regard, more distant secondary points that are inside a masking zone may be assigned less relevance when estimating the value of the attribute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: Weyerhaeuser Co.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Jay Welty
  • Publication number: 20080319673
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are directed at using LiDAR data to identify attributes of vegetation. In this regard, a method is provided that allocates points to individual items of vegetation from raw LiDAR data. In one embodiment, the method includes selecting a coordinate position represented in the LiDAR data that generated a return signal. Then, a determination is made regarding whether the selected coordinate position is inside a geographic area allocated to a previously identified item of vegetation. If the selected coordinate position is not within a geographic area allocated to a previously identified item of vegetation, the method determines that the selected coordinate position is associated with a new item of vegetation. In this instance, a digital representation of the new item of vegetation is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: Weyerhaeuser Co.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Jay Welty, Earl T. Birdsall, Robert K. McKinney
  • Publication number: 20080312942
    Abstract: A method and system for displaying predictions on a spatial map includes using a data analyzer for analyzing heterogeneous data having a spatial component to find utilizable data and using machine learning to automatically extract relationships from the utilizable data. The extracted relationships are used to make a prediction about at least one location on the spatial map and present that prediction in an oblique or perspective view. An interface presents the prediction on the spatial map in the form of a heat map overlying a 3-D topographical map. Although the 3-D map can be shown as any form of graphical projection including an oblique projection or orthographic projection, preferably a perspective view is used. It is also preferred that the graphical projection be interactive. The heat map may be 2-D or 3-D and be selectively displayed depending on the preference of a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Suresh Katta, Haranath Gnana
  • Patent number: 7463990
    Abstract: A method for adjusting an electronic system is provided in which it is possible to predefine the n parameters of the system which correspond to an n-dimensional adjustment space, wherein at the start of the adjustment each parameter has predefined for it two limit values that delimit an appropriate initial range in the n-dimensional adjustment space, and wherein the following steps are repeated until a termination condition is achieved: evaluating a target function that quantifies the achievement of an adjustment target for the limit values that delimit the initial range, wherein the evaluation includes the measurement and/or evaluation of at least one physical quantity of the system that is a function of the specific parameter or its limit value, and wherein appropriate target function values associated with the limit values are obtained, defining a modified, in particular reduced, initial range for a subsequent iteration as a function of the target function values obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Atmel Duisburg GmbH
    Inventor: Reiner Franke
  • Patent number: 7461998
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of stabilizing a beach which includes the steps of producing an engineering design for placement of one or more sand filled, low profile geotextile tubes in proximity to the beach to produce a groin field; and implementing the engineering design to place the one or more sand filled, low profile geotextile tubes in proximity to the beach in accordance with the engineering design to produce the groin field. The method includes an iterative process using multiple model executions to produce an engineering design of a discrete, porous, geotextile groin field for engineering site adaptation and implementation at a specific beach site. The solution may further include post-installation monitoring to assess the effectiveness of the solution and to modify the solution for future erosion mitigation efforts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Beach Restorations, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Parnell, Kelly L. Rankin
  • Patent number: 7457706
    Abstract: A system and method for generating custom geospatial information maps and precision corrected images allows real-time interactive production of a desired output image by incorporating user selectable parameters that define various image synthesizing operations. A graphical user interface allows a user to specify parameters that define the desired output image via a remote computing device over a public access network such as the Internet. The parameters define image synthesizing operations such as area, projection, datum, fusion, masking, blending, mosaiking, resampling, and others. The desired output image is processed by an image assembly server according to the parameters and a variety of geospatial image data sources, and electronically delivered to a user via a public access network. The geospatial information may also be correlated with non-georeferenced data such that relevant associations between non-georeferenced data and the geospatial data are integrated in the output information product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Melero, Douglas W. Shibla, Mark R. Lucas
  • Publication number: 20080281523
    Abstract: A method of estimating the impulse response of a channel is disclosed. The method includes transmitting an impulse signal to the channel, detecting a received signal from the channel, and calculating an estimate of the impulse response of the channel by applying a calculated inverse matrix of the impulse signal to the received signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: UNIVERSITETET I OSLO
    Inventors: Tobias Dahl, Gudbrand Eggen
  • Patent number: 7451066
    Abstract: A “near wellbore modeling” software will, when executed by a processor of a computer, model a localized area of a reservoir field which surrounds and is located near a specific wellbore in the reservoir field by performing the following functions: (1) receive input data representative of a reservoir field containing a plurality of wellbores, (2) establish a boundary around one specific wellbore in the reservoir field which will be individually modeled and simulated, (3) impose an “fine scale” unstructured grid inside the boundary consisting of a plurality of tetrahedrally shaped grid cells and further impose a fine scale structured grid about the perforated sections of the specific wellbore, (4) determine a plurality of fluxes/pressure values at the boundary, the fluxes/pressure values representing characteristics of the reservoir field located outside the boundary, (5) establish one or more properties for each tetrahedral cell of the unstructured grid and each cylindrical grid cell of the structured grid, (6
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Inventors: David A. Edwards, Jonathan A. Holmes, Anthony J. Fitzpatrick
  • Publication number: 20080270031
    Abstract: A geospatial modeling system may include a geospatial database for storing geospatial data points each having respective elevations associated therewith. The system may further include a processor for data thinning the geospatial data points by selecting discriminant points therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Stephan Walker Miller, J. Harlan Yates, Stephen Connetti, Mark Rahmes
  • Publication number: 20080262734
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data collection network. In one embodiment, the present invention comprises a mobile electronic device that was not originally intended for use as a GIS data collector. The present invention further comprises a data dictionary forwarding device communicatively coupled with the mobile electronic device and a GIS data management component communicatively coupled with the data dictionary forwarding device for receiving GIS data collected by the mobile electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Paul Robin Manson, Bruce Stephen James, Michelle Lynn Frye, Robert Murie Allan, John Francis Rogers, Peter Glen France
  • Publication number: 20080262733
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a method and system for creating a flexible Geographic Information Systems (GIS) network. In one embodiment, a data dictionary is assigned to a mobile electronic device. In one embodiment, the data dictionary comprises a definition of at least one desired GIS feature type which was not originally intended to be recordable by the mobile electronic device. The method further comprises uploading the data dictionary onto the mobile electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Inventors: Paul Robin Manson, Bruce Stephen James, Michelle Lynn Bergen, Robert Murie Allan, John Francis Rogers, Peter Glen France
  • Patent number: 7433785
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for predicting the grain size distribution at a designated location within a water-lain sedimentary deposit. Initially, the vertical thickness of the sedimentary deposit at the designated location must be determined, as well as the vertical thickness and grain size distribution at a second location different from the designated location. Second, a distance parameter corresponding to the two locations must be determined. Finally the distance parameter is used, along with the initially determined vertical thickness at both locations and the grain size distribution at the second location to calculate the grain size distribution at the designated location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Exxon Mobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Max Deffenbaugh, William B. Heard, Chun Huh, Tao Sun, David C. Hoyal
  • Patent number: 7428476
    Abstract: Described are a method and system for describing a position of an entity in a three-dimensional coordinate system with respect to the reference model. The reference model is of a three-dimensional curved surface defined in the three-dimensional coordinate system. The three-dimensional curved surface is divided into a set of cells. Each cell is a subset of the three-dimensional curved surface and has a curved surface. A three-dimensional curvilinear coordinate system is defined for each cell in the set of cells. The three-dimensional curvilinear coordinate system for each cell has a curvilinear axis that extends along the curved surface of that cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Yasumi Capital, LLC
    Inventor: Ralph M. Toms
  • Publication number: 20080221795
    Abstract: A method for processing multi-component, multi-offset electromagnetic data measured at at least one multi-component receiver, the data representative of electric and magnetic fields due to a source, the at least one multi-component receiver being disposed at a depth greater than that of the source. The method includes decomposing the measured multi-offset electric and magnetic fields into upgoing and downgoing components; and formulating a noise removal operator from the downgoing components and the properties of the medium surrounding the at least one receiver.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Applicants: STATOIL ASA, ELECTROMAGNETIC GEOSERVICES AS
    Inventors: Lasse Amundsen, Egil Holvik
  • Patent number: 7424415
    Abstract: In a method for modeling a reservoir having a horizon surface with a reverse fault, a volume of the reservoir is partitioned into fault blocks. A bounding surface of each of the fault blocks includes a portion of the reverse fault. The interior of each of the fault blocks includes only single valued horizon surfaces. Horizon data describing the reservoir is partitioned into patches, each patch corresponding to a fault block. A horizon surface patch model is derived from the data patch in the interior of each fault block. The horizon patch model includes an up-thrown or down-thrown fault trace, which defines the intersection of the surface patch with the bounding reverse fault. Continuity constraints are defined to ensure that horizon surface patch models on the opposite sides of the reverse fault coincide outside of the real fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Apostol Todorov Vassilev
  • Patent number: 7421344
    Abstract: A system and method for generating weather reports and the like which are precisely computed automatically for a particular individual user's geographic location, e.g., home or work, and which are provided to the individual user in both graphical and textual format in a user interactive manner. A personalized weather report presentation in accordance with the present invention may include a tabular presentation of a plurality of forecast weather conditions for the user location of interest throughout a day, along with a linked graphical representation of at least one of those weather conditions overlaid on a map centered at the user location of interest. Under user control, the user may select the time of the forecast weather conditions shown in the graphical portion of the presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Weather Central, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor W. Marsh, Randall T. Wiggins
  • Patent number: 7415356
    Abstract: A facility for producing a composite aerial image is described. The facility receives information specifying a geographic area. The facility obtains an aerial image showing the specified geographic area that was prepared using one or more aerial image sections. Each aerial image section covers a geographic area defined in terms of spherical coordinates, and was constructed by copying a portion of a master aerial image that was selected using rectangular coordinates into the master image that were determined by directly transforming the spherical coordinates defining the covered geographic area. The facility obtains information indexed to one or more distinguished geographic locations within the specified geographic area and, for each distinguished geographic location, composites into the obtained aerial image a visual indication of the information that is indexed to the distinguished geographic location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Zillow, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunil Gowda, Bryan Byrne, Andy Wand
  • Patent number: 7403856
    Abstract: A method for processing and analyzing digital terrain data utilizing Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED). The method comprises defining approach azimuth and visibility limitations angle which are used for defining directional fans by determining fan opening angle, fan azimuth, and maximal range for terrain analysis. At least one directional fan data set is constructed from at least one source point within the DTED, where the directional fan includes line of sight information between said source point and DTED points located within said directional fan. The method further comprises interrogating said data sets by one or more queries to obtain terrain information for given approach conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Rafael-Armament Development Authority Ltd.
    Inventors: Yigal Moscovitz, Sergey Vichic, Michal Attia, Rami Ben-Ari
  • Patent number: 7403855
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of tracking individual plants growing and/or taken from a growing location, such as a field, growing bed, plot or greenhouse. Machine-readable data related to selected individual plants is maintained in close association with corresponding plants while growing or if the plant is taken from the growing location. Information about each plant, e.g. traits, characteristics, genetic make-up, can be added to a database that correlates the information to the machine-readable data. Thus, individual plants can be tracked and information about the plant is available by maintaining the machine-readable data with the plant. The machine-readable data can be read by a machine operatively communicated with a computer on which is stored the database. Identity and information about the plant is therefore available, without keeping specific track of a plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
    Inventors: Blair C. Fuessley, Chad M. Marsh
  • Patent number: 7400976
    Abstract: A system and method of mapping underground utilities and other subsurface objects involves one or more of acquiring utility location data using a number of different detectors and sensors, processing the multiple detector/sensor output data to produce mapping data, storing the mapping data in a database, and providing access to and use of the stored mapping data by subscribing users on a usage fee basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Gary Neal Young, Kevin L. Alft
  • Patent number: 7395157
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for automated location-dependent recognition of flood risks, whereas a central unit (20) comprises a lookup table (203) corresponding to a spatial high resolution grid (60/61) based on decentralized measurements of flood risk factors of a specific territory, whereas the system comprises distributed gauging stations (5/30/31/32), to measure river discharge parameters (T) within a grid cell (60/61), whereas the central unit (20) comprises a correlation-module (21) generating an event-specific averaged probabilistic water depth value (H) for an flood event based on the linked flood risk factors and the river discharge values, and whereas the system comprises an cell arbitrator module (22) accting on at least on grid-based composition module (23) according to the avaraged probabilistic water depth values (H).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Swiss Reinsurance Company
    Inventors: Hans Feyen, Jens Mehlhorn, Christoph Oehy
  • Publication number: 20080154508
    Abstract: A method of coordinating surveys of different origins and which may be projected into different coordinate systems. The method provides a translation and rotation of the surveys to be coordinated without disturbing the internal geometry of each survey. A geographic information system including a procedure for coordinating surveys of different origins and/or which surveys which projected in different coordinate systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventor: Robert S. Jones
  • Publication number: 20080154507
    Abstract: A method of coordinating surveys of different origins and which may be projected into different coordinate systems. The method provides a translation and rotation of the surveys to be coordinated without disturbing the internal geometry of each survey. A geographic information system including a procedure for coordinating surveys of different origins and/or which surveys which projected in different coordinate systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventor: Robert S. Jones
  • Publication number: 20080154506
    Abstract: A method of coordinating surveys of different origins and which may be projected into different coordinate systems. The method provides a translation and rotation of the surveys to be coordinated without disturbing the internal geometry of each survey. A geographic information system including a procedure for coordinating surveys of different origins and/or which surveys which projected in different coordinate systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventor: Robert S. Jones
  • Publication number: 20080147325
    Abstract: Embodiments consistent with the present disclosure provide method and systems for providing customized augmented reality data comprising. The method includes Some embodiments consistent with the present disclosure provide a method for providing customized augmented reality data. The method includes receiving geo-registered sensor data including data captured by a sensor and metadata describing a position of the sensor at the time the data was captured and receiving geospatial overlay data including computer-generated objects having a predefined geospatial position. The method also includes receiving a selection designating at least one portion of the geo-registered sensor data, said at least one portion of the geo-registered sensor data including some or all of the geo-registered sensor data, and receiving a selection designating at least one portion of the geospatial overlay data, said at least one portion of the geospatial overlay data including some or all of the geospatial overlay data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Paul W. Maassel, Justin Thomas
  • Publication number: 20080133554
    Abstract: Provided is a method for storing multipurpose geographic information, capable of integrating, storing, managing and using vector data (numerical map) and image, digital elevation model (DEM), three-dimensional (3D) point cloud data, and facility texture information. The method for storing multipurpose geographic information in a computing system includes the steps of: dividing geographic information data to be stored into minimum units; classifying the divided geographic information data into geometric information (geographic position information) and attribute information; and storing the geometric information (geographic position information) in a vector format and storing the attribute information in an attribute information linked to a vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institue
    Inventors: Chung-Ho Lee, Jaehong Oh, Hong-Gab Kim, Ki-In Bang, Chang-Rak Yoon, Young-Jae Lim, Kyung-Ok Kim
  • Patent number: 7383129
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for visualizing a scene that is monitored for substance contamination. The scene is scanned with a substance detector to detect a substance, such as a harmful chemical or biological substance. The position of the substance is determined. Graphical element data that represents the detected substance in the scene is generated. A displayed view of the scene is augmented with the graphical element data based on the position of the detected substance to show the detected substance in the view of the scene and provide the user with the location and type of detected substance shown with reference to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Yohan Baillot, Patrick Louis Ponsardin
  • Patent number: 7383130
    Abstract: A weather-based activity advisor that provides activity recommendations to a user based on location and a time parameters. The activity recommendations are based on assessments of the desirability of potential activities such as weather-based index values. The weather-based activity advisor may present recommended activities, facilities offering the activities, information about the activities, and information about weather conditions influencing the desirability of the activities. The activity advisor may also present supplemental information such as advertisements and related web links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: The Weather Channel, Inc.
    Inventor: Vinod Koosam
  • Patent number: 7376513
    Abstract: A geospatial modeling system may include a geospatial model database and a processor. The processor may cooperate with the geospatial model database for extracting ground data from foliage and building data, performing at least one noise filtering operation on the foliage and building data including at least one sum of differences operation, and separating foliage data from the building data based upon the at least one noise filtering operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Rahmes, Stephen Connetti, Harlan Yates, Anthony O'Neil Smith
  • Patent number: 7376516
    Abstract: A method of coordinating surveys of different origins and which may be projected into different coordinate systems. The method provides a translation and rotation of the surveys to be coordinated without disturbing the internal geometry of each survey. A geographic information system including a procedure for coordinating surveys of different origins and/or which surveys which projected in different coordinate systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: R.A. Smith National
    Inventor: Robert S. Jones
  • Publication number: 20080103699
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing wide area terrain mapping. The system comprises a digital elevation map (DEM) and mosaic generation engine that processes images that are simultaneously captured by an electro-optical camera (RGB camera) and a LIDAR sensor. The image data collected by both the camera and the LIDAR sensor are processed to create a geometrically accurate three-dimensional view of objects viewed from an aerial platform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Barbara Hanna, Bing-Bing Chai, Stephen Hsu
  • Patent number: 7365544
    Abstract: This invention concerns a method of making airborne geophysical measurements. Such measurements may be made from fixed or moving wing airplanes or dirigibles. The method comprises the following steps: taking first real time measurements from one, or more, geophysical instruments mounted in an aircraft to produce geophysical data related to the ground below that instrument. Taking second real time measurements from navigation and mapping instruments associated with or carried by the aircraft. Computing a background response of each geophysical instrument using the second real time measurements to take account of its time varying altitude, and the time varying topography of the ground below it. Adjusting an operating or data processing condition of each geophysical instrument using the respective background response and the instrument's attitude to enhance the performance of that instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: BHP Billiton Innovation Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken G. McCracken, James Beresford Lee
  • Patent number: 7363157
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing wide area terrain mapping. The system comprises a digital elevation map (DEM) and mosaic generation engine that processes images that are simultaneously captured by an electro-optical camera (RGB camera) and a LIDAR sensor. The image data collected by both the camera and the LIDAR sensor are processed to create a geometrically accurate three-dimensional view of objects viewed from an aerial platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation
    Inventors: Barbara Hanna, Bing-Bing Chai, Stephen Hsu
  • Patent number: 7359931
    Abstract: A system for facilitating pipeline management, software, and methods are provided. The system includes a pipeline company computer positioned at a pipeline company site to define a pipeline company server, having a processor, memory coupled to the processor to store software and database records therein, a graphical display coupled to the processor for displaying graphical images and a user interface coupled to the processor to provide a user access to manipulate the software and database records, and pipeline information management analyzing software to analyze pipeline management requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Thamer K. Tarabzouni, Abdulaziz K. Al-Mejna, Howard Wood
  • Publication number: 20080082269
    Abstract: A method for interpreting transient electromagnetic survey data includes measuring transient response of a medium over a plurality of switching events. The measured transient response to a first one of the current switching events is modeled. Transient response to the model for at least one current switching event prior in time to the at least a first current switching event is calculated. The calculated transient response is summed with the first event measured response and the sum is compared to the electromagnetic survey measurements. The model is adjusted and the calculating summed transient responses is repeated until a difference between the summed calculated responses and the survey measurements falls below a selected threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Charles H. Stoyer, Kurt M. Strack
  • Patent number: 7353114
    Abstract: Interactive geographic information systems (GIS) and techniques are disclosed that provide users with a greater degree of flexibility, utility, and information. A markup language is provided that facilitates communication between servers and clients of the interactive GIS, which enables a number of GIS features, such as network links (time-based and view-dependent dynamic data layers), ground overlays, screen overlays, placemarks, 3D models, and stylized GIS elements, such as geometry, icons, description balloons, polygons, and labels in the viewer by which the user sees the target area. The markup language is used to describe a virtual camera view of a geographic feature. A compressed file format holds multiple files utilized to display a geographic feature in a single file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: John Rohlf, Brian McClendon
  • Patent number: 7349763
    Abstract: A method for irrigating an irrigation region (30) with an irrigation unit (20) includes the steps of subdividing the irrigation region (30) into a plurality of subregions (34), establishing a sequence for irrigating the subregions (34) based on irrigation requirements for the irrigation region (30), and directing a fluid (19) to one or more of the subregions (30) using the irrigation unit (20) based on the sequence. The irrigation regions (30) can be rectangular, square, or hexagonal, and can each have non-overlapping rectangular, square or triangular, similarly-sized subregions (34). The irrigation requirements can include the color of the subregions (34), the elevation of one subregion (34) relative to another subregion (34) and/or other physical conditions. The sequence can be established entirely within a housing (200) of the irrigation unit (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Inventor: Norman Ivans
  • Patent number: 7349806
    Abstract: A method for predicting water clarity at a plurality of water depths for a location including providing training data to a neural network, the training data representative of water measurements at the location, thereafter receiving inputs including temperature, salinity, tidal information, water depth, and sediment data, and generating values for optical attenuation at a wavelength at a plurality of depths. In one embodiment, a default cloudy day algorithm operates at all times and a clear sky algorithm operates only when clear satellite images are available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Sonia C Gallegos, Juanita C Sandidge, Xiaogang Chen, Cynthia D Daniels, Chiu-Fu Cheng
  • Patent number: 7340418
    Abstract: A medium having a plurality of computer readable files relating to geophysical seismic data recorded thereon. The files include a map display having multiple levels of geographic detail and including a plurality of surface seismic data lines. A plurality of compressed seismic data files is also included, each file producing a corresponding geophysical display when its corresponding surface seismic data line is selected. The files also include a plurality of references to a plurality of full seismic data files. Each of the compressed seismic data files has less information content than its corresponding full seismic data file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Inventor: Bobby J. Caine
  • Patent number: 7337065
    Abstract: This invention discloses several improved methods of correcting for atmospheric effects on a remote image of the Earth's surface taken from above, wherein the image comprises a number of simultaneously acquired images of the same scene, each including a large number of pixels, each at a different wavelength band, and including infrared through ultraviolet wavelengths. One method is for retrieving the aerosol/haze amount (i.e., visible range) from an assumed ratio of in-band reflectances, rather than from an assumed reflectance value. Another method is for identifying cloud-containing pixels. This is used to improve the calculation of the spatially averaged radiance L*e and reflectance ?e images in standard equations. Another method greatly reduces the number of mathematical operations required to generate the reflectance values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Spectral Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Adler-Golden, Michael Matthew, Alexander Berk, Lawrence S. Bernstein, Gail Anderson
  • Patent number: 7324666
    Abstract: A method for assigning of geocodes to addresses identifying entities on a street includes ordering a set of entity geocodes associated with a street segment based on ordering criteria such as the linear distance of the geocodes along the length of the street segment. Assignable addresses are matched with the ordered geocodes creating a correspondence between a numerical order of the assignable addresses and a linear order of the ordered set of geocodes, consistent with address range direction data and street segment side data. The geocodes may be implicit or explicit, locally unique or globally unique. The set of entity geocodes may be obtained by identifying image features in aerial imagery corresponding to streets and buildings and correlating this information with data from a street map database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Whitegold Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack M. Zoken, Prashant P. Devdhar
  • Patent number: 7317988
    Abstract: A method is provided for updating a legend of a spatial display for use with graphical user interface of a field computer linked to one or more sensors for sensing data or information from a piece of equipment performing an agricultural operation. The method provides a field computer with a graphical user interface, at least one sensor operatively linked to the field computer, and a piece of equipment performing an agricultural operation and in operative communication with the at least one sensor for sensing data or information for display on the graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Ag Leader Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Brett Johnson
  • Patent number: 7313495
    Abstract: A method of processing marine magnetic data is disclosed which comprises towing first and second magnetometers M1 and M2 behind a ship (10). Raw magnetic gradient data is obtained from the sensors and the trend of the gradient of the ship bias detected by the sensors determined. The method includes subtracting the trend from the raw magnetic gradient data to obtain corrected gradient data, and processing the corrected gradient data to provide a data output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: BHP Billiton Innovation Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi Zeng, Peter Mitchell Stone, Marion Elizabeth Rose
  • Patent number: 7313478
    Abstract: A method for determining field readiness using moisture modeling of a plurality of fields in a region of interest includes (a) generating a detailed set of moisture factors covering a plurality of scenarios for each field element of the plurality of field elements for a particular field; (b) repeating act (a) for each field of the region of interest; (c) generating a general set of moisture factors for a particular field of the plurality of fields to be applied to each field element of the plurality of field elements in the particular field; (d) repeating act (c) for each field of the plurality of fields in the region of interest; and (e) estimating soil moisture for each field element in the region of interest based on the detailed set of moisture factors and the general set of moisture factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Noel Wayne Anderson, Mark William Stelford, Stephen Michael Faivre
  • Patent number: RE40321
    Abstract: A method for surface estimation of reservoir properties, wherein location of and average earth resistivities above, below, and horizontally adjacent to the subsurface geologic formation are first determined using geological and geophysical data in the vicinity of the subsurface geologic formation. Then dimensions and probing frequency for an electromagnetic source are determined to substantially maximize transmitted vertical and horizontal electric currents at the subsurface geologic formation, using the location and the average earth resistivities. Next, the electromagnetic source is activated at or near surface, approximately centered above the subsurface geologic formation and a plurality of components of electromagnetic response is measured with a receiver array. Geometrical and electrical parameter constraints are determined, using the geological and geophysical data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co.
    Inventor: Leonard J. Srnka