Video report generator coupled to a system that measures motion using a camera

A method for creating a single video report file which documents a set of findings of a study investigating dynamic vibratory motion of a machine or a structure under investigation combining a plurality of visual objects to enhance a visual representation of the structure or machine while it is in motion, comprising:

• obtaining from a video camera an original set of video recordings comprising two or more video recordings of the structure or machine taken with the video camera at different locations while the structure or machine is moving, wherein moving includes at least the structure or machine experiencing vibratory motion;
• storing, in a hierarchical data structure, a set of visual objects comprising a plurality of video frames from the original set of video recordings wherein collectively the set of visual objects identifies two or more spatial areas where motion of interest occurs and the set of visual objects enhances a visual perception of the motion of interest;
• accessing one or more of the set of visual objects in a viewing window and modifying one or more visual objects from the set of visual objects by at least one of:
• applying at least one mathematical algorithm to the one or more visual objects to create at least one modified visual object having at least one property different from a corresponding visual object in the original set of video recordings, or adding a waveform, orbit, spectral, or transient graph with quantitative measurements of the vibratory motion of the structure or machine from at least one of the spatial areas where motion of interest occurs in the original set of video recordings;
• accepting a user selection of the at least one modified visual object to include in the single video report file;
• after the user selection, displaying in a preview window a video report-in-progress referencing the at least one modified visual object and enabling the at least one modified visual object to be further modified in length or annotated to focus attention on the motion of interest;
• creating a project file from the set of visual objects and the at least one modified visual object, wherein the project file defines a plurality of elements for constructing the single video report file, and wherein the plurality of elements include at least an identification of one or more visual objects and at least one modified visual object to include in the single video report file, and an order and format of presentation for the plurality of elements in the single video report file;
• enabling the video report-in-progress to be saved, reopened and iteratively modified while the video report-in-progress is opened either by modifying the one or more visual objects, by changing the order or format of presentation for the plurality of elements identified, or by removing from the video report-in-progress any of the plurality of elements identified;
• and
• updating the project file as the video report-in-progress is iteratively modified to construct the single video report file.