System and method for creating a simulation of a terrain that includes simulated illumination effects
AssigneeMultigen Paradigm, Inc.
InventorBrett Chladny
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for creating a simulation of a terrain that enables simulated views of the terrain to be rendered. The simulated views may include illumination effects (e.g., shading) that correspond to simulated illumination conditions. The simulated views may be substantially devoid of illumination effects present in one or more images of the terrain from which the simulation is created. Thus, the simulation may provide the simulated views with realistic, dynamic illumination effects, which may enhance an overall realism of the simulation.
Claims21
A method of creating a simulation of a terrain, the method comprising:
- obtaining elevation data associated with a terrain;
- obtaining image information associated with an image of the terrain, wherein the image information comprises a capture time at which the image was captured, location information related to the location of the terrain, and a visual database that enables a view of the terrain to be rendered;
- estimating one or more illumination conditions at the location of the terrain at the capture time based on at least a portion of the image information;
- determining one or more illumination effects of the illumination conditions in the image information based on the illumination conditions and the elevation data;
- and
- removing the determined illumination effects from the visual database to create an illumination-neutral visual database that enables an illumination-neutral view of the terrain to be generated.
A system for creating a simulation of a terrain, the system comprising:
- an input interface that enables elevation data associated with a terrain and image information associated with an image of the terrain to be input to the system, wherein the image information comprises a capture time at which the image was captured, location information related to the location of the terrain, and a visual database that enables a view of the terrain to be rendered;
- a processor that executes an illumination conditions module, an illumination effects module, and an effects removal module;
- and
- electronic storage;
- wherein the illumination conditions module estimates one or more illumination conditions at the location of the terrain at the capture time based on at least a portion of the image information;
- wherein the illumination effects module determines one or more illumination effects of the illumination conditions in the image information based on the illumination conditions and the elevation data;
- wherein the effects removal module removes the determined illumination effects from the visual database to create an illumination-neutral visual database that enables an illumination-neutral view of the terrain to be generated;
- and
- wherein the illumination-neutral visual database is stored in the electronic storage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.