Infrastructure mapping system and method

A system for generating a map of a surface, comprising:

• a global position receiver;
• an elevation measurement unit, adaptably mountable to a vehicle or a platform;
• a global positioning antenna, adaptably mountable to the vehicle or the platform;
• an attitude measurement unit, adaptably mountable to the vehicle or the platform;
• an imaging array, having a view of the surface, comprising:
• a mount unit, adaptably mountable to the vehicle or the platform;
• an aperture, formed in the mount unit;
• a first imaging sensor, coupled to the mount unit, having a first focal axis passing through the aperture, wherein the first image sensor generates a first image area of the surface comprising a first array of pixels;
• and
• a second imaging sensor, coupled to the mount unit and offset along an array axis from the first imaging sensor in a long track, cross-eyed fashion, having a second focal axis passing through the aperture and intersecting the first focal axis, wherein the second imaging sensor generates a second image area of the surface comprising a second array of pixels;
• a third imaging sensor, coupled to the mount unit and offset from the first imaging sensor along an array axis opposite to the second imaging sensor, wherein the third imaging sensor generates a third image area of the surface comprising a third array of pixels, wherein the third imaging sensor is a forward oblique imaging sensor;
• and
• a fourth imaging sensor, coupled to the mount unit and offset from the second imaging sensor along the array axis opposite to the third imaging sensor, wherein the fourth imaging sensor generates a fourth image area of the surface comprising a fourth array of pixels, wherein the fourth imaging sensor is a rear oblique imaging sensor;
• and
• a computer, connected to the elevation measurement unit, the global positioning antenna, the attitude measurement unit and first and second imaging sensors;
• correlating at least a portion of the image area from the first and second imaging sensors to a portion of the surface area based on input from one or more of:
• the elevation measurement unit, the global positioning antenna and the attitude measurement unit.

A system for generating a map of a surface, comprising:

• a global position receiver;
• an elevation measurement unit, adaptably mountable to a vehicle or a platform;
• a global positioning antenna, adaptably mountable to the vehicle or the platform;
• an attitude measurement unit, adaptably mountable to the vehicle or the platform;
• a plurality of imaging arrays adaptably mountable to the vehicle or the platform, each having a view of the surface, comprising:
• a first imaging array further comprising a plurality of first imaging sensors, coupled to a first mount unit, each first imaging sensor having a first focal axis passing through an aperture formed in the first mount unit, wherein the first image array generates a first image area of the surface comprising a first array of pixels;
• a second imaging array further comprising a plurality of second imaging sensors, coupled to a second mount unit and offset from the first imaging array along a curvilinear array axis perpendicular to the first image array, each second imaging sensor having a second focal axis passing through an aperture formed in the second mount unit, wherein the second imaging array generates a second image area of the surface comprising a second array of pixels;
• a third imaging array further comprising a plurality of third imaging sensors, coupled to a third mount unit and offset from the first imaging array along the array axis opposite the second imaging array, each third imaging sensor having a third focal axis passing through an aperture formed in the third mount unit, wherein the third imaging array generates a third image area of the surface comprising a third array of pixels;
• and
• a fourth imaging array further comprising a plurality of fourth imaging sensors, coupled to a fourth mount unit and offset from the second imaging array along the array axis opposite to the third imaging array, each fourth imaging sensor having a fourth focal axis passing through an aperture formed in the fourth mount unit, wherein the fourth imaging array generates a fourth image area of the surface comprising a fourth array of pixels;
• and
• a computer, connected to the elevation measurement unit, the global positioning antenna, the attitude measurement unit and first and second imaging sensors;
• correlating at least a portion of the image area from the first, second, third and fourth imaging arrays to a portion of the surface area based on input from one or more of:
• the elevation measurement unit, the global positioning antenna and the attitude measurement unit.

A system for generating a map of a surface, comprising:

• a global position receiver;
• an elevation measurement unit, adaptably mountable to a vehicle or a platform;
• a global positioning antenna, adaptably mountable to the vehicle or the platform;
• an attitude measurement unit, adaptably mountable to the vehicle or the platform;
• a compound imaging array adaptably mountable to the vehicle or the platform, having a view of a target area, comprising:
• a first concave array having an apex;
• a second concave array, angularly displaced with respect to the first array and adapted to meet the apex of the first concave array;
• a primary imaging sensor, centrally disposed along the concave surface of the first array, having a primary focal axis;
• and
• a plurality of secondary imaging sensors, disposed along the concave surfaces of the first and second arrays at angular intervals from the primary imaging sensor, having a focal axes that intersect with the primary focal axis in an intersection area in cross-eyed fashion;
• and
• a computer in communication with the elevation measurement unit, the global positioning antenna, the attitude measurement unit, the first, second, third and fourth imaging sensors;
• correlating at least a portion of the image area from the first and second imaging arrays to a portion of the target area based on input from one or more of:
• the elevation measurement unit, the global positioning antenna and the attitude measurement unit.