# US 2013/0155243 A1 · Method and apparatus for direct detection, location, analysis, identification, and reporting of vegetation clearance violations technical field > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0155243 A1 - Document ID: US20130155243A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/764,136 - Filed: 2013-02-11 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2010-07-27 - Assignees: Aerotec, LLC - Inventors: James W. Dow; Michael D. Rhodes; William A. Openshaw; W. Scott Dow; Alan R. Page - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130155243A1 ## CPC - G06T 7/521: from laser ranging, e.g. using interferometry; from the projection of structured light - G01B 11/002: {for measuring two or more coordinates} - G01B 11/14: for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures (G01B11/26 takes precedence; rangefinders G01C3/00) - G01B 11/24: for measuring contours or curvatures - G01B 11/28: for measuring areas - G01C 3/08: Use of electric radiation detectors - G01C 5/00: Measuring height; Measuring distances transverse to line of sight; Levelling between separated points; Surveyors' levels (G01C3/20, G01C3/30 take precedence) - G01C 11/00: Photogrammetry or videogrammetry, e.g. stereogrammetry; Photographic surveying - G06T 7/60: Analysis of geometric attributes - G06T 7/70: Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras (camera calibration G06T7/80) - G06V 20/176: {Urban or other man-made structures} - G06V 20/188: {Vegetation} - H04N 7/18: Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast - G01C 11/06: by comparison of two or more pictures of the same area - G06T 2207/10028: Range image; Depth image; 3D point clouds - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) - G06V: IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A method and system for processing digital image data taken from a three-dimensional topographic area including terrain and a right of way including a first and a second object to establish a clearance surface to define clearance violations within a boundary area. Waypoints are located to define a centerline and the boundary area to be analyzed. Vegetation coordinate points in the scene are determined from the digital image data. Ground coordinate points are determined from the digital image data. A clearance surface segment is constructed within the boundary area between the first and second object. The clearance surface is determined from the location of the first and second object and clearance criteria. The clearance surface is used to define a violation region. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for processing digital image data taken from a three-dimensional topographic area including terrain and a right of way including a first and a second object to establish a clearance surface to define clearance violations within a boundary area, the method comprising: locating waypoints to define a centerline and the boundary area to be analyzed; determining vegetation coordinate points in the area from the digital image data; determining ground coordinate points from the digital image data; constructing a clearance surface segment within the boundary area between the first and second object, the clearance surface segment determined from the location of the first and second object and clearance criteria; and using the clearance surface segment to define a violation region. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising classifying each vegetation point as a violation or non-violation based on the clearance criteria. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the constructed clearance surface segment is the solution of all 3D points that violate a plurality specified clearance criteria for a plurality of specific facility operating conditions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the clearance surface criteria includes radial criteria, NESC criteria, or constant slope criteria. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the clearance surface segment is constructed for at least a selected one of a plurality of clearance criteria, a selected one of a plurality of facility operating conditions, or a selected one of a plurality of construction methods. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the clearance surface segment for the span is a continuous surface constructed in a left border zone extension, a wire zone component, and a right border zone extension. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the clearance surface segment for the span is extended beyond the corridor boundary to define taller clearance violations beyond the corridor boundary. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second objects are consecutive supporting structures forming a span, and wherein a clearance surface segment is constructed for another span of supporting structures along the centerline of the corridor in the boundary area. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein additional clearance surface segments are established for each span between the consecutive supports and the additional clearance surface segments are edge-matched at each supporting structure to ensure the continuation of the continuous clearance surface along the entire boundary area length. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the clearance surface segments preserve the entire geometrical properties of operating facilities within the boundary area length, the geometric properties including structures, conductor catenary curves, and conductor attachment points. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising converting the clearance surface segment into a data model representing the geometry of the boundary area and its operating facilities and solutions for possible clearance criteria violations, the data model including clearance surface segments, clearance surface analysis results, a GIS map of the corridor, and a digital terrain surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: storing the surface clearance segment as a segmented clearance surface for each span; storing the vegetation data as a segment for each span; and storing the ground level data as a segment for each span. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising loading the stored segment data into a portable handheld device for field inspection; determining the position of an observed object via a single laser shot from a laser range finder determining whether the observed object in the area is a violation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the clearance surface segment is adjusted to simulate vegetation growth. ### Claim 15 A portable device for analyzing whether an object violates a clearance criteria in an area, the device comprising: a laser rangefinder that determines the position of the object relative to the portable device via a single laser shot at the object; a position data interface that determines the position of the portable device; a storage device storing clearance surface data including a map of the area having clearance surface boundaries; a controller to determine the position of the object based on the position of the portable device obtained from the data interface and the position of the object relative to the portable device obtained from the laser rangefinder, the controller determining whether the object violates clearance criteria. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The portable device of claim 15, further comprising a display coupled to the controller, the display displaying the position of the portable device, the position of the object and an indication of whether the object violates the clearance criteria. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The portable device of claim 15, further comprising a cellular communication transceiver. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The portable device of claim 17, wherein the cellular communication transceiver performs at least one of: a) receiving a positional data signal, the positional data signal used by the controller to determine the position of the object; or b) transmitting position data of the object. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The portable device of claim 15, further comprising a digital camera, the digital camera coupled to the storage device to store an image of the object. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The portable device of claim 15 further comprising a laser designator device for pointing out the object. ### Claim at position 21 21-27. (canceled)