US 2024/0056693 A1 · Systems and Methods For Multispectral Landscape Mapping

Abstract

Image acquisition and analysis systems for efficiently generating high resolution geo-referenced spectral imagery of a region of interest. In some examples, aerial spectral imaging systems for remote sensing of a geographic region, such as a vegetative landscape are disclosed for monitoring the development and health of the vegetative landscape. In some examples photogrammetry processes are applied to a first set of image frames captured with a first image sensor having a first field of view to generate external orientation data and surface elevation data and the generated external orientation data is translated into external orientation data for other image sensors co-located on the same apparatus for generating geo-referenced images of images captured by the one or more other image sensors.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing machine-executable instructions for performing a method of generating geo-referenced spectral images of a landscape from a first plurality of images captured by a first image sensor of an aerial platform and a plurality of spectral images captured by a multispectral (MS) image sensor of the aerial platform, wherein the method comprising:

performing an aerial triangulation and bundle adjustment process on the first plurality of images to determine first image sensor external orientation (EO) data, the first image sensor EO data defining the EO of the first image sensor when each of the first plurality of images was captured by the first image sensor;
generating a digital elevation product from the plurality of first images and the first image sensor EO data;
and
orthorectifying at least one of the plurality of spectral images according to the digital elevation product.

1 more element

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing machine-executable instructions for performing a method of generating a flight plan that includes a flight path and a series of image capture locations for an aerial system, wherein the aerial imaging system includes a first downward-looking camera that is a panchromatic camera and at least one second downward-looking camera that includes a multispectral camera, wherein the field of view of the first camera has a cross-sectional area between at least 50% greater than and at least 100% greater than a cross-section area of the field of view of the second camera, wherein the field of view of the second camera is approximately centered within the field of view of the first camera, and wherein the first and second cameras are triggered at substantially the same time and have substantially the same frame rate such that multispectral digital images of a given portion of the landscape taken by the second (multispectral) camera each reside within a panchromatic digital image of the corresponding portion of the landscape taken by the first camera, wherein the method of generating the flight plan comprises:

ensuring a sufficient number of images are captured so that a continuous map of the landscape can be generated and so that the image capture locations result in an overlap of adjacent images, including a longitudinal overlap in the flight path direction and a lateral overlap in the lateral direction;
wherein:
the lateral overlap of adjacent panchromatic images is in the range of approximately 30% to approximately 90% and the lateral overlap of adjacent multispectral images is in the range of approximately −20% to approximately 50%;
and
the longitudinal overlap of adjacent panchromatic images is in the range of approximately 30% to greater than 70% and the longitudinal overlap of adjacent multispectral images is in the range of approximately −20% to approximately less than 50%.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and Methods For Multispectral Landscape Mapping

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Systems and Methods For Multispectral Landscape Mapping

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20