US 4,396,942 A · Video surveys

Abstract

A method for surveying, comprising the steps of: video recording all locations to be surveyed from a predetermined control position, for subsequent playback on a monitor screen; preparing a transparent overlay having a scale correlating the predetermined control position of the video recording means with respect to the surveyed locations and the size of the screen; applying the overlay to the screen while playing back the video recording, utilizing the overlay to ascertain actual distances; and, annotating maps or the like with the actual distances, interrupting or replaying portions of the video recording as necessary. In lieu of geometrically correlating the control position, the scaled overlay may be prepared on the basis of at least one actual measurement taken during the course of the survey. The method further contemplates the step of dictating and recording notes pertinent to the surveyed locations and circumstances of the survey, simultaneously with the video recording. The video survey may be conducted from a moving vehicle, such as a motor vehicle, airplane or helicopter, and may be made with a video cassette recording apparatus.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method for surveying and measuring three-dimensional road and terrain features, comprising the steps of:

traveling along the road in a moving vehicle
aligning a video camera to view along the direction of travel of the vehicle, the direction of travel defining a surveying axis and a field of view normal thereto;
continuously video recording two-dimensional images of the three-dimensional road and terrain features in the field of view with a video rcorder, said features being disposed at diverse distances from the camera and diverse angles from the surveying axis;
manually measuring and recording, during the course of the otherwise continuous video recording, the length, width and height of at least one road and terrain feature in the field of view;
playing back said recorded images of said road and terrain features, displaying said images on a screen;
superimposing a reference member having a plurality of scales, on said images of said manually mesured features;
calibrating said scales in accordance with said manual measurements;
and,
directly determining the length, width and height of any of the remainder of said road and terrain features by comparing said images to at least one of said calibrated scales.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Video surveys

Life of this patent

Video surveys

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims10