Image-based georeferencing

A method of obtaining a georeferenced location, said method comprising:

• capturing a first image with a camera to achieve a captured image, said captured image comprising a field of view including an object with an identifiable feature;
• providing said captured image to an image-based georeferencing system, said image-based georeferencing system comprising a feature locator configured for accessing geographic location information;
• determining, by said image-based georeferencing system, a common reference feature that is common to both captured image and an image identified from an image database, wherein said common reference feature comprises said identifiable feature;
• retrieving, by said feature locator of said image-based georeferencing system, a georeferenced position fix for said common reference feature, and wherein if said common reference feature is not georeferenced in said image identified from said image database, accessing, by said image-based georeferencing system, a geospatial and geographic information system (GIS) to identify said common reference feature and to obtain said geographic location information related to said common reference feature;
• receiving, from said feature locator, an accuracy level determination for said georeferenced position fix, wherein said accuracy level determination comprises a description of a level of accuracy for a source rendering said georeferenced position fix, wherein said accuracy level determination further comprises an accuracy validation comprising a validation of a presence of Z-coordinate information in said georeferenced position fix;
• locating, by said feature locator, additional features in said field of view of said captured image based on said georeferenced position fix for said common reference feature and said accuracy level determination;
• and
• receiving, from said image-based georeferencing system, a georeferenced location of said camera during capture of said captured image, said georeferenced location determined by said image-based georeferencing system based upon geographic location information associated with a plurality of reference features found by said image-based georeferencing system to be present in said captured image.

A computer-implemented method of providing position information, said computer-implemented method comprising:

• with an image-based georeferencing system, identifying a cataloged second image that correlates to a first image, wherein said first image is captured with a camera to achieve a captured image, said image-based georeferencing system comprising a feature locator configured for accessing geographic location information;
• determining, by said image-based georeferencing system, a common reference feature that is common to both captured image and said an image identified from an image database, wherein said common reference feature comprises said identifiable feature;
• retrieving, by said feature locator of said image-based georeferencing system, a georeferenced position fix for said common reference feature, and wherein if said common reference feature is not georeferenced in said image identified from said image database, accessing, by said image-based georeferencing system, a geospatial and geographic information system (GIS) to identify said common reference feature and to obtain geographic location information related to said common reference feature;
• providing said geographic location information regarding related to said common reference feature for access by a user of said image-based georeferencing system;
• receiving, from said feature locator, an accuracy level determination for said georeferenced position fix, wherein said accuracy level determination comprises a description of a level of accuracy for a source rendering said georeferenced position fix, wherein said accuracy level determination further comprises an accuracy validation comprising a validation of a presence of Z-coordinate information in said georeferenced position fix;
• and
• locating, by said feature locator, additional features in said field of view of said captured image based on said georeferenced position fix for said common reference feature and said accuracy level determination.