JP2004112614A - Information collection apparatus, and information collection processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a direction angle based upon a photographing position and an object position, and to record the direction angle and position information to be related with image information. <P>SOLUTION: Image information of an object is transferred to a PC 20 with a digital camera 18 and at such a time, information on the photographing position acquired by a GPS receiver 16 and the object position acquired by an information collection apparatus 10 is transferred to the PC 20. The PC 20 relates the information on the object position and the photographing position to the image information of the object, relates information on the direction angle from the photographing position to the object calculated based upon the position information to the image information and writes the information in a memory for each management item. Various kinds of information stored in the memory are transmitted to an information processing apparatus 12 via a public line 14 and in a server 22, received information is sorted for each management item, written in a database 24 and automatically distributed to clients 28 and 30, general browsers 32, 36 and 38 and the like via a local network 26 and the Internet 34. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information collection and processing system, and more particularly to an information collection and processing system suitable for collecting and processing information such as disaster prevention information when a natural disaster occurs.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When a flood occurs, it is necessary to collect local conditions and take appropriate disaster prevention measures. In order to accurately grasp the local situation, an operator goes to the site, collects the local situation as image information, and transmits the collected image information to a disaster prevention headquarters or the like. In this case, the worker carries, for example, a portable information collection device as described in Patent Literature 1, captures the situation of the site with a camera using the disaster area as a subject, and obtains the information obtained from the GPS receiver. 2. Description of the Related Art A photographing position at which a subject is photographed is acquired based on information, a distance to the subject and a direction toward the subject are detected from the photographing position, and the acquired image information and the like are wirelessly transmitted to a headquarters.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-10-239055 (see FIGS. 1 and 2, pages 2 to 5)
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When the portable information collection device described in Patent Literature 1 is used, a digital camera, a direction detector, a distance detector, and a GPS receiver are indispensable, and the configuration becomes complicated and the manufacturing cost increases. . In addition, a direction detector (azimuth sensor) must be used to determine the azimuth of the subject viewed from the shooting position, which complicates the configuration.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a direction angle based on a shooting position and a subject position, and record the direction angle and the position information in association with image information. It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable information collection device capable of performing the above-mentioned steps and an information collection processing system using the information collection device.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the information collecting apparatus according to claim 1, an image capturing unit that captures a subject to be collected to generate one or more pieces of image information, and 1 or 2 that captures the subject. Three-dimensional position information acquiring means for acquiring three-dimensional position information relating to the photographing position and the position of the subject, respectively, and the photographing based on the three-dimensional position information at the photographing position and the three-dimensional position information at the position of the subject. Direction angle calculation means for calculating a direction angle from a position to the subject; and recording means for recording the three-dimensional position information and the information on the direction angle in association with one or more image information generated by the imaging means. It was configured with.
[0007]
(Function) When one or more image information is generated by photographing a subject, one or more photographing positions at which the subject was photographed and three-dimensional position information relating to the position of the subject are acquired, and the acquired photographing position is obtained. Because the directional angle from the shooting position to the subject is calculated based on the three-dimensional position information at and the three-dimensional position information at the position of the subject, the directional angle from the shooting position to the subject can be calculated without using an azimuth sensor. Can be calculated. Further, the three-dimensional position information and the information on the directional angle are automatically written collectively in association with the image information.
[0008]
The information collection processing system according to claim 2 includes a portable information collection device that collects information about a subject to be collected, and an information processing device that receives and processes information from the portable information collection device. An imaging unit configured to image the subject to generate one or more image information; a three-dimensional position related to one or more photographing positions at which the subject is photographed and a position of the subject; Three-dimensional position information obtaining means for obtaining information; and a direction angle for calculating a direction angle from the shooting position to the subject based on the three-dimensional position information at the shooting position and the three-dimensional position information at the position of the subject. A recording unit that records the three-dimensional position information and the information on the direction angle in association with one or more pieces of image information generated by the imaging unit; And information transmitting means for transmitting the information recorded in the recording means to the information processing apparatus, wherein the information processing apparatus automatically distributes the received information through the communication network by dividing the received information into management items. It was configured as follows.
[0009]
(Function) When one or more pieces of image information are generated by photographing a subject, three-dimensional position information on the photographing position at which the subject was photographed and the position of the subject are respectively acquired, and three-dimensional position information at the acquired photographing position is obtained. Since the direction angle from the shooting position to the subject is calculated based on the three-dimensional position information of the subject and the position of the subject, the direction angle from the shooting position to the subject can be calculated without using an azimuth angle sensor. . Further, information on each of the three-dimensional position information and the direction angle is automatically and collectively written in association with the image information, and the recorded information is transmitted to the information processing device, where the information is divided for each management item. It is automatically distributed via a communication network, for example the Internet. When various types of information are recorded in the recording means, information on the direction angle is recorded in the direction field of the photographed image in the Exif header of the image information. Information on each piece of three-dimensional position information (latitude, longitude, and height) is recorded in the position field of the Exif header of the image information.
[0010]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information collection processing system according to the second aspect, the information processing apparatus includes: an area information recording unit that records area information regarding an area including the subject; Information searching means for searching the area information recording means based on the position information and converting the area information corresponding to the position of the subject into character information.
[0011]
(Operation) The information processing apparatus has pre-recorded area information on an area including a subject, and when information is transmitted from the portable information processing apparatus, based on the three-dimensional position information of the subject in the received information. Since the region information is searched and the region information corresponding to the position of the subject is converted into character information, the region information corresponding to the position of the subject can be grasped by the character information.
[0012]
According to a fourth aspect, in the information collection processing system according to the third aspect, the area information recording means records information relating to at least one of an address, a kilometer post, and a landowner name as the area information. It was configured as follows.
[0013]
(Operation) Since at least one of the address, the kilometer post, and the landowner's name is recorded as the area information, when the area information corresponding to the position of the subject is converted into text information, As the area information, information on an address, a kilometer post, and a landowner can be grasped by characters. Since the information processing device is connected to the communication network, if the communication network is configured by the Internet, the Web browser function is used to specify the URL of the information processing device, and the area information is converted from the Internet browser to the character information. Can be viewed as
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0015]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an information collection processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, the information collection processing system includes a portable information collection device 10 and an information processing device 12, and the portable information collection device 10 stores various information collected by a worker at a disaster site or the like. For example, it is configured to be able to transmit to the information processing device 12 via a general public line 14 configured by PHS, ISDN, or the like.
[0016]
More specifically, the portable information collection device 10 includes a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver 16, a digital camera 18, and a portable personal computer (hereinafter, referred to as a PC) 20. The camera 18 is connected to the PC 20.
[0017]
The GPS receiver 16 receives, for example, three or more types of radio waves transmitted by GPS satellites, and based on the latitude and longitude of the reception position of the GPS receiver 16, the current position, that is, the three-dimensional position information ( (Latitude, longitude, height).
[0018]
The digital camera 18 is configured as an imaging unit that captures a subject to be collected such as a disaster site and generates one or more pieces of image information, and transfers image information about the subject to the PC 20. . In this case, when the worker carrying the information collecting device 10 takes a picture of the disaster site as a subject in order to grasp the situation of the disaster near the disaster site, the image of the disaster site is transferred to the PC 20 as image information (image data). Then, the three-dimensional position information at the shooting position is transferred from the GPS receiver 16 to the PC 20. When the worker goes to the work site, that is, the position of the subject, tertiary position information on the position of the subject is acquired by the GPS receiver 16, and the three-dimensional position information is transferred to the PC 20 as three-dimensional position information on the position of the subject. Will be.
[0019]
The PC 20 calculates the direction angle from the shooting position to the subject based on the three-dimensional position information acquired by the GPS receiver 16, that is, the three-dimensional position information at the shooting position and the three-dimensional position information at the position of the subject. The digital camera 18 is provided with a function as a calculating means, and a function as a recording means for recording information on each of the three-dimensional position information and the direction and angle in association with image information (image data) generated by the digital camera 18. It has a function as a transmitting means for transmitting information recorded in the recording means to the information processing apparatus 12 via the general public line 14.
[0020]
When various kinds of information are recorded in the memory as recording means in the PC 20, information is written in association with management items defined in the database 24 by the photographic image processing server 22 of the information processing apparatus 12. The management items are set in units of BOX. When collecting information, a BOX suitable for the purpose is copied to the information collection device 10 and carried in advance, and the Exif header of the image information (image data) is stored for each management item. Three-dimensional position information is written in the position field. Further, information on the direction angle from the shooting position to the subject is written in the direction field of the shot image in the Exif header of the image information (image data). The position information and the image information (image data) written in the memory are transmitted to the information processing device 12 via the public line 14.
[0021]
The information processing apparatus 12 includes a server 22 as a host computer and a database 24. To enable simultaneous access from a plurality of clients, the server 22 is connected via a local network 26 as a communication network. Connected to the in-house clients 28 and 30 as well as to a general browser (client) 32. Reference numeral 23 denotes a display. Further, the local network 26 is connected to a plurality of general browsers (clients) 36 and 38 via the Internet 34 as a communication network.
[0022]
The server 22 defines a recording area of the database 24 for each management item, processes each management item on a BOX basis, and processes various information. That is, information from the information collection device 10 is received by the automatic reception function, the received information is divided into management items and registered in a designated area of the database 24, and various information registered in the database 24 is stored for each management item. The information is read out and automatically distributed to the clients 28, 30 and 32 via the communication network 26, and can also be automatically distributed to general browsers 36 and 38 via the local network 26 and the Internet 34.
[0023]
The server 22 is provided with a memory as area information recording means for recording area information (information including a map, an address, a ground ledger, etc.) relating to an area including a subject. As area information on the included area, information on an address, a kilometer post, a landowner's name, and the like are stored in association with position information. For example, a kilometer post is a sign that displays the distance from the starting point, for example, every 1 km or every 100 m on a road or a river, and is based on a national land space data base (1/2500 numerical map). Is set. The server 22 has a function as an information search unit that searches the memory based on the position information of the subject among the information received from the information collection device 10 and converts area information corresponding to the position of the subject into text information. It is configured. That is, when the position of the subject is specified, information such as the address of the subject and the name of the landowner is converted into character information and output. Therefore, the general browsers 32, 36, and 38 can also use the Web browsing function and specify the URL to the server 22 to obtain information such as the address and land owner name corresponding to the subject via the Internet 34. Can be browsed.
[0024]
In the above configuration, at the time of a disaster, when the worker carries the portable information collection device 10 and collects the local situation, when the worker shoots the disaster site as a subject from near the disaster site with the digital camera 18, Image information (image data) on the subject is transferred to the PC 20. At this time, at the same time, the photographing position (the position where the worker performed the photographing operation) is acquired by the GPS receiver 16, and the three-dimensional position information regarding the photographing position is transferred to the PC 20. In addition, when shooting a disaster site as a subject with the digital camera 18, if the shooting position of the same subject is changed at a plurality of locations and the subject is shot at each shooting position, the three-dimensional position information at each shooting position is obtained. At the same time as the image information is transferred to the PC 20, the image information captured from each image capturing position is transferred to the PC 20.
[0025]
Thereafter, when the worker carries the information collecting device 10 and moves to the disaster site, the GPS receiver 16 obtains the position information on the position of the subject, which is the disaster site, and the three-dimensional position information on the position of the subject is stored in the PC 20. Will be forwarded to At this time, the PC 20 collectively writes information on the position of the subject and the photographing position into the memory for each management item in association with one or more pieces of image information (image data) of the subject, and performs photographing based on each position information. The direction angle from the position to the subject is calculated, and information on the direction angle is collectively written to the memory for each management item in association with the image information (image data). Various types of information stored in the memory are transmitted to the information processing device 12 via the general public line 14.
[0026]
When the server 22 automatically receives the information from the information collection device 10, the received information is divided into management items and written into the database 24, and the clients 28 and 30, the general browser 32 via the local network 26. Automatically distributed to general browsers 36 and 38 via the local network 26 and the Internet 34.
[0027]
If the communication environment such as a mobile phone or a PHS is limited, for example, if the general public line 14 cannot be used, data collected on site (position information, images, management items by GPS) cannot be transmitted to the server 22. . However, in such a case, the data collected at the site can be stored on a disk on the PC 20 or a recording medium such as the memory card 21 with the same structure as the database 24 managed by the server 22. By importing the data of the memory card 21 or the like into the database 24 of the server 22, the collected data at the site can be recorded in the database 24 of the server 22. Further, data (position information, images, management items) can be directly added to the database 24 of the server 22 from the PC of the client 28 connected to the local network 26.
[0028]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the portable information collecting apparatus 10 calculates the directional angle of the subject by acquiring the three-dimensional position information regarding the shooting position and the subject position without using the azimuth sensor. The calculation result can be automatically written into the memory in association with the image information.
[0029]
Further, according to the present embodiment, even when the map display environment is limited, the position information of the subject, for example, the shooting position and the subject position can be converted into information such as an address, a kilometer post, and a landowner. The information on the photographing position and the position of the subject can be recognized as information such as an address, a kilometer post, a landowner's name, and a section.
[0030]
Further, in the general browsers 32, 36, and 38, using the Web browsing function and simply specifying the URL to the server 22, information such as the address and land owner name corresponding to the subject via the Internet 34 can be obtained. Can be viewed.
[0031]
When setting the same management items as those of the database 24 in the memory of the PC 20, the BOX created by the server 22 is recorded on a recording medium such as a CF card, and the recording medium is copied by the PC 20. , The same management items as those of the database 24 can be set.
[0032]
In transmitting information from the PC 20 to the information processing device 12, an e-mail using a mobile phone can be used. In addition, by recording map data of various places in the database 24, it is possible to search and browse local map information from the portable information collection device 10.
[0033]
In the above-described embodiment, the information collection processing system for collecting disaster prevention information at the time of occurrence of a disaster has been described.As the system, it is possible to collect photographic information such as crop disaster status, heavy rain, and pests, It can also be constructed as a JA producer / distribution support system that collects information and information on distribution accidents.
[0034]
Further, since information such as an address and an owner can be browsed, the present invention can be applied to a road asset ledger support system or a system that supports various environmental studies such as plant ecology. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to a system for collecting properties such as land and houses, or to a general construction photo processing system.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to calculate the direction angle from the shooting position to the subject without using the azimuth angle sensor, and to obtain the three-dimensional position information and the direction. The information relating to the corner can be automatically written into the recording means in association with the image information.
[0036]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to calculate the direction angle from the shooting position to the subject without using the azimuth angle sensor, and associate the three-dimensional position information and the information on the direction angle with the image information. The information can be automatically written in the recording means, and the recorded information can be automatically distributed via the communication network by dividing the information into management items.
[0037]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the area information corresponding to the position of the subject can be grasped by character information.
[0038]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, information on an address, a kilometer post, and a landowner can be grasped as characters as area information at a position of a subject.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an information collection processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Portable information collection device 12 Information processing device 14 General public line 16 GPS receiver 18 Digital camera 20 PC
22 Server 24 Database 26 Local Network 28, 30 Internal Client 32 General Browser 34 Internet 36, 38 General Browser

Claims (4)

Imaging means for photographing a subject to be collected to generate one or more image information, and tertiary means for acquiring one or more photographing positions at which the subject is photographed and three-dimensional position information relating to the position of the subject, respectively Original position information acquisition means, direction angle calculation means for calculating a direction angle from the shooting position to the subject based on three-dimensional position information at the shooting position and three-dimensional position information at the position of the subject, An information collecting apparatus comprising: recording means for recording information relating to three-dimensional position information and direction angles in association with one or more pieces of image information generated by the imaging means. A portable information collection device that collects information about a subject to be collected, and an information processing device that receives and processes information from the portable information collection device, wherein the portable information collection device Imaging means for photographing to generate one or more image information; three-dimensional position information acquiring means for acquiring one or more photographing positions at which the object is photographed and three-dimensional position information relating to the position of the object; A direction angle calculating unit that calculates a direction angle from the shooting position to the subject based on the three-dimensional position information at the shooting position and the three-dimensional position information at the position of the subject; and the three-dimensional position information and the direction. Recording means for recording information relating to a corner in association with one or more pieces of image information generated by the imaging means; and information recorded in the recording means as the information It is composed of a transmitting unit that transmits to the management apparatus, the information processing apparatus, information collection processing system comprising automatically distributed via a communication network by dividing the received information for each management item. The information collection processing system according to claim 2, wherein the information processing device is configured to record region information on a region including the subject, based on three-dimensional position information of the subject in the received information. An information collection processing system comprising: an information search unit that searches the area information recording unit and converts area information corresponding to the position of the subject into character information. 4. The information collection processing system according to claim 3, wherein the area information recording means records information on at least one of an address, a kilometer post, and a landowner name as the area information. Information collection processing system.

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