US 12,169,126 B2
Camera-based liquid stage measurement
Ibrahim Demir, Iowa City, IA (US); and Muhammed Yusuf Sermet, Iowa City, IA (US)
Assigned to UNIVERSITY OF IOWA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, Iowa City, IA (US)
Filed by University of Iowa Research Foundation, Iowa City, IA (US)
Filed on Apr. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/223,270.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/005,754, filed on Apr. 6, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0310807 A1, Oct. 7, 2021
Int. Cl. G01C 13/00 (2006.01); G01S 17/88 (2006.01); G01S 19/03 (2010.01); G06T 17/05 (2011.01); H04M 1/72 (2021.01)
CPC G01C 13/008 (2013.01) [G01S 17/88 (2013.01); G01S 19/03 (2013.01); G06T 17/05 (2013.01); H04M 1/72 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for measuring elevation of an accumulating resource with a visually distinguishable intersecting object, the method comprising:
providing an electronic device comprising a camera and at least one position sensor;
performing at least one survey by obtaining sensor readings from the at least one position sensor while the camera is aimed at an intersection between the accumulating resource and the visually distinguishable intersecting object;
determining a geolocation and a pitch angle of the camera using the sensor readings;
determining a roll of the camera using the sensor readings;
computing by a processor of the electronic device the elevation of the accumulating resource using the geolocation, the pitch angle of the camera, and the roll of the camera by
obtaining a 3D earth surface model for an area including the intersection,
constructing a directional vector from the geolocation of the camera to the intersection using the geolocation, pitch angle, and roll of the camera, and
determining the elevation of the accumulating resource at the intersection using the directional vector and the 3D earth surface model.