Rendering and navigating photographic panoramas with depth information in a geographic information system

摘要

The capability to render and navigate three-dimensional panoramic images in a virtual three-dimensional environment so as to create an immersive three-dimensional experience is provided. Such a capability can present a three-dimensional photographic experience of the real world that is seamlessly integrated with the virtual three-dimensional environment. Depth values associated with the panoramic images may be used to create three-dimensional geometry, which can be rendered as part of the virtual three-dimensional environment. Further, such a capability can enable a user to roam freely through the environment while providing a more natural free-form exploration of the environment than existing systems.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method for rendering and navigating photographic panoramas in an interactive virtual three-dimensional environment, comprising:
retrieving, using one or more computing devices, a first panoramic image associated with a first geographic location, the first panoramic image having first metadata that includes a first link to one or more-panoramic images associated with a second geographic location and a first depth map, the first depth map including a plurality of different depth values, each depth value associated with corresponding image objects at various points within a scene represented by the first panoramic image, wherein each depth value includes a respective distance of the corresponding image object from a virtual camera and a respective angle with respect to the direction in which the virtual camera is pointed; generating, by the one or more computing devices, a first three-dimensional model for the first panoramic image based on the first depth map associated with the first panoramic image; and projecting, by the one or more computing devices, at least a portion of the first panoramic image onto the generated first three-dimensional model to form a first three-dimensional model of the first panoramic image.