Patent Document ID: 6028625
Application ID: 08990061
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for identifying and recording detailed images of each of a plurality of areas on a surface of an above-ground structure by an inspector, comprising the steps of: supporting a local image capture device by the structure to be proximate to a first area of said plurality of areas of a surface of the structure; positioning a remote image capture device at a remote position farther away from the first area than the local image capture device, the remote image capture device being located such that the remote image capture device has a reference field of view including the first area and a number of other areas of the surface sufficient to provide a reference to locate the first area on the surface of the structure; at a first time and using the local image capture device, capturing a detailed image of the first area; at the first time and using the remote image capture device capturing a reference image of the reference field of view for the first area; while still being supported by the structure, repositioning the local image capture device to be proximate to a second area of the surface of the structure; at a second time and using the local image capture device, capturing a detailed image of the second area; at the second time and using the remote image capture device, capturing a reference image of a reference field of view for the second area which includes the second area and a number of other areas of the surface sufficient to provide a reference to locate the second area on the surface of the structure; for each of a plurality of subsequent times, performing said steps of repositioning and capturing in order to capture, for each of a remainder of said areas of the surface, a detailed image and a reference image of a reference field of view; and assembling a plurality of composite images, one for each of said times, from respective ones of the captured detailed images and the captured reference images.