Spatial and Temporal Attractiveness Analysis Through Geo-Referenced Photo Alignment

This paper presents a system to create a spatiotemporal attractiveness GIS layer for mountainous areas brought about by the implementation of novel image processing and pattern matching algorithms. We utilize the freely available Digital Terrain Model of the planet provided by NASA [1] to generate a three-dimensional synthetic model around a viewer's location. Using an array of image processing algorithms we then align photographs to this model. We will demonstrate the accuracy of the resulting system through the overlaying of geo-referenced content, such as mountain names and then we will suggest ways in which visitors/photographers can exploit the results of this research, such as suggesting temporally appropriate photo-hotspots close to their current location.