facility on all configurations of their new System/360.
Essentially all the current practical users of analytic
systems employ medium or small computers. It has been clearly
demonstrated, however, that the largest computer is not only
faster but also cheaper, especially if the program consumes a
large percentage of the available time on the small computer.
For example, a job that may require 10 hours on a small
computer charging $11 per hour for a total of $110 may require
less than one minute on a large computer charging $1200 per
hour for a total of only $20. The problem becomes particularly
significant in the block adjustment program. Consequently,
a pure rigorous photogramme trie block adjustment becomes
entirely practical if a large, fast computer is readily
available.
Satellite Geodesy
The subject is dealt with in Commissions II and VII and
is not repeated here other than to state that the experience
gained in that effort has been exploited profitably in analytic
aerotriangulation. for topographic mapping. Satellite geodesy
has been supported by national programs with an intensity far
greater than would be possible for topographic mapping.
It may be of interest that in C&GS satellite geodesy and
analytic topographic aero triangulation are performed by the
same personnel on the same instruments and the same computers
in the area of the Photogramme try Division.
It seems, therefore, that satellite geodesy ought to
be in Commission III, and I wish to take this opportunity
to urge that this Congress consider such a change.
The Analytical Plotter
The Analytical Plotter is on display in the Exhibit Hall.
The U.S. Air Force was instrumental in providing the impetus
for the development of the inventor's (Mr. U.N. Helava,
National Research Council of Canada) ideas and the manufacture
by 0MI in Italy. The instrument has at least three modes of
operation: a stereocomparator, a first-order stereo triangulation
instrument, and a stereo compilation instrument. In its compila
tion mode particularly, it utilizes an intriguing combination
of analog and digital photogrammetry through the application
of an on-line computer. It too has succeeded in removing
many of the restrictions of accuracy inherent in the conventional
stereotriangulation and stereo plotting instruments.
Automatic Mapping
Numerous efforts have been pursued in the U.S.A. on
specific phases of an automatic contouring machine. Mr. John V.
Sharp of IBM (present chairman of the American Committee
on Computational Photogrammetry) is presenting a paper in
Commission II on such a device, as is Mr. R. D. Es ten.
Mr. Sharp's solution is digital, utilizing the fundamental
mathematical principles of analytic photogrammetry.