International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Volume XXXIX-B8, 2012
XXII ISPRS Congress, 25 August — 01 September 2012, Melbourne, Australia
DEVELOPMENT OF PHOTOGRAMMETRY SYSTEM FOR GRASPING FOREST
RESOURCES INFORMATION
Y. Uramoto * *, L. Zhu?, K. Tachibana*, H. Shimamura*, N. Ogaya"
* PASCO CORPORATION, Research & Development Center
2-8-11 Higashiyama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-0043, Japan - (yootio4278, luihnz7801, kainka9209)@pasco.co.jp
® Japan Forest Technology Association
7 Rokuban-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0085, Japan - naoka_ogaya@)jafta.or.jp
Commission VIII, WG VIII/7
KEY WORDS: Forestry, Photogrammetry, Stereoscopic, Application, System, Aerial
ABSTRACT:
We have developed a digital photogrammetry system specialized for grasping the forest resources information. In this system, 3D
view of aerial photos can be displayed on a PC monitor or a projector. Unlike orthophotos, the 3D display has depth information in it.
Hence, the tree canopy size, tree decay situation, etc. can be visualized with more perfection. Moreover, tree heights, forest types and
their regions, etc. can also be calculated by this system. Vectorization and segmentation of area, as per forest type, etc., is also
possible. In this system, the basic timber volume can be estimated by using aerial photos. Therefore, it reduces the field survey cost
significantly. For the efficient use of this kind of system, a system should be used even by non experts with a very basic operational
technique. Hence, we have added a series of extra functions in our system and asked a non expert to perform the analysis.
A non photogrammetrists was asked to calculate the timber volume and tree height by using this system. With the very limited
instructions from an expert, and in a short period of time, the person was able to use this system quite efficiently and got a good
result.
1. INTRODUCTION
Recently, due to the lack of experts and continuous rise in
prices to perform field works, grasping of information on forest
resources is getting difficult. Hence utilization of aerial photos,
satellite data, LiDAR, etc could be a better and cost effective
alternative for grasping forest resources information.
Aerial photos are the precious data to look into the past
information. In Japan aerial photogrammetry has been in use
from last 60 years or so. Hence, by applying the
photogrammetry technology, forest stand volume could also be
estimated with reasonable accuracy. The effectiveness of
photogrammetry in the field of forestry has also been confirmed
by Gagnon et al., (1993) and Millera et al., (2000). So far, for
this purpose, experts are required to use either a very expensive
digital stereo plotter or stereoscope viewer.
Recently cost of high performance PC and 3D display monitor
System are getting down. By using the latest advancement in PC
performance and 3D technology, the stereo plotter or stereo
viewer is gradually being replaced by digital photogrammetry
System. Hence, the system is in the reach of hands of ordinary
people.
We have developed a digital photogrammetry system
Specialized for grasping the forest resources information. We
have named this system as MORITTAI which is a combination
of Japanese word for forest and stereoscopy. In this system, 3D
view of aerial photos can be displayed on a PC monitor or a
projector. Unlike orthophotos, the 3D display has depth
information in it. Hence the tree canopy size, tree decay
* Corresponding author.
situation, etc. can be visualized with more perfection. Moreover,
tree heights, forest types and their regions, etc. can also be
calculated by this system. Vectorization and segmentation of
area, as per forest type, etc., is also possible.
2. OVERVIEW OF MORITTAI
Although it is possible to measure the three-dimensional
position from aerial photographs (stereo pair) with elements
such as exterior orientation using a Digital Stereo Plotter, huge
financial burden and the need of a specialist to handle the
software has limited its use. Hence, a need for the system that is
not financially prohibitive and user friendly was felt. As a result
Morittai system was developed. Morittai has a feature that
comes handy even to the users not familiar with
photogrammetry related to forest.
2.1 System configuration
The typical hardware configuration of the Morittai is shown in
Figure 1. The recommended hardware configuration for
Morittai is as follows.
(1) Personal computer: Morittai works seamlessly on Windows-
based personal computer. OS is supported on Windows Xp /
Vista / 7.
(2) Stereo display equipment: Morittai can display stereoscopic
view in anaglyph and also in quad-buffered system. For
anaglyph stereoscopic display mode special equipment is
not required. However, display in a Quad-buffer system
