270 271 
PHOTOGRAMMMETRIC PROCESSES AND SYSTEMS 
A Review of Developments and Trends 
2 Z. Jaksic 
A Photogrammetric Research 
i National Research Council of Canada 
; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada KIA OR6 
Commission II 
ABSTRACT 
Scientific and technological advances in photogrammetry are best reflected 
in the development of instruments and systems for processing and analysis of 
photogrammetric data. This paper addresses the major areas of intensive 
research and development activity related to the analytical instruments, the 
automation of processes, the photogrammetric systems for land information 
data bases, the photogrammetric digital image processing systems, and the 
instrumentation for digital, real-time photogrammetry of dynamic processes. 
The technological background and motivations for innovation in these areas 
are reviewed and the general development trends are outlined. 
P Ace 
Ws 
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 
The evolution of a discipline depends on its capacity to diversify its 
activities and its ability to respond to new requirements. The main 
factors influencing the course of evolution are the basic innovations which 
open new areas of activities and the improvement innovations which support 
further progress in the established areas of activity. Lack of innovations 
leads to stagnation and eventual extinction of a discipline. 
Photogrammetry is in essence an information gathering and processing 
discipline based on image metrology and interpretation. Its techniques are 
to a great extent dependent on the available instruments and systems. 
Often the development of a new instrument actually inspires the development 
of a new technique. Consequently the technological advances in 
photogrammetry are not only reflected in, but also motivated by the 
innovations in the instrument design. The development of the instrumentation 
for analysis and processing of photogrammetric data has closely followed the 
developments in the general field of digital information processing. In 
fact, the digital methods for the processing of information have become the 
major tool of contemporary photogrammetry and the major factor influencing 
the formulation of new concepts, the establishment of new techniques and the 
design of new instruments and systems. 
Off-line analytical photogrammetry was the first branch of photogrammetry 
founded on the concept of digital processing of data. This has been 
undoubtedly one of the significant steps in the evolution of photogrammetry 
that can be qualified as a basic innovation. The attempts to expand the 
digital techniques into the areas of activities requiring on-line processing 
of information have led to the invention of the analytical plotter which is 
another basic innovation that opened new areas of activities and was 
instrumental to the generation of many improvement innovations such as the 
on-line aerial triangulation and on-line digital image correlation techniques 
for automation of processes.