6.2 QUT 
SVB343 Photogrammetry 1 ( for 1 semester ) 
Contact Hrs/Week: 3hrs 
Lecture 2hrs 
Pracs/tuts lhr 
Introduction to Photogrammetry; 
photogrammetric optics; aerial photography; 
geometry and use of single photographs; 
geometry and use of stereogram. 
The subject is structured and uses computer 
based education CBE packages for both 
photogrammetry and remote sensing. 
Practicals include 1: instrument use and 2: 
object reconstruction by manual digitising 
of student acquired photography and use of 
existing photogrammetric software. 
SVB443 Photogrammetry 2 ( for 1 semester ) 
Contact Hrs/Week: 6hrs 
Lecture 2hrs 
Pracs/tuts 4hrs 
Principles of construction; operation of 
analogue and analytical  stereoplotters; 
aerial triangulation; terrestrial 
photogrammetry; analytical photogrammetry. 
Practical work involves carrying out a 
complete mapping exercise from ground 
control through aerial triangulation to 
producing a digital map. 
SVB643 Photogrammetry 3 (elective) ( for 1 
semester ) 
Contact Hrs/Week: 3hrs 
Lecture lhr 
Pracs/tuts 2hrs 
Numerical relative and absolute 
orientation; independent model and bundle 
methods of block adjustment for 
triangulation; close range photogrammetry 
including non conventional techniques; 
analytical plotters including generation, 
manipulation and storage of digital data; 
use of micro and mini computers in 
analytical photogrammetry. 
The subject is project based with emphasis 
on independent student learning. 
7. EVOLUTION OF PHOTOGRAMMETRY 
The advent of photography in the mid 1800's 
was the necessary precursor to the 
development of photogrammetry. The 
potential for the use of photography as a 
measurement tool was apparent from the 
earliest days of photography but it was 
some time before the many technical 
problems were overcome and reliable 
solutions were possible. 
Early applications of photos came Cry were 
e 
largely terrestrial. first 
stereocomparator was constructed by 
Pulfrich in 1901 and the first 
stereoplotter was developed by Von Orel in 
1909. For the next 60 years, these analogue 
instruments, which sought to mechanically 
reconstruct the photogrammetric model, were 
the mainstay of photogrammetry. During this 
time, the use of aircraft as camera 
platforms moved from being feasible into 
the realm of accepted practice, and mapping 
from aerial photography using analogue 
instruments became the dominant form of 
photogrammetric activity. 
301 
As the mathematics of photogrammetry became 
better understood, more analytical 
solutions were sought to the 
photogrammetric problem. The formulation of 
the collinearity equations was the birth of 
analytical photogrammetry but is was not 
until high speed electronic computers 
became available that analytical solutions 
became viable. 
Analytical stereoplotters, which were free 
from the constraints of their analogue 
counterparts, have been readily available 
for less than twenty years. In addition to 
freedom from mechanical constraints, 
analytical instruments have significant 
advantages in performance and accuracy over 
analogue solutions. 
The relentless advance of computer 
technology has lead in recent times to the 
development of digital photogrammetry. The 
availability of high resolution scanning 
systems and high performance graphics 
workstations has enabled full digital or 
softcopy photogrammetric workstations to 
become a reality. The first commercially 
available/viable systems have only been on 
the market in relatively recent times. 
8. FUTURE TRENDS IN PHOTOGRAMMETRY 
Predicting the future, 
era of rapid change, is always difficult 
because one tries to visualise quantum 
leaps in systems and technology and this is 
always dangerous. In his paper Teaching in 
Photogrammetry (Harley, 1977) Harley 
discusses many things, most of which are 
just as relevant today as they were then. 
For example he foresaw great change and 
associated pressures and difficult times 
for educational institutions; foresaw the 
need for real cooperation for small 
professions or disciplines to survive and 
the paper even contains the phrase "the 
world is going digital". 
particularly in an 
More recent writers such as Gugan (Gugan, 
1989) identified or predicted a trend 
towards the increasing sophistication of 
systems and the need for modular components 
with simple interfacing in order to manage 
such systems efficiently and effectively. 
He also thought that data storage and 
manipulation and interfacing between 
peripherals would perhaps become more 
important from an operational point of view 
than the technical aspects of the 
analytical plotter itself. And of course he 
predicted an increasing use of digital 
systems. Leberl (Leberl,1992) has suggested 
that with the coming of digital or softcopy 
photogrammetry the academic home for 
photogrammetry may be better in computer 
science. This is a problem which also has 
to be addressed. 
Over the past few years close range 
measurement has been attracting a lot of 
interest and activity particularly for 
industrial measurement. The trend here is 
towards automation and turnkey systems 
(Shortis and Fraser, 1991) and does not 
necessarily mean an increase in activity 
for photogrammetrists. 
However, there are some predictions or 
trends which the authors believe to be 
fairly reliable. We live in a digital age 
and can expect to continue to do so for 
uite some time. As reported in 
Ghosh(Ghosh, 1988) "Recent United Nations’ 
Studies 1983 on the status of mapping in 
the world  ...…. indicate that 
photogrammetry has reached an effective 
level of efficiency and would remain for 
years to come the most efficient base