ISSUES IN MEDICAL PHOTOGRAMMETRY IN THE DIGITAL IMAGING ERA 
Harvey L. Mitchell 
Senior Lecturer 
Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying 
University of Newcastle 
Newcastle NSW 2308 
AUSTRALIA 
Thomas Leemann 
Lecturer & Senior Research Associate 
Institute of Biomedical Engineering & Medical Informatics 
University of Zurich & Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich 
Zurich 
Switzerland 
Commission V, Working Group 5 
KEY WORDS: Biometrics Medicine Status Future Review 
ABSTRACT: 
Considerable effort is being applied by photogrammetrists to develop aids to medical measurement. But the 
photogrammetrists' effort is not being rewarded with routine usage in the medical world. This situation has become more 
complicated in the era of digital image processing, as measurement systems developed by non-photogrammetrists are 
finding commercial use. This report examines issues in photogrammetry's implementation in routine clinical measurement. 
It is concluded that there remain worthwhile applications of external bodily measurement in medical and health studies, and 
there are many applications for which realistic alternatives to photogrammetry have not been advanced. Some 
inconspicuous but useful areas of measurement, to which photogrammetrists have rarely paid attention and for which 
demand has not been recognised, deserve to be investigated. Many useful applications do not need sophisticated 
measurement. At the same time, medical photogrammetric developments which are not intended for commercial use 
should not be seen as unproductive. Photogrammetrists should note that, because digital photogrammetric methods 
involving targets can easily be adopted by non-photogrammetrists, photogrammetrists should concentrate on automated 
surface measurement through image matching. 
Good communication with those working closely with medicine and health is crucial. Photogrammetrists have failed to 
communicate beyond their own ranks, and have continued to be under-represented at relevant bio-medical conferences. 
ISPRS Working Group V/5 may now need to concentrate its meetings on one area of the body, or one type of 
measurement technique. The Working Group needs to publicise photogrammetry's capabilities, and must continue to report 
relevant medical photogrammetry matters back to the ISPRS membership. 
1. BACKGROUND that some duplication of work by photogrammetrists may be 
occurring. 
For at least a few decades, an extensive amount of useful 
development work has been carried out in medical This paper reflects on the difficulties of photogrammetry's 
photogrammetry. Photogrammetrists have been trying to implementation in medical measurement, and especially in 
apply their techniques and skills to the benefit of medicine, routine clinical measurement, to learn from successful and 
as photogrammetry offers a measuring tool capable of high unsuccessful implementations, to enumerate opportunities 
precision and reliability. Papers discussing the use of and to outline challenges in photogrammetric measurement. 
photogrammetry for biomedical ends are abundant. There ~~ The paper is concerned with promoting a wider 
have been some successful implementations of implementation of photogrammetrists’ expertise into medical 
photogrammetry for medical purposes, and there have — measurement. More detail is provided in a companion 
been some commercial outcomes. report, (Mitchell & Leemann, 1996), which effectively 
constitutes a report of Working Group V/5 for the 1992- 
But readers will, on reflection, recognise that it is only a 1996 period. 
small percentage of the developments that appear to find 
routine usage, and very few medical or health institutions ^ The situation outlined above is not new. A former co-chair 
utilise photogrammetry for clinical or surgical purposes. of the relevant Working Group has previously commented, 
The total impact of the medical photogrammetry — Newton (1980), that "The present situation of medical 
developments on the world remains quite limited. photogrammetry appears as a highly contradictory one. 
Accordingly, there is a risk that the photogrammetric — Although almost every researcher in this field has 
development work is being wasted. It is equally possible recognised the immense capabilities and usefulness of 
362 
International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXI, Part B5. Vienna 1996 
  
photogr: 
experim 
routine | 
Since tl 
photogr: 
photogr 
techniqu 
acceptal 
electro-c 
wider im 
been ex 
have We 
more St 
introduc 
It shoulc 
photogr: 
photogr: 
bio-engi 
digital ir 
number 
have ev 
of medi 
introduc 
imaging 
photogr 
photogr: 
robotics 
Informat 
including 
proceed 
journal : 
opinions 
material 
submitte 
Inter-Co 
commur 
contribu 
from ott 
associat 
distribut 
to ISPR: 
other IS 
contacts 
extent, 
measure 
and infc 
involven 
There w 
believec 
other d 
backgro 
these cl 
Fifty re: 
Group s 
medical