ant. But the
become more
immetrists are
measurement.
th studies, and
inced. Some
and for which
| sophisticated
ommercial use
vetric methods
on automated
have failed to
|| conferences.
r one type of
ntinue to report
netrists may be
togrammetry's
1d especially in
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ting a wider
ise into medical
| a companion
ich effectively
| for the 1992-
former co-chair
ly commented,
ion of medical
tradictory one.
this field has
usefulness of
photogrammetry, the technique has remained largely
experimental and is still far from being introduced into
routine medical procedures"
Since that time, the high level of automation of digital
photogrammetry has offered a breakthrough in medical
photogrammetry's | acceptance. Photogrammetric
techniques which were laborious using film can be made
acceptably fast and cheap for a clinical situation with
electro-optical imaging and digital image processing. So
wider implementation of medical photogrammetry may have
been expected. But in fact the overall problem seems to
have worsened as non-photogrammetrists have become
more successful than photogrammetrists have been, at
introducing optical-based medical measurement.
It should be of concern to ISPRS participants that medical
photogrammetry has not always been implemented by
photogrammetrists, but has often been achieved by
bio-engineers and medical scientists, usually employing
digital imaging techniques. Indeed, only a very limited
number of medical persons able to utilise photogrammetry
have ever heard of the ISPRS. So, while the opportunities
of medical photogrammetry have been broadened by the
introduction of digital photogrammetry along with other
imaging technologies, the techniques used by
photogrammetrists are no longer exclusive to
photogrammetry, but are familiar in computer vision,
robotics and so on.
Information for this study has come from various sources,
including the published literature in the form of conference
proceedings, journals and manufacturers’ brochures. As
journal and conference proceedings rarely supply crucial
opinions and comments on issues of relevance, this
material has been extended by personal opinions, some
submitted via a forum held at the ISPRS Commission V
Inter-Congress Symposium, Melbourne, 1994, by personal
communication, by personal observations, and by
contributions to this report from Working Group members,
from other ISPRS members and even some persons not
associated with ISPRS. ^A brief survey has also been
distributed to those on the Working Group mailing list, and
to ISPRS Commission V reporters around the world, to all
other ISPRS office-bearers, and also to a number of
contacts outside ISPRS. The survey was limited in its
extent, considering the world wide usage of medical
measurement but it was an important source of opinions
and information, and provided real evidence about the
involvement of photogrammetrists in medical measurement.
There were two versions of the survey, one aimed at those
believed to have a photogrammetric background and the
other directed at those presumed to have a medical
background. (There may of course be some errors in
these classifications).
2. SURVEY RESULTS
Fifty responses have been received from the Working
Group survey, 32 from photogrammetrists’ and 18 from the
medical survey. It was not surprising that there were more
363
responses from photogrammetrists than medical personnel,
the latter not normally being involved with ISPRS.
Of the 32 photogrammetrists' replies, 29 had been involved
in research and development in medical photogrammetry.
It is notable, however, that many of the 29 had been
involved on multiple projects. Of the same 29 responses,
16 remarked that their work had related to medical
research, 15 to treatment of medical conditions, 12 for
diagnosis of individual patients, eight to mass screening for
disorders, some work covering multiple categories.
Analogue techniques were used by a number but analytical
photogrammetry appears generally to have been bypassed
in favour of digital methodology, which indeed was quite
popular.
Of the 29 "photogrammetrists" who registered some
medical experience, 15 declared that their work had seen
medical usage. For these purposes, there were four
reports of the use of digital photogrammetry, three of
analogue methodologies and analytical, nil. Significantly,
the use of structured light and moiré measurement
methods were mentioned in other replies. Of the valid
medical uses, most related to the back; others related to
teeth, motion, the face and positioning surgical items.
The 18 reports of the usage of measurement techniques by
medical personnel provide a useful commentary on the
usage of photogrammetry. Most significant were the
unexpectedly high usage rates for measurements, many
reporting daily use. Very few reported just occasional use.
Prof. J.U. Baumann (Basel, Switzerland) commented that
photogrammetry had brought excellent results in body
surface measurement since 1972, and a measurement rate
of five patients per week would be doubled if feasible. The
rates seem to suggest that if photogrammetric technique
can be introduced to the appropriate user, high usage can
be anticipated. As with the photogrammetrists, most
attention was directed at major body surfaces (face, chest,
pelvis, neck, thigh) but users also referred to the feet (two),
teeth (two), jaw and eye (two). References to the back
were surprisingly limited in this group!
The replies referred to a range of measurement techniques,
from measuring tapes to contemporary medical imaging
techniques and included x-rays, a reflex instrument, force
plates, and accelerometers. Reference was made to a
number of commercial optical measuring products.
Very noticeably, in almost all cases the measurement work
was carried out within the respondents own unit, rather
than by an outside agency, such as a photogrammetric
institution. User-friendliness for the medical personnel
would seem to be a key requirement of photogrammetric
developments.
Overall, the survey suggested that, despite a concern about
limited recognition of medical photogrammetry, there are
many keen users, who use it frequently.
More details of the questionnaire and responses are given
in the companion report.
International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXI, Part B5. Vienna 1996
