PEER RE 
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PHOTOGRAMMETRY AND REMOTE 
SENSING IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 
By 
G. Konecny 
| University of Hannover 
! F. R. Germany. 
| 1. INTRODUCTION 
The main application of photogrammetry is in the field of mapping. Photogrammetry has 
replaced ground survey methods during this century for the geometric data acquisition of large 
areas Remote sensing methods are able to add to this topographical map content, the thematic 
information on vegetation, soils, mineral composition, status of moisture, status of crops and 
land use. 
It has become abundantly clear that cartography in its broad sense forms the basis of a land 
information system which constitutes a model of the earth's surface. We need such a model to 
make an inventory of our natural and human resources. Only on the basis of such an inventory 
can rational planning of human activities be made possible. Therefore mapping has direct impli- 
cations on the economic activity. 
The need for cartography is described in Table 1. 
TABLE 1: NEED FOR CARTOGRAPHY 
  
  
  
  
  
  
USE SCALE EXTENT STATE ALTERNATIVES 
Transportation 1:200000 All land Areas Satisfactory Not Needed 
Defence 1:50000 Territory of Changing Rapid Mapping —. 
Interest to Political Automation in 
National Demands Mapping 
Security 
Planning of 1:50000 All Land Lacking Remote Sensing (1) 
Natural Areas Information Use of Satellite 
Resources Images with Digital 
Image Processing 
Public Works 1:5000 Projects Satisfactory Not Needed 
Urban Informa- 1:500 Populated Lacking Analytical 
tion System Areas Information Photogrammetry (2) 
With Interactive 
Graphic Systems 
Going back into history, the first maps were compiled at small-scales for reasons of transpor- 
tation. The required maps at this scale (1:200 000) are generally available. A second reason for 
mapping arose because of military activities. Maps at scales 1: 25 000 to 1 : 100 000 were needed 
to control tactical and strategic movements of troops and to determine targets of military activi- 
ty. This is why countries which had been involved in wars are generally well mapped. 
But today it is realised that the value of mapping is really as a basis for planning our resour- 
ces. Natural resource planning requires a map coverage of 1: 50 000 of all areas with economic 
activity. This requirement is generally not met in the world today. We are lacking information. 
At large scales, generally, we are merely mapping for projects. When it comes to rapidly 
changing urban environments we have the requirement of mapping.at large scales 1: 50U to 1: 2000 
in order to plan urban activity. Also in this area information is grealy lacking. 
We therefore have two challenges which await us in mapping, the coverage of 1:50 000 maps 
of the usable land areas of the world and the coverage of large scale (e.g. 1: 1000) of the densely 
populated areas. These challenges can be met by modern technology, but we must adapt our 
technical procedures. 
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