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THE ITC TRAINING PACKAGE FOR PHOTOGRAMMETRIC OPERATORS (TPPO)
Christian Pares: and Juud de Lange
Department of Photogrammetry
International Institute for Aerospace Survey
and Earth Sciences (1 TC)
P. O. Box 6
7500 A A Enschede
The Netherlands
ABSTRACT
An individualized, univeristy adaptable Training Package for Photogrammetric Operators
(TPPO) will be available in 1985 for in-service training of operators to carry out basic tasks in
the production of graphic photographic-digital maps. It is meant primarily for use in mapping or-
ganizations to teach basic skills, but can also be used as a component of higher level courses.
TPPO can be supported by a Stereo Plotting Simulator (SPS) or used with normal stereoplotting
instruments, Special short training programmes will also be provided at ITC for the local per-
sonnel who will supervise the trainees.
INTRODUCTION
Efficient economic development of both industrial and natural resources requires accurate
maps The status of world mapping, however, is such that it will still take 20 years, especially
in the developing countries, to map the world at 1:50000 scale if cartographic mapping continues
at its present speed. In 1980, 13 3 percent of the world was ma pped at 1:25000, 4212 percent at
1:50,000 and 1:100,000 and 80 percent at 1:250,000 [United Nations, 1970, 1976]
In analyzing the reasons why mapping progresses so slowly. De Henseler [1982] concluded
that the lack of well trained personnel at the right levels was one of the most critical bottlenecks
for speeding up the mapping process, especially in developing countries. Brandenberger [1982]
and Bos [1982] attempted to quantify the competent personnel needed at different levels in
mapping organizations. The results of their surveys clearly showed that education and training
facilities are insufficient, particularly in photogrammetry and cartography in developing countries
Photogrammetric map producticn depends to a large extent on the professicnal skils of those
who carry out the direct production work: the operators and/or technicians. (A photogrammetric
technician is defined as "^a good experienced operator with leadership capacity and provided with
some additional photogrammetric theory’ [Visser and Paresi, 1982].) The demand for new
well-trained personnel at this level is much too large (approxime tely 2000 per year) to be met by
the few specialized international or regional! institutions {maximum combined training capacity
of approximately 200 per year) which provide training at this level . Consequently, most photo-
grammetric operators/technicians are trained locally in far from systematic and optimal ways.
Since it was founded in 1951, ITC has trained approximately 1500 photogrammetrists (most
from the developing countries) at four levels: MSc degree level, postgraduate level, technologist
level and technician level. Until recently, it was more or less taken for granted that training at
levels below technician, i.e., photogrammetric operator, was carried out in the various countries
through formal programmes or in-service training in ma pping organizations. Because these mapp-
ing organizations have expressed their dissatisfaction with their own training programmes and in
view of the urgent need for well-trained professionals at this level in photogrammetry, ITC is
developing plans and programmes to assist developing countries in setting up training courses at
the lowest professional level on a national or institutional basis.
! Directorate of Overseas Surveys (DOS), Tolworth, United Kingdom; Swiss School for Photogrammetric
Operators (SPPO), St. Gallen, Switzerland; International Advanced Training Centre for Photogrammetric Opera-
tors (IPO), Stuttgart, Federal Republic of Germany; Regional Centre for Training in Aerial Surveys, lle Ife,
Nigeria; School for Photogrammetry and Cartography,, Bandung, Indonesia; ITC, Enschede, The Netherlands.
