NATIONAL REPORT 
ON 
PHOTOGRAMMETRY IN INDIA 
General.—In India, photogrammetry, as understood in western coun 
tries, is in its infancy. Prior to 1954 practically all our maps produced from 
aerial photographs were compiled by the Arundel method. Principal point tra 
verses were plotted, transferred and adjusted to master control sheets and the 
detail was plotted, using simple graphical methods. Photographs were con 
toured under an ordinary stereoscope using height control obtained by ground 
methods. This basic method, later modified slightly to make use of slotted 
template control, was almost the only method until stereo-plotting machines 
became available in 1954 and is, in fact, still being used for mapping from 
air photographs. With the stereo-plotting machine came the technique of 
aerial triangulation, which although not yet perfected, has eliminated the 
need for intense ground control. 
Organization and Equipment.—Two officers from India were granted 
fellowships by the United Nations Technical Assistance Administration for 
the study of photogrammetry in Switzerland and Holland in 1954. Two more 
Scholarships have been applied for and it is expected will be granted by the 
United Nations Technical Assistance Administration for two officers to under 
go a 12 months’ course at the International Training Centre for Aerial Survey 
at Delft. 
In January 1954 the United Nations Technical Assistance Administra 
tion made available to India the services of a photogrammetric expert, Mr. 
K. Hollan Hagen, for a period of a year and a half to train our personnel in 
the latest methods and instruments. 
At present we have one Photogrammetric Unit consisting of 3 Super 
visors, 16 Operators and 7 Draftsmen. In the near future a second unit will 
be raised and, ultimately, the aim is to have one Photogrammetric Unit in 
each of our four regional Survey Directorates, viz., Northern, Southern, East 
ern and Western, when sufficient equipment is available. 
We have the following equipment now installed:— 
( i ) Williamson-Ross, S.P.3, Multiplex equipment - 7 projector 
tables ... ... ... ... ... 3 
( ii ) Wild Autograph, A.7 ... ... ... 1 
(in) Wild R.C. 5a Aerial Camera ... ... ... 1