Reprinted from 
PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING 
Vol. XXVI, No. 2, April, 1960 
General Summary 
Report of Commission VH 
( Photographic Interpretation) 
to the International Society 
of Photogrammetry” 
CHARLES G. COLEMAN, 
President, Commission VII 
U.S. Naval Photographic Interpretation Center 
[INTRODUCTION 
^ ACH four years, it is the responsibility of 
VII to the International 
Society for Photogrammetry, to attempt the 
impossible job of summarizing the state of the 
Commission 
art of photographic interpretation, and of its 
applications in all countries of the world. For 
the present reporting period, this responsibil- 
ity has been divided among the six Working 
Groups of the Commission, each of which en- 
deavors to produce a report in its own area of 
interest. These Working Groups are: 
W.G. No. 1. Photography and Photo coverage 
W.G. No. 2. Photo Interpretation Equipment and 
Techniques 
W.G. No. 3 Interpretation of Surface Configuration, 
Drainage, Soils, Geology. 
W.G. No. 4. Interpretation of Vegetation 
W.G. No. 5. Inter pretation of Urban, Rural and Indus- 
trial Structures 
W.G. No. 6. Interpretation of Ice 
Since these reports may be expected to 
cover the field in some detail, the GENERAL 
SUMMARY will be limited to pointing up 
some of the more significant items noted in 
the four-year period of progress in photo- 
graphic interpretation. 
MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS of the Reporting 
Period 
An item of International news which has 
been of great interest to photographic inter- 
preters has been the recurring discussions of 
the “Open Skies or “Mutual Inspection for 
Peace" proposal. The keynote of this idea has 
been the capability of the photographic inter- 
preter, given adequate and timely photo- 
graphic coverage, to analyze correctly evi- 
dence of military build-up or preparations 
for surprise attack on the part of one of the 
international powers. Certainly the political 
implications of this program are not within 
the scope of this report; however the tech- 
Dr. Kirk H. Stone 
Department of Geography 
University of Wisconsin, USA 
Mr. William A. Fischer 
U.S. Geological Survey 
Mr. Page E. Truesdell 
U.S. Naval Photographic Interpretation 
Center, USA 
Dr. D. A. Boon 
International Training Centre for Aerial 
Survey 
Delft, Holland 
Lt. Col. Norman E. Green 
United States Air Force 
Captain Ragnar Thoren 
Royal Swedish Navy 
nical challenge to photographic interpretation 
and photogrammetry posed by this concept 
has strongly affected our thinking during this 
reporting period. 
The “Open Skies’ plan was stated at the 
Summit Conference in Geneva in July 1955 
United 
States. A modified counter-proposal was pre- 
by President Eisenhower of the 
sented by the Soviets in 1957, and additional 
alternate proposals by both sides have been 
* The opinions and statements contained herein are those of the author, and are not to be construed 
as representing those of the U.S. Naval Photographic Interpretation Center or the U. S. Navy Depart- 
ment.