PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING
presented and discussed from 1957 through
1959. A consideration of some of the photo-
grammetric and photographic interpretation
problems was presented in a paper by George
D. Whitmore in 1958 (1).
Another event of significance to the photo-
graphic interpretation community has been
the preparation, during this reporting period,
of the American Society's MANUAL oF PHOTO-
GRAPHIC INTERPRETATION. While other texts
and reference books have been written on
phases of the photographic interpretation
process, this manual represents the first at-
tempt to achieve a compilation of experience
and technique, in all of its many fields of ap-
plication, of the science of photographic
interpretation. A general chapter outline for
the manual was given in the 1956 Commission
VII report (2). At the present writing, the
manual is in publication, and should be avail-
able at the time of the 1960 International
Congress.
Incidentally, it might be noted that the
MANUAL OF PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION
is by no means solely an American effort. In-
puts from many countries have been incor-
porated by the chapter-editors whenever pos-
sible, and many of the chapter manuscripts
have been reviewed by experts of various
countries before preparation in final form.
A third development of some interest of
photographic interpreters during this report-
ing period has been the broadening of the base
of Commission VII itself. One evening during
the 1956 International Congress in Stock-
holm, a group of some thirty photographic
interpreters met to discuss means of increas-
ing the service rendered by Commission VII
to the International community. One out-
growth of this meeting was the establishment
of the present six working groups of the com-
mission. A second result was the recommenda-
tion that a system of interim progress reports
in photographic interpretation be instituted
to bridge the gap between congresses.
The full measure of accomplishment of
these working groups may not be readily ap-
parent from their reports. Beginning with
nothing but the working group name and area
of interest, the chairmen, by correspondence
or by attendance at International technical
meetings, developed correspondents and con-
tributors, and uncovered new interests and
applications of photographic interpretation.
The interim report, published in 1958 (3 &
4) was a modest effort, but provided a pilot
model for what, in time, may become a pub-
lished yearly assessment of photographic
interpretation progress around the world.
)
The discussion of **major highlights" would
not be complete without a reference to the
effect of the space age on photographic inter-
pretation. While this effect is largely in the
future, the already-published photographs
from various rocket flights and from the re-
cent Soviet moon-satellite bear graphic testi-
mony to the great potential contribution
which photographic interpretation may make
to the conquest of space.
SPECIFIC AREAS OF PROGRESS
For convenience, the discussion in this sec-
tion will be covered under three headings.
“ Photography" the subject matter of Working
Group 1, is of interest to all interpreters as
their primary source material. ‘Equipment
and Techniques’, covered by Working Group
2, is also of general interest, though consider-
able variation in instruments and procedures
may occur in various specialized types of
interpretation. Comments on progress made
in the areas of Working Groups 3 through 6
are here grouped under the single heading of
“Applications”.
PHOTOGRAPHY
In contrast to the photogrammetrist, who
normally requires mapping-specification pho-
tography to perform his function, the photo-
graphic interpreter can make use of many
types and scales of photographs. In fact, one
of the surprising features of the work reported
in various parts of the Commission VII report
is the wide variation in scales and kinds of
photography used. Much of this is due to the
fact that photographic interpreters must
often do their work on whatever photographs
happen to be available (although of course
some variation is due to differences in envi-
ronment in various parts of the world, the
specific job to be done etc.). Recognizing this
flexibility on the part of the interpreter, Dr.
Kirk Stone, of Working Group 1, has chosen
to concentrate most of his time on the prob
lem of simply locating and recording existing
coverage on a world-wide basis. Later, this
group may proceed to the more difficult task
of cataloguing the characteristics and content
of these holdings.
Because the interpreter has had to work
with so many types of photography, it is dif-
ficult to determine, from project reports, the
optimum types he may desire for various
kinds of interpretation jobs. It is believed
worthwhile, however, to attempt to summa-
rize the characteristics of the photography
which seems to be preferred (or at least often
used) for interpretation work.
