5, Investigations of photogrammetric mapping techniques and 
methods of aerial triangulation. 
6. Investigation of applications of basic research data to 
specific tasks or problems encountered in field situations 
in several disciplines. 
Research in photogrammetry has been in progress at the University of 
Illinois for several years. This work has dealt primarily with the character 
of errors in spatial aerotriangulation and has been conducted under the 
leadership of Dr. H. M. Karara, Department of Civil Engineering. Dr. Karara's 
work with the Cross-Bases Method in aerial triangulation has been reported 
(Photogrammetric Engineering, Vol, XXIII, December 1957, and Vol. XXV, June 
1959). His work at Illinois is a continuation of earlier work begun in 
support of his doctoral dissertation presented to the faculty of the Swiss 
Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, in 1956. A report concerning his 
work at the University of Illinois, "Reduction of the effect of deviation of 
the vertical on photogrammetric work in geodetically unexplored regions 
(Cross-Bases Method)," will be presented to the International Congress of 
Photogrammetry at the meeting in London, England, in September 1960 as a 
contribution to Commission III. 
In October of 1959 the University of Illinois embarked upon what is 
expected to be a sustained and integrated program of basic research in photo- 
graphic interpretation, The first specific project initiated within this 
program, an investigation of the spectral reflectance characteristics of 
forest vegetation, is proceeding under contract support of the Office of Naval 
Research, U. S. Navy. Work on this project began in February 1959. Major 
field work will be performed during the 1960 growing season, and the project 
is scheduled for completion in June 1961. The work is being conducted under 
the direction of Dr. L. C. Bliss and Mr. C. E. Olson, Jr., of the Departments 
of Botany and Forestry, respectively. Spectrophotometric measurements will 
be made on picked foliage from several species, several trees of each species, 
and several crown positions from each tree. Spectrophotometric measurements 
are made within one hour of the time foliage samples are picked and correlated 
studies of precipitation, soil properties, chemical content of tree foliage, 
and tree growth are being conducted in the sample area simultaneously with the 
reflectance work. Additional spectral reflectance studies dealing with 
agricultural crops, field vegetation other than crops, soil types, rock types, 
and common construction materials are planned. 
Preliminary work which could lead to the design of a high-speed, self- 
programming, electronic computer capable of automatic photographic interpre- 
tation is being conducted within the Engineering Experiment Station, At the 
same time the possibility that a photo-sensitive "film" might be developed 
whose resolution and magnification potential would be limited only by molec- 
ular size is being pursued by the Chemistry Department. 
In an effort to improve the accuracy and usefulness of local P.I. keys, 
Professors Fo W. Foster and R. L. Carmin of the Department of Geography are 
conducting a detailed ground and photo study of the more important agricul- 
tural crops in east-central Illinois. By conducting field investigations on 
the very day of photography, exact ground conditions at the time of photog- 
raphy can be determined. The detailed information obtained on height, 
spacing, foliage overlap, weediness, and soil conditions seems to be 
increasing accuracy in interpretation of corn, soybeans, wheat, pasture, and 
hay crops from aerial photographs. Photographic coverage of the study area 
at a scale of 1:8,000 was produced for this project by the Committee on 
Aerial Photography. 
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