Commission II Continued 
Two mapping agencies have each interfaced up to six stereoplotting instruments to one 
minicomputer for the on-line capture and recording of cartographic data. Both, at present, have 
interelated equipment for validation, correction and addition of data. One government agency has 
developed an interactive data capture, recording and editing facility controlled by the operator of the 
stereoplotting instrument, A minicomputer, with a graphical display unit has been interfaced to a 
stereoplotting instrument and this arrangement allows the user to dispense with the conventional 
plotting table. 
The general trend in automation of instruments in Australia is for the interface of minicomputers to 
equipment allowing the greatest versatility in data handling. 
R.G. Roberts 
Commission Ill, Mathematical Analysis of Data: 
During the period covered by this report there have been no formal coordinated efforts under the 
auspices of the APS to develop new techniques of numerical analysis, other than the personal 
cooperation of individuals who faced similar problems in their professional environment. Generally 
speaking, there is a wide interest in updating methods of block adjustment, both from the point of view 
of improving general accuracy and data filtering (removing gross errors), as well as their application to 
the photogrammetric coordination of points for purposes other than topographic mapping. 
As far as is known to the author no new mathematical principles have been adopted for 
triangulation in connection with routine topographical mapping, and the methods of polynomial 
blockadjustment are still the most widely used, certainly as reported by Government agencies. However, 
as pointed out before, there is a keen interest in adjustment by independent models and in bundle 
adjustment. Apart from the increased accuracy it is hoped that these last two methods will be 
increasingly helpful in detecting data errors before the adjustment of random and systematic 
observational errors. In this context it should be mentioned that one government authority still uses, with 
a great deal of success, the assembly of slotted templets. 
With regard to instrumentation, Australia has seen an increasing use of data acquisition with the aid 
of mini computers, on-line to analog plotters and stereocomparators. Apart from the usual advantages 
of digital processing, there is the intention to develop and utilize these systems for data validation whilst 
the observations are taking place. In addition, the equipment and software is being fully extended to 
process digital terrain models (DTM). One commercial company reports the introduction of a suite of 
programs for interpolating sections from random DTM's, and the use of bi-linear interpolating methods 
for volume determination. This is, of course, but one example of the development and employment of 
computer processing also in the commercial sector throughout Australia. Indicative of the success in 
this area is a comment by another commercial company quoted here verbatim:— "Our greatest 
achievement in the past four years has been to remove digital processing from the highly problematical 
area to the area of straightforward production". The emphasis on commercial practice in this paragraph, 
by the way, should not be taken as if the private sector only has managed to make modern data 
processing a paying proposition. It is known that government and educational establishments have fully 
successful operational systems, but no detailed reports had come to hand at the time of this writing. 
Finally, the extensive use of computer produced contours from DTM's should be mentioned, and 
also the increasing availability of program packages employing desk top calculators for processing 
analog measurements obtained with photogrammetric plotters. 
S.G. Bervoets 
Commission IV, Topographic and Cartographic Applications: 
General 
Whilst the tempo of Australian general purpose mapping has been maintained during the past four 
years, decreasing special purpose mapping originating in the private sector of the community, reflects 
the economic recession which has beset Australian development during the same period. 
As a result, the Private Offices in photogrammetry whose growth was featured in the reports of 1968 
and 1972 have found difficulty in maintaining work flow. 
Ame 
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