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DEVELOPMENT OF A METRIC CCD CAMERA AND ITS APPLICATION 
N.Kochi,H.Ohtani, S. Nakamura, T. Uchiyama, M.Chida,H.Sato, T. Noma 
Topcon Corporation 
75-1,Hasunuma-Cho,Itabashi-Ku, Tokyo,174 Japan 
phone:+81-3-3966-3141;fax:+81-3-3966-5054 
KEYWORDS: CCD camera, orientation, calibration, digital plotter, close-range photogrammetry 
ABSTRACT 
The purpose of our research is the development of a digital photogrammetry system, which would enable us to 
measure most accurately and easily the measurable objects in civil engineering, construction and industrial 
production. 
In order to attain the intended accuracy of 3D measurement, we need a CCD camera, which has at least the 
resolving power of 35mm film. But in commonly available CCD cameras, the resolving power is quite 
insufficient. Besides, unless we do not obtain the interior orientation parameters (lens distortion, principal 
distance, principal point) by carrying out camera calibration, the sufficient accuracy of measurement would not 
be achieved. Thus, we have developed a high resolution CCD camera(4096 X 4096pixels), which satisfies both of 
these conditions. With it we have also developed the calibration software. And using a Stereo Image Workstation 
(PI-1000), or already developed digital plotter, we have constructed a complete system covering from image 
acquisition to accurate measurement. 
This paper will explain the general outline of the high-resolution-metric-CCD-camera, which we have recently 
developed, and the entire system of its operation. It will also demonstrate the camera calibration experiment by 
bundle adjustment as well as the experiment we made on a vehicle surface as an example of application of our 
system to the industrial production. 
  
1. INTRODUCTION 
  
In the field of close-range photogrammetry, with the recent development of digital plotters, a demand is growing 
to do away with excess work such as developing film and digitizing by means of image scanners, etc. Now demand 
is to obtain a direct digital image of the object by CCD camera, and thereby realizing high accuracy in 3D 
measurement. However, CCD cameras now available 
possess merely 400,000 to 1,600,000. pixels, with narrow 
field angle and short focal length, hence quite insufficient 
to provide high accuracy. Accordingly, we have developed 
an engineering model of high-resolution CCD camera of 
16.77 million pixels, with resolution power equal to that of 
a 35 mm film camera. This camera is capable of focal 
adjustment without fluctuation of the principal point, and 
can measure the focal length with high precision. 
This paper will report on the calibration experimentation of 
. ; bv 
bundle adjustment to determine the accuracy of T. 
measurement. The paper will also report on the experiment, optical disks 
where we applied our system to measure the outer plate of 
HIGH 
RESOLUTION 
CCD 
CAMERA 
  
Data transfer 
vehicles as a practical example of industrial utilization. 
STEREO 
2. OVERVIEW OF THE SYSTEM IMAGE 
WORKSTATION 
2.1 Configuration Of The System 
This system is an analytical stereoplotting system for 
digital image as for its measurement object. As shown in 
Fig. 1, the system consists of a high-resolution CCD 
camera (PC-1000) and a stereo image workstation 
(PI-1000). 
  
Fig.1 System configuration 
IAPRS, Vol. 30, Part 5W1, ISPRS Intercommission Workshop “From Pixels to Sequences”, Zurich, March 22-24 1995