INFLUENCE OF ANALYTICAL AERIAL TRIANGULATION
PERFORMED WITH STEREOCOMPARATORS AND
ELECTRONIC COMPUTORS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
AND USE OF PHOTOGRAMMETRICAL PLOTTERS
Some years ago precisely in 1935 when speaking to the students of the
ist Course in Photogrammetry at the Politechnic Institute of Milan, I said a few
words about the commercial problems in new photogrammetrical activities, which
were then taking the first steps, and indicated the possibilities offered by the
existing instruments.
Today I return to that subject because the arrival of electronic computers has
caused a revolution destined to qualify photogrammetrical instruments and their
practical use.
It is well-known that the economical problem of the photogrammetrical industry
is the maximum possible reduction of operations in the field, for which reason the
Jlotters themselves are entrusted with the performance of triangulation which must
furnish the necessary elements for the reconstruction of the optical model and for
its absolute orientation. It is known that this necessity requires that first order
plotters have special characteristics and a remarkable accuracy in construction in
order to attain the highest degree of precision, which determine the high cost and
decrease the economical output, uselessly aggravating the fundamental service,
which is plotting.
The arrival of stereocomparator recorders, in conjunction with the new electronic
computers, solves this problem and opens the way to new prospects, both in ope-
rational techniques and plotter materializations, for the purpose of reducing the
costs, which until now were too high due to the previously mentioned reasons.
[Integration of the electronic computer with the stereocomparator is designed
to substitute for plotters of first order precision, in the performing of aerial
triangulation.
The stereocomparator 1s a much more accurate instrument than the first order
plotter because it does not have the optical and mechanical exigencies which are
required for the formation of the optical model in such operations. The average
accuracy supplied by it is in the range of two microns, which is greatly superior
to the approximation allowed in the determination of the position of each point
on the photographs, due to the nature of the means used for the exposure.
The stereocomparator simultaneously supplies the recording of the data in clear
and on punched tape (or cards), according to the desired code, which can be
directly inserted in the computer, which performs all the operations for which it
Was prc ;grammed.