EE
AFFINE RECTIFICATION OF VERTICAL AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS
OF NON-FLAT GROUND
by
Vladimir Kraikv
ABSTRACT
The rectification method representing the optical solution of theoretical relations
between two planes is in practice unfavourably influenced by altitude conditions of
the ground. The ideal case of a flat ground whether level or inclined is very rare.
Most often we meet a ground that shows small differences in height. If we rectify
the photograph of such a ground to a true vertical photograph, there arise radial dis-
placements - especially at the edge points of the rectified photographs - that make
the following compilation of the rectified photographs into controlled aerial mosaic
inaccurate or impossible. If we reach the affine rectification on a ground-plan pro-
jection of fixed points similarly as in the case of an inclined ground the elements of
rectification will be a function not only of the exterior orientation of the photograph
but also of the general altitude conditions of the fixed points applied. Here the gene-
ral additional displacement of the negative in its ground is necessarily of use.
The displacement of the negative in the general direction makes affine changes
in the projected image. The magnitude of these changes is independent of the direc-
tion of the negative displacement and of the direction of the inclination of the easel
plane or of the swing of the negative. The direction of the necessary displacement of
the negative that can remove the affine deformation of the image depends both on
the direction of the observed affine deviations and on the direction of the inclination
of the easel plane or on the swing of the negative,
The altitude differences between the given fixed points effects changes of recti-
fying elements, viz. the change of the easel plane tilt in a general direction (or the
change of the easel plane tilt and the swing of the negative) which is proportional
to the general tilt of the adjusting plane interposed among four fixed points of the
ground and further an additional displacement of the negative proportional to the
altitude difference from one of the fixed points above the plane of the three remai-
ning points. As the easel plane tilt depends also on the value of nadir distance of the
photograph the resulting easel plane tilt is determined by the angle betwenn the
photograph plane and the plane passing between the four fixed points. If the photo-
graph is approximately parallel with this plane there occurs an insolubility of the
affine rectification because the necessary displacement acquires hight values.
Causes which make it necessary to introduce the displacement of the negatives at
the rectification are - from the geometrical point of view - of three kinds:
1. the variable inner orientation of the rectifier,
4. the inclined flat ground,
3. the ground with the altitude differences.
The importance of individual factors depends on the practical conditions of the
rectification. It is possible to neglect the displacement of the negative at practical
rectification for a small nadir distance of the photograph, at a small inclination of
the photographed ground and at small altitude differences between fixed points.
From the analysis of these factors it follows that it is the necessity of additional
displacement of affine rectification of ground with altitude differences that is most
unfavourable at the vertical photographs. On the contrary it is possible to deduce
that the displacement which appears necessary during rectification is at the verti-
cal photographs nearly solely effected by the altitude differences between the fixed
points. It is possible to draw the conclusion that the mechanical or numerical me-
thods of introduction of the displacement of negatives cannot reach full success in
practice if the altitude conditions among the fixed points are not taken into account.
Meanwhile the best results in this direction are achieved by the rectification with
empirical introduction of the displacement of negatives.
The last section of the paper describes a practical method of setting for the cur-
rent types of rectifiers that starts from the principles of affine rectification and ad-
vantageously utilizes at the paper determined relations between the displacement of
the negative and the affine deformation of the projected image
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