Full text: XVIIIth Congress (Part B2)

  
processors are so powerful that speeds in excess of 
10,000 points per minute are achieved despite the 
complex, multiple pass nature of the Hierarchical 
Relaxation Correlation which is still the basis of the 
module (Helava, 1988). 
While small improvements such as bicubic resampling 
and change detection from radiometric differences 
between orthophotos derived at different epochs, may 
affect more users, the most dramatic innovation on the 
orthophoto scene has been "true orthos", i.e. orthophotos 
with correction for building lean. The layered 
mosaicking with user defined seam lines and both 
geometric and radiometric feathering has been retained, 
but much faster, more highly automated mosaicking is 
available too. Current work includes an inference engine 
for determining DTM strategies for the user, refinement 
of the recent implementation of iterative orthophoto 
refinement (Norvelle, 1994) and a totally automated 
sequence from raw imagery through to final mosaic, 
which works well with satellite data. The output of 
image maps has been enhanced too, particularly with a 
PostScript option that enables lines and text to be output 
at higher resolution than the background image in order 
to take full advantage of variable inkjet, laser plotter and 
film writer devices. 
While perspective scenes and fly throughs have been 
commonplace in the remote sensing world for several 
years, they are now acquiring the status of useful 
photogrammetric products and their application has 
emerged from the military world and found a natural 
home in the planning world (Simmons, 1996). 
3.2.6 Feature extraction. Undoubtedly, the 
introduction of robust, practical semi-automated tools for 
feature extraction has been a major innovation. Three 
tools, for measuring roofs of buildings, for determination 
of linear features and for region building, are offered, all 
based on the principle of image processing to improve 
approximate measurements made by the user. Early tests 
with the roof tool indicate a significant improvement in 
productivity compared to manual measurement, 
accompanied by a noticeable reduction in fatigue. 
Further tools in development include sophisticated 
radiometric methods of detecting and measuring roads 
and gabled roofs. 
3.3 Other software 
Two small modules have been added by Leica. 
CONVERT is an important utility, which enables 
orientation data to be transferred in both directions 
between the DPWs and many analytical plotters. At the 
conclusion of HATS, therefore, it is possible to have any 
model available on a DPW immediately and on an 
analytical plotter after inserting the plates and 
performing interior orientation. 
One of the strengths of SOCET SET has been the wide 
choice of software packages available for map 
compilation and GIS. Early dalliances with Kork, now 
owned by Vision International, and Aviosoft MAPce, 
have been superseded by strong links to a number of 
extremely popular products. The well known Leica 
PRO600 product providing an on-line link between 
SOCET SET and Bentley Systems MicroStation is now 
identical, except for the real-time portion, on the DPWs 
and the analogue and analytical plotters. The automated 
70 
tools mentioned above are being added to PRO600 to 
increase productivity. More recently, PRO600 has 
acquired triangulated irregular network (TIN) 
functionality, for sophisticated manipulation of DTMs, 
in the form of TerraModeler, from the Finnish company 
Terrasolid Oy, with which Leica has established a 
strategic alliance. KLT’s ATLAS package is an 
acknowledged leader for customers who do not wish a 
CAD or GIS package as part of their map compilation 
solution. This product has been specially modified and 
refined to suit the DPWs. ATLAS has strong facilities 
for TIN manipulation and has functions to import 
SOCET SET DTMs for further processing. Moreover, 
conditions in the market-place are such that it is sensible 
to offer an open system and facilitate solutions including 
competitors’ map compilation packages where customers 
wish to retain these and avoid retraining or reformatting 
costs. Thus Zeiss CADMAP and DAT/EM 
DGN/CAPTURE are available in addition to the 
products in Figure 2 and some customers also are 
working on integration of their map compilation 
software. 
On-line links to GIS packages exist for Unisys System 9 
and Clemessy GeoCity, the latter forming the basis of the 
solution designed for IGN, Paris. At the time of writing, 
work is in hand for a link to Leica’s INFOCAM GIS, but 
in general terms the case for on-line LIS/GIS is not 
established: an off-line relationship using CAD formats 
and post hoc topology checks appears to be more popular 
in practice. Work is in progress such that SOCET SET's 
feature extraction module will be able to read and write 
ARC/INFO coverage files directly. 
3.4 Dual systems 
Since 1994 it has been possible to combine the scanning 
and workstation functions on a single SPARCstation 
host. Thus organisations which do not need continuous 
scanning can extract more value from their hardware. 
One popular application on these dual systems is HATS. 
4.0 USERS 
The remarkable growth of digital photogrammetry since 
the 1992 Congress in Washington is well known. 
Customers range from smaller private companies with 
one workstation to national mapping, organisations and 
military survey departments with one or more scanners 
and multiple workstations. Every installation is different, 
which demonstrates how the systems business differs 
from the analogue instruments of 30 years ago. While it 
is not possible to discern completely clear trends, it is 
true to say that some customers exploit most phases of 
the digital photogrammetric process, but others 
concentrate on one phase or another. For example, there 
are numerous companies whose primary product is 
image rather than line maps; and there are a few 
scanning, bureaux, who offer only scanning services and 
perhaps aerial photographic processing. Adoption of 
digital photogrammetry as the primary tool for feature 
collection has taken longer, but wider software choices, 
better user interfaces and improvements in ergonomics 
have encouraged greater use. Raster output has presented 
new challenges too. Customers have published 
extensively on their applications and, in some cases, 
their use of SOCET SET's development tools to interface 
to their own modules. 
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