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Aerial Photographs KFA-3000 KWR-1000 KFA-1000 
altitude (km) 4.5 249.8 220 274.8 
f (mm) 153.24 2989.46 1000 1000 
scale 29400 83500 220000 275000 
film size (cm?) 23x23 30x30 18x18 30x30 
coverage (km?) 6.8x6.8 25x25 40x40 82x82 
Mg, (nm) 350-700 550-710 500-680 (?) 570-670 
670-800 
resgm(l/mm) 100 260 260 (?) 60 
distortion (mm) <0.005 «0.1 «0.1 (?) «0.1 (7) 
88 round, theo, UT) 0.3 0.3 0.7 (2j 5 
ES ground, eat) 0.8-0.9 2.0 2.0 7-9 
  
Table 1. Parameters of aerial and space photography used for case studies. 
Considering positive effects of image motion 
compensation and negative influences of atmospheric 
scattering and absorption the theoretic accuracy of the 
KFA-3000 BW-Film T-J8 of 260lp/mm has to be reduced 
to a de facto resolution of about 70-100lp/mm, that is 
80cm to 110 cm ground resolution or detectability of 
objects larger than 40-50cm under conditions of high 
contrast between adjacent features. 
Russian authorities manipulate KWR-1000 and KFA- 
3000 data to decrease resolutions to about 2m, a 
threshold which is said to have been set by the Russian 
government (Wanninger, 1993, Capes, 1994). 
Geometric resolution of KFA-1000 photographs is 
limited by the resolution of the two-layer film SN10 (red, 
n-IR) of 60lp/mm. It is therefore unlikely to detect details 
smaller than 7-8m. Actually KFA-3000 and KWR-1000 
photographs are space-borne remote sensing data with 
the highest spatial resolution available and therefore 
important tools to document detailed patterns of 
landcover and landuse (figure 1). 
3. TOPOGRAPHIC MAPPING 
Besides spectral and radiometric resolution planimetric 
accuracy, elevation accuracy and detectability of objects 
are the three criteria of suitability of imagery for precise 
thematic analysis and cartographic representation 
(Konecny, 1995). 
A transversal camera tilt of the KFA and KWR systems 
of about 8° <w<12° has to be taken into considera- 
tion. As there are only few parameters known for 
orientation - the frame camera has no fiducial marks - it 
is necessary to use a lot of control points to obtain 
sufficient accuracy for a bundle adjustment. 
Planimetric accuracy can be determined by a value of 
0.2mm referring to the required map scale. Focussing on 
an orthophoto scale of 1:10000 requires an accuracy of 
2m, which could be met by KWR-1000 and KFA-3000 
photography. KFA-1000 photography could be adapted 
201 
for mapping in scales of 1:50000 and smaller. In case of 
flat (steep) terrain, contour line intervals of 20m (bOm) 
are required for a scale of 1:50000 and intervals of 
about 5m (10m) are required for a scale of 1:10000 
respectively. As the point measurement accuracy in 
elevation should be 1/5 of the contour line interval, 
corresponding values are 4m (10m), respectively 1m 
(2m). Because of weak base-height-ratios these values 
cannot be provided by Russian space photography. 
4. DETECTABILITY OF OBJECTS 
Detectability of objects depends on contrast, shape and 
texture. Digitized photographs should not exceed pixel 
sizes of 2m, which are necessary for detecting detailed 
contents as defined by European mapping standards. 
KFA-3000 photographs meet this requirement when 
being digitized with 7,5um resolution (Zeiss-PS1), 
whereas resolution of KWR-1000 data (digital product 
DD5) is limited by a de facto resolution of about 2.2m to 
3.1m (= 1lp, 70-100Ip/mm) on the one hand and limits 
of scanning resolution on the other (1.4 ° pixelsize = 
2.3m = 1lp). 
There is striking evidence of the efficiency of KFA-3000 
and KWR-1000 photographs for updating details in 
topographic and thematic maps, especially concerning 
planimetric accuracy and detectability of objects. On the 
other hand height measuring accuracies and 
subsequently accuracies of contour lines are beyond the 
information value of Russian space photographs even for 
a scale of 1:50000. 
5.CASE STUDIES 
Environmental monitoring is of growing importance for 
the documentation of the status quo of landcover and 
landuse as well as of the multi-temporal dynamics of 
degradation and the resulting influences on the 
ecological quality of protected regions. 
International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXI, Part B4. Vienna 1996