AN APPLICATION OF KINEMATIC GPS-SUPPORTED AERIAL TRIANGULATION IN GENERAL COMMAND 
OF MAPPING (TURKEY) 
Mustafa ÖNDER, Oktay AKSU, Ufuk NARLI 
General Command of Mapping 
06100 Ankara, TURKEY 
Commission IV 
KEY WORDS : GPS, Aerial, Triangulation, Test. 
ABSTRACT 
As a big official mapping organization, General Command of Mapping (GCM) aimed to apply the kinematic GPS supported 
aerial triangulation for the first time in Turkey. The following test project was implemented for that purpose and satisfied 
results were obtained. Detailed information and results related to project are given in this paper. 
1. INTRODUCTION 
The most significant developments for applications of 
aerial triangulation are to use of kinematic GPS data in 
aerial triangulation and improvements of automatic aerial 
triangulation using digital images in recent years. GCM, 
which emulates these developments with close attention, 
has decided to test of kinematic GPS supported aerial 
triangulation, for both to be a pioneer in mapping field as 
occured a lot of times before in Turkey and to make profit 
by using that method in its intensive photogrammetric 
activities. 
GCM is one of the two biggest official organization 
responsible from map production at various scales in 
Turkey. Focal point of production is, 1:25000 scale map 
revision and production capacity is almost 400-450 map 
sheets in a year. Furthermore, it also interests with the 
map production at the scales 1:5000 and 1:1000. The 
significance of profits to be gained from the method can 
be seen easily when the time and cost demanding field 
works are considered for required control points for every 
year. 
2. TEST FIELD 
Selected test field is near Ankara (Gölbasi) and has a 
rectangular shape at 35km. x 15km. sizes (Figure 1.). 
Table 1. Technical data of the blocks. 
Almost 180 control and check points have been 
established in that field. Some of these points were 
surveyed 2-3 years ago and they were not surveyed again, 
just signalized. 
Three separate blocks have been established by covering 
each other in that project area (Figure. 1., 2., 3.). The area 
is ratherly flat and outside of the city center. 
3.TEST FLIGHT AND DATA ACQUSITION 
3.1. Technical Data 
Test flights were completed in two days (12-13 October 
1995). Summarized information is given in Table 1. 
3.2. GPS Data 
TRIMBLE 4000 SSE Geodetic Receivers (three for block 
I and II, four for block III) were used for data recording. 
One of them was mounted in Beechcraft B200 aircraft, 
others were located on the ground and 20-40 km. away 
from project area. One stationary recevier was located on 
a known point for every block. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
TECHNICAL DATA BLOCK I BLOCK II BLOCK III 
Flight Altitude 5600 m 2500 m 1300 m 
Scale 1/36000 1/16000 1/4300 
Block Size 35 km x 15 km 12 km x 15 km 5 km x 3 km 
Overlap p=60%,q=30% p=60%,q=30% p=60%,q=30% 
Camera Zeiss RMK-TOP Zeiss RMK-TOP Zeiss RMK-TOP 
Camera Constant 152.769 mm 152.769 mm 305.334 mm 
Type of Adjustment Independent models, Independent models, Bundle Independent models, 
Bundle Block Block Bundle Block 
Adjustment Program PAT-MR , PATB-GPS PAT-MR , PATB-GPS PAT-MR , PATB-GPS 
Type of Tie Points Artificial Artificial Artificial 
Type of Control Points Targeted Targeted Targeted 
Type of Check Points Targeted Targeted Targeted 
  
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International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXI, Part B4. Vienna 1996