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PHOTOGRAMMETRIC AND REMUTE SENSING PRACTICE IN NIGERIA
By
Dr. O. Atilola *
ABSTRACT
The potentials of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing as a tool for national development
can be realised only to the extent the profession is practiced in any country. À review of the grow-
th and applications of photogrammetry and remote sensing in Nigeria is presented. A Survey of
available man-power and facilities for photogrammetric practice is made. The present activities
of both government and private organzizations and their impact on national development are
discussed. Suggestions are then made on how the country can take full benefit of the capabilities
of photogrammetry and remote sensing for development purposes.
1. INTRODUCTION
In Nigeria like in most other countries of the world, the most important conyentional applica-
tion of photogrammetry is in mapping at various scales. Although photogrammetry has been in
practice in its elementary forms in the early nineteenth century, The advent of airplanes and the
first world war served as catalyst to its rapid development as an acceptable method for mass
production of maps. The early development of photogrammetry was domi nated by efforts to
produce accurate maps with minimum ground survey input. With the development of electronic
computers in the early sixties the science has not only developed to reducing the ground input
to the bearest minimum but has also found its applications in many other fields such as engineer-
ing, geology, forestry, agriculture, cadastre, exploration, military intelligence, medicine and sur-
gery and other non-topographical applications.
2, EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF PHOTOGRAMMETRY IN NIGERIA
Photogrammetry was introduced to Nigeria by the Nigerian Survey Department (now Federal
Surveys) under the Directorate of Colonial Surveys. The Directorate of Colonial Surveys in its
efforts to map the Colonial territories, provided the air photographs which were produced by the
Royal Air Force (RAF). The map compilations were carried out by the Directorate while the
Federal Surveys Department provided the ground control points and carried out the field comp-
letion. The RAF photography was later found to be inadequate and unsuitable for mapping
purposes. The Nigerian Survey Department then decided to charter a de Havilland Dove Aircraft
from West African Airways Corporation (WAAC). The pilots and other officers were staff of
WAAC while the Nigerian Government provided the photographer, cameras and other accesso
ries. At this period the level of photogrammetric mapping was limited to mere tracing of details
directly from aerial photographs for planimetric maps after using the slotted: template to provide
planimetric control points. In 1949 the first photogrammetric plotting equipment, the William-
son Ross Anaglyph Multiplex was purchased. This made local production of topographical maps
possible. Horizontal controls continued to be provided by the slotted template method and height
information by field leveiling.
The National Survey Department remained the only Survey Organization in the country until
1952 when by Legislation the three Regions into which the country was then divided were em-
powered to set up their own Survey Departments. However, with special arrangement, Federal
Surveys continued to provide the basic ground control points and also the National topographical
map series of 1:50,000 scale, the latter in collaboration with Northern Nigeria Surveys, Kaduna.
The Regional Survey Departments were then responsible for break down of the main control
frame work and town-ship mapping within their respective region.
"Dr. Atilola is an Executive Director of Master Mappers (Nig.) Ltd., Lagos, Nigeria.
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