pretation and integral interpretation. Details are listed in Appen
dix 1. The experimental work will be completed in the near future.
"International" Test
The "international" test is a project of the
Working Group "Experimental Research in Photo-Interpretation" of
Commission VI of the International Society for Photogrammetry
/V, /3/.
The work is performed according to the integral interpretation
method. Details are listed in Appendix 2.
OUTLOOK ON' FUTURE TASKS
The mathematical description of the two interpretation methods
shows the need for further development. Among others, the introduc
tion of a concept of value into information processing seems neces
sary if (what is to be aspired after) the concept interpretation
result is to be understood as the number and value of the single
interpretation data. First general mathematical formulations as to
this matter are already available /4/. The results obtained by the
aforementioned experimental work are considered an adequate data
material for a theory still to be developed in this connection.
Apperception of image content, image processing, and automated
photo-interpretation are additional tasks the performance of which
should be pushed forward.
Apperception of Image Content
Each photograph can be broken down into a finite number of areas
of a certain tone ("tonal areas"). However, on a photograph we do not
"see" tonal areas but we see "gestalten" (image gestalten) / 5 /. In
recognizing these image gestalten, we must differentiate between the
recognition of form and the recognition of meaning. Further parameter
important for the process of interpretation are: the application of
analogue arguments, the "attitude" of the interpreter, the influence
of the given objective upon the interpreter, etc. /6/. Since the
photograph is the starting basis of each interpretation, fundamental
research in photo-interpretation should turn its attention at a still
greater rate to the question:
How does the human being looking at a photographically recorded
image absorb the content of the image i.e. how does the appercep
tion of the image content function (particularly in case of an
aerial photograph)?
We hereby have to examine whether single components of the evidently
very complex process of apperception should be or must be considered
in the further development of the methods of photo-interpretation.
Furthermore, the process of apperception will probably be an impor*-
tant, if not an essential basis of automated photo-interpretation
aspired after. In the sense of informatics, we are confronted here
with a system the efficiency of which surpasses by far all hitherto
known technical systems of information acquisition and information
processing.