International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXII, Part 6. Bandung-lndonesia 1999 
AUTOMATION IN PHOTOGRAMMETRY 
David Collison 
General Manager: Mapping/GIS División 
Intergraph System South East Asia Pte.Ltd 
Singapore 
ABSTRACT 
Photogrammetry is today the core technology employed in the production of base maps. Given that photogrammetry is 
used in the compilation of 95% of base maps around the world it’s importance as a tool for primary data compilation 
cannot be ignored. 
From the very beginning photogrammetry systems were based on optics and mechanics however, since 1991 an entirely 
new generation of systems often called “softcopy” photogrammetry has emerged and are today in widespread use 
throughout the world. 
Softcopy systems are based on manipulating digital imagery. As this new software based technology emerged the 
industry base has migrated from its origins in Europe with their expertise in high quality optics and mechanics to north 
America with its pioneering computer hardware and software industry. 
Softcopy has ushered in the dawn of real automation for photogrammetry. Already today we are seeing systems capable 
of: 
• unattended scanning of aerial films 
• automatic aerotriangulation (auto at) 
• auto generation of DTI’s 
• auto mosaicking 
This paper outlines Intergraph’s industry leading role and today’s commercial softcopy systems with their high level of 
automation and productivity. 
1. INTRODUCTION 
Photogrammetric techniques are the primary tools 
employed around the world for the compilation of base 
maps. Since 1957 for example, all operational maps 
produced by the us government have been derived 
photogrammetrically. So its importance as a tool for data 
acquisition to geographical information systems cannot 
be ignored. 
How does photogrammetry compare to other forms of 
primary data acquisition ? the other methods sometimes 
applied in creating topographic or base maps are: 
1) GPS and total station field survey - which is best, 
suited for large scale, but small geographical areas with 
few specific features to be collected. Ability to quickly 
deploy and capture is a key advantage. 
2) Map scanning and conversion - which provides a very 
low cost method of creating a digital map, but suffers 
from low accuracy and outdated information. When all 
other avenues are exhausted, a paper map can usually be 
provided. 
Photogrammetry provides an economical method of 
mapping large areas from up to date information in a 
relatively short time frame. The amount of information 
contained in aerial imagery is vast with most users 
making limited selects in what information id to be 
extracted. And now with the widespread acceptance of 
digital orthophotos this capture to map publication cycle 
time has decreased even further. 
Modem day photogrammetry dates back to the period 
after World War II when photographic film aerial 
cameras and analog stereo plotter systems became 
commercially available. These systems were based on 
precision optics and mechanics and have remained 
largely unchanged for decades. Since 1991 an entirely 
new generation of systems called “softcopy” 
photogrammetry has emerged and is today in widespread 
use throughout the world. Its now also appropriate to 
consider the science of photogrammetry not just limited 
to film aerial photography, but extending to satellite and 
digital imaging sensors systems too. 
Softcopy systems are based on manipulating digital 
imagery. As this new software based technology emerged 
the industry has migrated from its origins in Europe with 
their expertise in high quality optics and mechanics to 
North America with its high technology focus of 
electronics, hardware and software industries. 
The first real automation advancement in 
photogrammetry was the introduction of analytical stereo 
plotters in the mid 1970’s. Their dedicated computer 
hardware and software systems - often highly 
proprietary, could drive the photo carriages to a point 
whilst the operator made an observation such as 
removing Y-parallax or setting the floating mark on the 
surface. 
Then in the mid 1980’s along came the personal 
computer (PC) and computer aided design (CAD) 
software that could be interfaced to the analytical and