Reprinted from 
PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING 
March 
1956 
Report of Commission VII (Photo 
graphic Interpretation) to the Inter 
national Society of Photo gramme try 
Charles G. Coleman, President, Commission VII 
U. S. Naval Photo Interpretation Center 
AND 
earl j. Rogers, Secretary, Commission VII 
U. S. Forest Service 
INTRODUCTION 
R eviewing, organizing and compiling information on all phases of photo 
interpretation over the past four years is a tremendous task. This report, as 
an attempt to accomplish this task, is far from complete. At best, it represents 
only a cross section of such information on photographic interpretation activities 
as was available to the compilers. 
Information presented in this report was largely contributed by the various 
national reporters and their sub-reporters. In addition, free use was made of 
data from some of the excellent recently published papers reflecting photo 
graphic interpretation progress. 
The material is in four major sections: General, Natural Resources Applica 
tions, Engineering Applications and Military Applications. This organization 
follows the suggestion made in the 1952 Resolutions of Commission VII. 
Under the general section is discussed the new developments in material 
which have led generally to the improvement and accuracy of photo inter 
pretation. Another part deals with equipment developments that have im 
proved photo interpretation. Personnel and training are briefly reviewed. In 
order not to duplicate the work of the Commission on Education, only a brief 
treatment of training is included, with emphasis on its effects on the photo 
graphic interpretation picture as a whole. Another part of this section covers the 
research and deals with the projects and developments that have taken place 
during the past four years. A short final portion contains information on the 
photographic interpretation manual being prepared by the American Society 
of Photogrammetry and in addition several other reference publications of 
interest. 
The section on natural resources has been divided, for convenience, into two 
general topics: (1) geology and (2) forestry and land use. The geologic part of this 
section points out the great increase in the number of geologic mapping and 
prospecting projects in which photographic interpretation is a vital factor. The 
part dealing with forestry and land use seems to indicate that photographic 
interpretation is making tremendous strides in all phases of forestry, agricul 
ture, and other related fields which deal with interpreting the earth’s surface. 
The section on engineering covers the use of aerial photos in mapping, rail 
road and highway engineering, urban planning and other engineering uses. 
The fourth section covers the field of military intelligence. While national 
security prevents a complete progress report being made by any of the report-