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from low accuracy and outdated information.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
