Digital Photogrammetry

Zulkarnaini Mat Amin

Department of Geomatic Engineering

Introduction to Digital Photogrammetry

Definition: Photogrammetry

Photos light Gramma to draw Metron to measure

Definition: Photogrammetry
The science or art of obtaining reliable measurements by means of photographs. Photogrammetry is the art, science, and technology of obtaining reliable information about physical objects and the environment through the processes of recording, measuring, and interpreting photographic images and patterns of electromagnetic radiant energy and other phenomena. (ASPRS, 1980)

Photogrammetry is the technique of measuring objects (2D or 3D) from photograph. Its most important feature is the fact that the objects are measured without being touched.

Remote Sensing
The term remote sensingis used by some authors instead of photogrammetry. Remote sensing is a rather young term, which was originally confined to working with aerial photographs and satellite images. Today, it includes also photogrammetry, although it is still associated rather with image interpretation.

Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing

Photogrammetry metric exploitation of imagery Remote sensing thematic exploitation of imagery

Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing

Photogrammetry Remote Sensing

Aerial platform

Aerial/satellite

Analogue sensor

Digital sensor

Metric information

Thematic information

Visible spectrum

Whole spectrum

Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing

Metric Information

Aerial/Satellite Whole spectrum

Thematic Information

Classification
Principally, photogrammetry can be divided into:
Depending on the lense-setting: Far range photogrammetry (with camera distance setting to indefinite), and Close range photogrammetry (with camera distance settings to finite values). Another grouping can be Aerial photogrammetry (which is mostly far range photogrammetry), and Terrestrial Photogrammetry (mostly close range photogrammetry).

Historical Background

Plain-table photogrammetry (from 1850 till 1900), called "Laussedat Method" (Aim Laussedat, 1819-1907). This period had its beginning with the discovery of photography by Joseph Nicephore Npce (1756-1833) and Lois Mande Daguerre (1789-1850). Analogue photogrammetry (from 1900 till 1960) - characterized by the use of stereoscopy as a principle of measurement in the stereophotogrammetry and with the application of suitable platforms: the airship of Graf Ferdinand von Zeppelin (1838-1917) and the engine-driven airplane of the Wright Brothers - Wilbur (1867-1912) and Orville (1871-1948). Analytical photogrammetry (since 1960) which began with the invention of the electronic calculator and the substantial practical applications from the formulation of the analytical methods (for instance, by Sebastian Finsterwalder (1862-1915). Digital photogrammetry (since 1980) - preceded by the shooting of the first man-made earth satellite - Sputnik (1957) and later of Landsat (1972), followed in the meantime by the launching of other man-made satellites. High resolution satellite images now available: IKONOS--1 meter; QuickBird--0.61 meters.

Analog, Analytical & Digital

Analog Photogrammetry Using optical, mechanical and electronical components, and where the images are hardcopies. Re-creates a 3D model for measurements in 3D space. Analytical Photogrammetry The 3D modelling is mathematical (not re-created) and measurements are made in the 2D images. Digital/Softcopy Photogrammetry Analytical solutions applied in digital images (Hardcopy becomes softcopy-thus softcopy photogrammetry) . Can also incorporate computer vision and digital image processing techniques.

Stages in Photogrammetry

Analog
(1900-1980)

Analytical
(1980-1990)

Digital
(1990-now)

Goal of Photogrammetry
The fundamental goal of photogrammetry is to rigorously establish the geometric relationship between an object and an image and derive information about the object strictly from the image. In analog photogrammetry, optical and mechanical instruments (plotters) are used to establish geometric relationships. In analytical photogrammetry, the geometric modeling is mathematical. Both deal with analog photographs using expensive photogrammetric plotters.

Definition: Digital Photogrammetry

An information technology to derive geometric, radiometric and semantic information of objects in 3D world from 2D images of objects

Digital Photogrammetry: How?

Digital imagery replacing conventional photography. Computer replacing conventional plotting machines. Floating mark becomes a cursor. Hand wheels are replaced by a trackball. Photo stage is replaced by a computer monitor. Mathematics is the same as in traditional photogrammetric technology.

Digital Photogrammetry: Why?

The principal reason this technology has been adapted is the potential for almost complete automation of the aerial triangulation process. Aerial triangulation is the least expensive method of determining the orientation of images within a block of aerial photos.

Photograph versus Image

Recap: Electromagnetic Spectrum

Functions of Digital Photogrammetry

Film scanning Aerial triangulation Digital terrain elevation Orthophoto generation 3-dimensional vector data stereo collection

Development in Digital Photogrammetry

Availability of ever increasing quantities of digital images from satellite sensors, CCD cameras and scanners. Availability of fast and powerful workstations/computers with many innovative and reliable high-tech peripherals, such as storage devices, true colour monitoris, fast data transfer and compression/decompression techniques. Integration of all types of data in a unified and comprehensive information system such as GIS. Real-time applications such as quality control and robotics. Computer-aided design (CAD) and industrial applications. Lack of trained and experineced photogrammetric operators and high cost of photogrammetric instruments

Digital Photogrammetry Workflow

Digital Photogrammetry Workflow

Advantages
Digital softcopy workstations running on standard computers can be used rather than expensive plotting devices requiring special hardware. Data transfer is simpler with regard to plotting results because they can be post-processed on the same computer. Digital image processing techniques can be used for image enhancement . Digital image processing techniques render possible the automation of photogrammetric measurement tasks.