Photogrammetry

Introduction
ES 555 Small Format
Aerial Photography
James S. Aber

Aerial photographs are not maps. They are single-point perspective views of the
Earth's surface, whereas maps are orthogonal representations of the surface. Sizes,
shapes, and positions of objects are distorted in aerial photographs. However,
aerial photographs can be used to construct maps and to accurately measure
distances, heights and elevations. The use of photography for accurate
measurement is called photogrammetry.
Aerial photographs are classified in three types, depending on orientation of the
picture. The tilt of the camera lens relative to the horizon is called depression
angle.

Vertical airphoto -- View straight down, depression angle 85 to 90.

Low-oblique vantage -- Side view, horizon is not visible, depression angle
typically 20-85.
High-oblique vantage -- Side view, horizon is visible, depression angle
typically less than 20.

Vertical kite aerial photograph. Lake Kahola, Kansas. Photo date July
1997, J.S. Aber.

Low-oblique kite aerial photograph. Lake Kahola, Kansas. Photo date

May 1997, J.S. Aber.

High-oblique kite aerial photograph. Lake Kahola, Kansas. Photo date

Sept. 1997, J.S. Aber.

Scale of a Vertical Airphoto

scale = f H
scale = photo distance ground distance
Where: f = lens focal length, and
H = flying height above the ground.

The scale of a vertical aerial photograph can be calculated in two ways. In either
case, the units of measurement must be the same. The scale depends on the average
height above the ground. In rugged terrain, photo scale varies because of large
height differences within the photograph. Likewise oblique or non-vertical photos
also display scale variations, so they are rarely utilized for photogrammetry.
Because of the single-point perspective nature of photography, objects toward the
edge of a photograph suffer relief displacement. This is most noticable, because
tall objects appear to lean away from the photo center. Conversely low objects are
displaced toward the center. Relief displacement is minimal near the photo center
and becomes extreme at the photo edge. This allows for a "side view" of tall
objects near the edge of the photo. The height of a tall object may be calculated
from its relief displacement, and the height of tall objects may also be determined
from measurements of shadows.
Near-vertical kite aerial photograph. Notice different view of trees
near scene center in comparison to trees at far right. This is an
example of relief displacement. The bright spot on ground to left (red
arrow) is an example of the opposition effect--the position in direct
alignment with the sun and camera. Next to the opposition point is a
dark spot (blue arrow). This is the shadow of the kite that lifted the
camera. Cucharas Pass, Colorado; photo date 6/00, J.S. Aber.

Air-photo terminology

Principal point: Geometric center of photograph. Literally the point on the

ground in line with axis of camera lens.
Fiducial marks: Marks on the photograph margins used to locate principal
point in photo.
Conjugate principal point: Point in overlapping photo that is equivalent to
principal point of adjacent photograph.
Photo base: Distance between principal point and conjugate principal point
measured on a single photograph.
Ground (air) base: Ground (air) distance between principal points of
overlapping photographs.
Parallax: Apparent shift in relative positions of objects when viewed
(photographed) from different vantage points.

Stereoscopic vision
Parallax is the basis of stereoscopic vision. The human eyes, spaced a few cm
apart, each see the world from slightly different vantage points. This slight
difference introduces a parallax that facilitates depth perception. In aerial
photography, two vertical photographs of the same ground area may be offset by
considerable distance. When the two photos are viewed through a stereoscope, an
enhanced depth perception is created in which the heights and slopes of objects are
greatly exaggerated. Many types of stereoscopes are in use for this kind of work.

Vertical, stereopair, kite aerial photographs taken over

cemetery, Emporia, Kansas. Click on the small image to see
full-sized version (129 kb). Photo date 12/98, J.S. Aber.

Oblique, stereopair, kite aerial photographs taken over

residential neighborhood, Emporia, Kansas. Click on the
small image to see full-sized version (144 kb). Photo date
12/98, J.S. Aber.

Sokkia mirror stereoscope for SFAP. This stereoscope is the

ideal size for viewing 4x6-inch (10x15-cm) prints from 35mm film. Taken from ASC Scientific.

Calculating height using parallax

The calculation of approximate heights and elevations using parallax
measurements can be done quickly and easily with the formulas given below.
These calculations depend upon the assumptions that ground principal points in
each photo are at about the same elevation and that the bases of objects being
measured are also at about the same elevation. Two formulas may be used.
Parallax Height Formulas
h = Hp b

h = Hp Bf
p = difference in parallax between two points in mm
H = flying height (altitude - ground elevation) in meters
b = average of photo bases measured on each photo in mm
B = average of ground bases for each photo in meters
f = focal length of camera lens in mm
h = difference in height (elevation) of two points in meters

Example of height calculation: p = 2 mm, H = 3840 m, b = 65 mm, B = 998 m, f =

250 mm (taken from Topcon stereoscope manual).
h = (3840 x 2) 65 = 118 m
h = (3840 x 2) (998 x 250) = 118 m

Related sites

Use of a mirror stereoscope for photo-interpretation purposes (U.S.

Geological Survey).
Airphoto applications for environmental forensic investigations (abstract).
Basics of aerial photography and photogrammetry from Waupaca County,
Wisconsin.

Return to SFAP schedule.

ES 555 J.S. Aber (2010).