B. Tech.

V Semester (Civil Engineering)

CE: 15105 – GEOINFORMATICS

Unit-1: Photogrammetry [Part-IV]

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 1

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH INTERPRETATION

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 2

 AIR PHOTO INTERPRETATION

Aerial Photographs:
 Aerial photographs contain a detailed record of features at the time of exposure.
 Unlike a map, features on an aerial photograph are not generalized or
symbolized.
 Air photos record all visible features on the Earth's surface from a vintage point
in the sky.

Photo Interpretation:
 The process of studying and gathering the information required to identify the
various cultural and natural features is called photo interpretation.
 This is the process of identifying and mapping the features that appear on the
photos.

 Photo interpretation is the most basic form of analysis, consisting of manual

identification of features through visual interpretation.
 Image interpretation is based on elements / characteristics that are inherent
in image.

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 3

 AIR PHOTO INTERPRETATION

For identification- A photo interpreter examines:

 Characteristics of the objects / features in the photographs.

 Supporting materials like ‘Maps’ and ‘Report of Field Observations’.

 Knowledge of acquisition (scale, time of year, film type).

Success in photo interpretation depends upon:

 Training and experience of interpreter

 Nature of objects and phenomena being interpreted

 Quality of photographs

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 4

 Characteristics of Photographic Features

Objects also have visual characteristic which allow us to differentiate them.

The interpretation of aerial photographs involves several basic characteristics

of features shown on the photograph, which are:

Tone/ Colour; Size, Shape, Texture; Pattern, Shadow; Site, Association.

Primary ordering of image elements which are fundamental to the analysis process

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 5

 Tone / Colour
Tone refers to the relative brightness or color of the objects on photographs.

 Tone is the fundamental element for distinguishing between different features.

 Relative photo tones could be used to distinguish various objects.

 Depending upon the drainage condition, the soil may be light toned (i.e.
topographically higher and drier) or dark toned soil (lower and wetter).

Tone or color can be used to delineate deciduous

and coniferous tree in IR photography.

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 6

 Tone

 This picture shows the contrast between the water in black in the
upper part of the picture and the light coloured sand in the lower
part of the picture immediately below the water.

Sand has a bright tone

while water usually has a
dark tone

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 7

 Size

Size of the objects on the photographs must be considered in the context of

photo scales.

 It is important to assess the size of a target relative to other objects in a scene

to aid in the interpretation of that target.
 A small shortage shed might be misinterpreted as another feature like
barn if the size and scale is not properly considered.
 Apartments vs. Houses
 Single lane road vs. Multilane

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 8

 Size

 This picture shows, at the top left, a residential street whose size can be
compared to the much larger multi-lane highway shown at the bottom of
the picture.

 Thus, Size reflects a measure of the object's surface area (e.g. single-lane
vs. multi-lane highways).

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 9

 Shape
Shape refers to the general form, configuration or outline of individual objects.

 In case of stereoscopic photographs, object height also defines its shape.

 Shape can be a distinctive clue for interpretation.
 The shape of some objects is so distinctive that their images may be identified
from this criterion.
 Cultural features - Geometric, distinct boundaries
 Natural features - Irregular shapes and boundaries

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 10

 Shape

 This picture shows the meandering Chinchaga River, Alberta

(September 1955) surrounded on either side by many U-shaped
oxbow lakes.

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 11

 Texture

Texture is the frequency of tonal change / variation in a particular area of

the photographic image.

 The texture is produced by combination of unit features that may be too

small to be detected individually on the photographs, such as, tree leaves
and leaf shadow.

 The texture is the product of their individual shape, size, pattern,

shadow and tone.

 Rough textures would consist of a mottled tone where the grey levels
change abruptly in a small area, whereas smooth textures would have very
little tonal variation.

 It determines the overall visual smoothness or coarseness of image

features.
 smoothness - crops, bare fields, water, etc.
 coarseness - forest, lava flows, etc.

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 12

Texture

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 13

 Texture
The picture shows a portion of the Lake Louise, Alberta, shoreline (July 1971).
 In the bottom right corner of the picture, calm water is characterized by
a smooth appearance.
 On the left side of the picture, the forest presents a rough texture
similar to a field of rocks.

Calm water has a smooth texture;

a forest canopy has a rough texture

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 14

 Pattern
Pattern relates to the spatial arrangement of objects.

 The repetition of certain forms is characteristics of many objects and gives

object a pattern that aids the photo interpreter in its recognition.

 An ordered spatial arrangement of trees in an orchard is in distinct

contrast to that of forest tree stands.

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 15

 Pattern
This picture shows three kinds of vegetation patterns:
 A forest plantation, shown at the top of the picture, can be identified by the
straight row pattern making it look like a dark grey wool carpet.
 On the right side of the picture, a natural forest can be identified by its
white cloudy unstructured pattern.
 Finally, on the left side of the picture, a lighter coloured more uniform
pattern represents an open field.

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 16

 Shadow

A shadow provides information about the object's height, shape and

orientation (e.g. tree species).

Shadows are important to interpreter in two opposing respects:

 The shape or outline of the shadow gives an impression about the profile of
the object (it aids in interpretation).

 Objects within shadow reflect little energy and are difficult to discern on
photograph (it hinders interpretation).

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 17

 Shadow
This picture shows 2 different sizes of shadows.
 On the left side of the picture, a large building casts a long wide shadow to
its right indicating that it is a high-rise building.
 At the bottom left corner of the picture, smaller shadows indicate low-rise
buildings.

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 18

 Site

Site refers to the topographical or geographical location and is important

aid in the identification of vegetation types

 Site has unique physical characteristics which might include elevation, slope,
and type of surface cover (e.g., grass, forest, water, bare soil).

 Site can also have socioeconomic characteristics such as the value of land or
the closeness to water.

 Certain tree species would be expected to occur on well drained upland sites
whereas other species would be expected to occur on poorly drained low
land sites; e.g. Citrus on hillside, white cedar in stream corridor

 Some vegetation grows in swamps; others grow on sandy ridges; or on

the sunny side vs. the shaded sides of hills.

 Crop types may prefer certain conditions (e.g. orchards on hillsides).

 Man made features may also be found on rivers (e.g. power plant) or on
hilltops (e.g. observatory or radar facility).

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 19

 Association
Association refers to the occurrence of certain features in relation to others.

 It takes into account the relationship between other recognizable objects in the
proximity to the feature of interest.
 The identification of features that one would expect to associate with feature of
interest may provide information to facilitate identification.
 Nuclear power plants are often located beside large bodies of water.
 Industrial buildings often have access to railway sidings.

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 20

 Association
This picture shows Esquimalt Harbour, British Columbia (July 1993).
 In the bottom of the picture, one can easily identify the large wharf with ships
moored along side it.
 The dry dock, identifiable by its gates, is located just above the wharf.
 Above the dry dock, on land, a railway line crosses the picture.

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 21

 Temporal Perspective
Temporal characteristics of a series of photographs can be helpful in
determining the historical change of an area.
 For example, looking at a series of photos of a city taken in different years can
help determine the growth of suburban neighbourhoods.

This figure displays 3 photographs of an Ottawa, Ontario,

neighborhood showing the changes made over a 13 year period.

As indicated by the change in the

street network, the addition to the
neighbourhood is completed.

In the upper left hand

corner, a wooded area
exists.

In the wooded area location, an

addition to the neighbourhood is
under construction.

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 22

Interpretation Keys

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 23

 Interpretation Keys

Interpretation Keys are Useful Reference Material or Valuable

Training Aids designed to enable rapid identification of features.

 It helps the interpreter evaluate the information presented on aerial

photographs in an organized and consistent manner.

 Thus, it provides guidance about the correct identification of

features on the photographic images.

An interpretation key consists of two parts:

1. A collection of annotated or captioned images or stereograms

illustrative of features to be identified.

2. A systematic (word) description that highlights the image

recognition characteristics of these features.

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 24

 Types of Interpretation Keys: Selective Key

 It contains numerous photographic examples with supporting text.

 Select the one which matches with the object to be identified.
 e.g. Interpretation keys for forestry mapping

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 25

 Types of Interpretation Keys: Elimination Key

 It is so arranged that the interpreter proceeds from the general to the

specific and leads to the elimination of all features expect the one
being identified.

 e.g. to identify the built up areas, proceed as given below:

Major Land Cover

Vegetation Non- vegetation

Water Land

Barren Built up

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 26

 Basic Photo Interpretation Equipment

Photo interpretation equipment generally serve one of the three fundamental

purposes:
1. Viewing photographs
2. Making measurements on the photographs
3. Transferring integrated information to base map or digital data map

The air photo interpretation process typically involves the utilization of

stereoscopic viewing to provide a 3-D view of the terrain.

Stereoscopes:
 Lens/ pocket stereoscope
 Mirror stereoscope
 Scanning mirror stereoscope
 Zoom stereoscope

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 27

 Photo Interpretation Equipment

Light Table:
 It is for viewing film transparencies.

Measurement Devices:
Distance Measurement Devices Area Measuring Devices

1. Engineer’s Scale or Metric Scale 1. Dot Grid- It is transparent grid overlay

2. Glass Scale- It contains two eye- 2. Planimeter – Polar / Electronic
pieces fitted over it.
3. Curvimeter
3. Comparator - Mono Comparator
- Stereo Comparator
 It has higher accuracy from
1mm to 1 μm

Color Additive Viewer:

It superimposes three multi-spectral photographs/ imagery to generate a
more interpretable False Color Composite (FCC).

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 28

Any Questions

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 29

Any Questions

.... from Photogrammetry Portion

By Prof. R D Gupta, M NNI T Allahabad (I ndia) 30