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Aerial Photography

Presentation · May 2004

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.27287.57765

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A. Balasubramanian
University of Mysore
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AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY

Lecture Handout by Prof.A.Balasubramanian, DOS in Earth Science, University of Mysore

GEOLOGISTS CONDUCT SURVEYS:

• Geologists conduct surveys to map the natural resources of the earth surface.
• These surveys are conducted through land based or aerial methods.
• Land based surveys, though more accurate, are time consuming affairs.
• It will be difficult to surveys the mountainous and thickly forested lands

Aerial Surveys:
• These surveys when conducted using helicopters or aircrafts, could be able to provide all the details of an
area with accuracy and clarity.
• But a person can not sit on a helicopter to observe and draw the maps in the air
Aerial Photographs:
• If an aerial photograph of the land is taken, it would be possible to enlarge the photograph and use it in
the laboratory and analyse the earth’s features.
• Varieties of maps can be drawn using these aerial photographs
Technology improved:
• There were a lot of improvements in the aviation industry and photographic methods
• Initially, aerial photographs taken and used for military applications.
• Then the concept of using these photographs for geological mapping cropped into the minds of geologists.
• The result of this is the birth of the subject:Photogeology
PHOTOGEOLOGY
• Branch of geology dealing with the use of aerial photographs for geological mapping
• It involves the concepts of photography, geology, mathematics and aeronautical methods.
Photogeology:
• Includes three areas of study

• Aerial Photography
• Photogrammetry
•Aerial
Air-photo interpretation
Photography:
• Is the art and science of making aerial photographs
• It involves the techniques of photography, flight missions, project planning and implementation.
• These include camera parameters, flight parameters, project guidelines and purpose.
Photogrammetry:
• is the process of making measurements by means of photography.
• It is most often used in drawing maps on the basis of aerial photographs.
• It also has many other uses.
• For example, foresters can determine the amount of timber in a forest by examining aerial photographs of
the area.
Air-Photo interpretation:
• Techniques of understanding the objects seen in aerial photographs and map these features for geological
or environmental planning.
• This branch needs some fundamental skills and geological knowledge about the photographic and
geotechnical elements.
Project Plan:

• Area to be photographed (small or large)

• Purpose – geological mapping, forestry, agriculture, industrial development, military use, environmental impact
analysis.
Project plan also includes:

• Time & season

• Scale based on purpose
• Mosaics -Overlap ‑ Sidelap - for mosaics

Aerial Photography:
• Camera Parameters ‑ Lens ‑ Films ‑
• Light Parameters ‑ Time / Sun light
• Flight Plan ‑ Area / number of photos
• Scale ‑
• Multi-spectral Photography ‑ Spectral bands, B/W, Color, band
• Types of aerial photos ‑
Aerial Photographs:
• Characteristics-
• B/W, Color, spectral bands
• scale and area of coverage- focal length of lens, altitude of the flight
• Filtered or actual- for specific use (eg.snow)
• Type of aerial photographs
– Angle of photography
Focal Length of Lens:
• The most common focal lengths used in aerial photography are
• the 152.4 mm (6-in.),
• the 210 mm (8¼-in.), and
• 305 mm (12-in.).

Types of Aerial Photographs:

• Vertical Aerial Photographs
• Oblique aerial photographs
– Low oblique
– High oblique
Essential factors:
Axis of the lens, centre of the frame of the film and the centre of the land area covered.

Vertical Aerial Photographs:

• Name itself suggests that these photographs are taken vertically above the ground
• The axis of the Camera is vertical
• Vertical photographs can be truly vertical, or slightly tilted (less than 3 degrees from the vertical).

• Most aerial photos are tilted to some degree. Therefore, the use of the term vertical photographs assumes
truly vertical photographs, while in reality they might be tilted up to 3 degrees.

Show a vertical
aerial photograph

Example :
Oblique aerial photographs:
• purposely taken with an angle between 3 and 70 degrees from the vertical.
• They can be low oblique (if the horizon is not visible) or high oblique (if the horizon is visible)
• Terrestrial photos are usually oblique or horizontal, where the axis of the camera is tilted about 70-80
degrees form the vertical.

Show the picture – concept of low oblique

Show the picture = concept of high oblique
Example – low oblique
Example – high oblique
Characteristics of
aerial photographs
Vertical Aerial Photographs:
• Coverage – square, good for aerial mosaics
• Relief features seen vertically above
• Good for mapping features
• present approximately uniform scale throughout the photo but not oblique photos.
• Suitable for making measurements (e.g., distances and directions)
• more accurate.

• Because of a constant scale, vertical photographs are easier to interpret than oblique photographs.
• Furthermore, tall objects (e.g., buildings, trees, hills, etc.) will not mask other objects as much as they
would on oblique photos.
• Vertical photographs are simple to use photogrammetrically as a minimum of mathematical correction is
required.
Aerial mosaics
Low oblique
 Aerial Photographs:
• Coverage – trapezium not square
• Not useful for direct mapping
• Overlap and sidelap
• Stereopairs – two adjacent photos with 60 % overlap
• Stereopairs are good for 3 D viewing
• Stereoscopes – stereoscopic vision.
High oblique
Aerial Photographs:
• Coverage – trapezium with horizon seen
• Not good for direct mapping
• Reconnaissance surveys
• Regional studies
• Oceanographic or coastal zone monitoring

• An oblique photograph covers much more ground area than a vertical photo taken from the same
altitude and with the same focal length.

• If an area is frequently covered by cloud layer, it may be too low and/or impossible to take vertical
photographs, but there may be enough clearance for oblique coverage.

• Oblique photos have a more natural view because we are accustomed to seeing the ground features obliquely.
• For example, tall objects such as bridges, buildings, towers, trees, etc. will be more recognizable because the
silhouettes of these objects are visible.

• Objects that are under trees or under other tall objects may not be visible on vertical photos if they are
viewed from above.
• Also some objects, such as ridges, cliffs, caves, etc., may not show on a vertical photograph if they are
directly beneath the camera.

• Determination of feature elevations is more accurate using oblique photograph than vertical aerial
photographs.
• Because oblique aerial photos are not used for photogrammetric and precision purposes, they may use
inexpensive cameras.

• Aerial photographs have the advantage of providing us with synoptic views of large areas.
• This characteristic also allows us to examine and interpret objects simultaneously on large areas and
determine their spatial relationships, which is not possible from the ground.
• Aerial photographs are also cost effective in interpreting and managing natural resources.
• They have played a significant role in map making and data analysis.

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