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Research article ISSN 2277 – 9450

Dome Structure derived from Digital Close Range

Photogrammetry: A case study from kadavur area, Karur
District, Tamil Nadu, India
Anbarasan.S1, Sakthivel.R2
1
Research Scholar, Department of Geology, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India.
2
Dr. R. Sakthivel, Assistant Professor, Department of Geology Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli,
Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract: Digital camera technology is becoming cheaper, mainly due to exploitation of the mass
consumer market where new ranges of digital cameras are becoming available at an increasing rate. A
significant consequence is that sensor resolution is increasing rapidly, with new ranges of 3 to 16 Mega-
pixel cameras being readily affordable (US$300-400) for both the laymen and the scientist. Close-Range
Photogrammetry is an accurate, cost effective technique of collecting measurements of real world objects
and conditions, directly from photographs. Photogrammetry utilizes digital images to obtain accurate
measurements and geometric data of the object or area of interest, in order to provide spatial information
for Engineering design, spatial surveys or 3D modeling. The benefits of close-range Photogrammetry over
other field procedures are purported to be: Increased accuracy; complete as-built information; reduced
costs; reduced on-site time; and effective for small and large projects. The same basic principle of
traditional Aerial Photogrammetry can be applied to stereoscopic pictures taken from lower altitudes or
from the ground. Terrestrial, ground-based, and close-range are all descriptive terms that refer to photos
taken with an object-to-camera distance less than 300m (1000 feet) (Matthews, N.A, 2008). The purpose
of this research is to adopt the commercial digital camera in Geological applications and determine the
effectiveness of a Digital Close Range Photogrammetry (DCRP) system.

Keywords: Digital Close Range Photogrammetry (DCRP), DEM, Dome Structure

1. Introduction
1.1 Digital Elevation Model
Digital Elevation Model (DEM) is a digital data represented an Easting Northing and Height of object
position, in which it can be derived from many data sources and techniques. One such method is a close-
range Photogrammetry. It is a technique for obtaining three dimensional (3D) geometric information of any
object that was imaged on two dimensional (2D) photographs by digital stereo model. This method is
moving stereoscopic image collection from the hands of the photogrammetric expert to those of field
personnel.A significant advantage of close-range photogrammetry is that images for a small project can be
acquired with minimal field equipment and a small amount of training. Once taken, these images can be
processed to a detailed, 3D grid of thousands of precise data points or archived and processed when needed
to provide quantifiable measurements of condition. This can support long-term comparisons and provide a
visual and metric dataset that cannot be achieved through any other method.

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*Corresponding author (Email: sjanbarasan@gmail.com)
Received on April 2013; Accepted on May 2013; Published on June, 2013
 Dome Structure Derived From Digital Close Range Photogrammetry: A Case Study From Kadavur Area, Karur District,
Tamil Nadu, India

1.2 Digital Close Range Photogrammetry (DCRP) Technique

Digital Close Range Photogrammetric technique is successfully applied to many applications such as
archaeology, architecture, automotive and aerospace engineering, accident reconstruction (Carbonell, 1989;
Atkinson, 1996). With the rapid development in technology, improvement of hardware and software
products have affected development in digital close range Photogrammetry. Some studies can be made
more economically, more accurately and faster using the recent digital close range Photogrammetry
technology or technique. A Major advantage with photogrammetric methods are the positive relationship
between photo scale and precision. Typically high precision is required for studies involving small areas
(i.e large scale photography) and a lower precision is acceptable for larger areas (i.e smaller scale imagery
is most efficient) (Chandler et al., 2001).

1.3 The concepts of precision, accuracy and reliability in relation to DEM Quality
Assessment

The overall “quality” of the elevation data produced using stereo-matching algorithms is of fundamental
importance in this paper, because this will directly affect any roughness statistics calculated from the
DEMs. The quality of a DEM is a function of the accuracy, reliability and precision of the
survey/photogrammetric measurements and the block bundle adjustment itself. In order to construct a
thorough, systematic data quality assessment procedure, it is necessary to identify the different types of
potential errors and their sources and to quantify the probability of there being errors of a specified size and
type. Blunders or mistakes which occur during survey measurement, photogrammetric measurement or
stereo-matching may be referred to as gross errors; these can be considered to determine the reliability of
the DEM. Cooper and Cross (1988) define reliability as “a measure of the ease with which outliers may be
detected”. In their assessment of the quality of survey data sets, they also made the distinction between
internal reliability and external reliability. Internal reliability is seen as the size of the marginally detectable
gross error in a measurement whereas external reliability is a measure of the effect of this error on the
parameters (for example, co-ordinates) or on data computed from them. (Cooper and Cross, 1988).

Local measures of precision require the variance of individual parameters to be computed from the
covariance matrix of the parameter. Global measures of precision, such as the posterior variance of unit
weight (the variance factor), can be used to quantify the effects of random errors in a complete set of co-
ordinates or other derived quantities. The precision of automated image measurement and stereo-matching
is positively related to the number of pixels that are associated with a target (Chandler and Padfield, 1996).
In this paper a dome structure is viewed in sub-centimetre level by increasing the point density in Aero
Triangulation process.

1.4 Materials and Software

Since the aim of this research is to adopt commercial digital camera in the geological applications and to
extract the information in centimetre and sub-centimetre level. The easily available camera and software in
the market are used.
i) Sony Digital Camera: 7.2 Mega Pixels (Figure.1)
ii) Leica Photogrammetry Software.
iii) Global Mapper.

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 Dome Structure Derived From Digital Close Range Photogrammetry: A Case Study From Kadavur Area, Karur District,
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iv) Garmin GPS.

Figure-1: Sony Digital Camera (7.2 Mega Pixel)

Table 1: Technical Specifications of SONY Digital Camera (DSC S730)

Megapixel 7.2 MP

Imaging Device 1/2.5" Super HAD™ CCD

Recording Media 22MB internal Flash Memory, optional Memory Stick™ DUO Media,
optional Memory Stick DUO PRO™ Media

LCD 2.4" (112K Pixels TFT LCD Screen)

Lens Construction 6 Elements in 5 Groups (including 3 aspheric elements)

Lens Type Sony

Still Image Mode(s) JPEG: Normal, Burst

Focal Length 5.8 to 17.4 mm

35mm Equivalent 35-105mm

Focus 5-Area Multi-Point AF, Center AF

Focal Distance Normal Minimum: 19 3/4" (50cm)

Aperture Auto and Program Auto: f2.8(W) - f9.7(T)

Optical Zoom 3X

Digital Zoom 0-2.0X (Precision)

Minimum Focus Distance W: Approx. 19 11/16(50cm) - Infinity / T: Approx. 19 11/16(50cm) –

Infinity
Dimensions (Approx.) 3-5/8" x 2-3/8" x 1 1/8" (91.4 x 61 x 29.1 mm)

Weight (Approx.) 4.9 oz (140 g) Body; 6.7 oz. (189 g) including Battery and optional
Memory Stick® DUO Media
Operating System Compatibility Microsoft® 2000 Professiona, XP Home and Professional,
Macintosh® OS 9.1/9.2, OS X (10.0-10.4)

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 Dome Structure Derived From Digital Close Range Photogrammetry: A Case Study From Kadavur Area, Karur District,
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1.5. Study Area

Figure-2: Location map

Karur district is divided into 4 taluk. The taluk are further divided into 8 blocks, which are divided into 203
villages.

1.6 Geomorphology of Karur

The entire area of the district is a pediplain. The Rangamalai hills and Kadavur hills occurring in the
southern side of the district constitutes the remnants of the much denuded Eastern Ghat and rise to heights
of over 1031 m above mean sea level. From these hills the district slopes gently towards north east and
forms a vast stretch of plain country till the eastern boarder of the district. There are numerous small
residual hills represented by Ayyarmalai, Thanthonimalai and Velayuthampalayam hills. The general
elevation of the area is ranging between 100 m and 200m above mean sea level The prominent geomorphic
units identified in the district through interpretation of Satellite imagery are 1) Structural hill, 2) Pediments,
3) Shallow Pediments, 4) Buried Pediments and 5) Alluvial plain.

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1.7 METHODLOGY
The following flowchart methodology is followed

Digital Close Range Photogrammetry

(Commercial Digital Camera) TopoSheet (SOI)

Stereo Image Acquisition Base Map

Stereomodel Drainage Map

DEM (TIN

Structure Assessment

Figure-3: Methodology – Flow Chart

1.7.1 Stereo Image Acquisition

The Photogrammetric accuracy is depends on image scale so Kadavur area must be taken by overlapping
digital images acquired with Non-Metric camera Sony Digital Camera (7.2 mega pixel) and focal length
vary from 18mm to 55mm lens. Special care is undertaken so as the horizontal image angles be of small
values. This is a fundamental restriction imposed by the structure of the Digital Photogrammetric Stations
which are used for Photogrammetric mapping.

Figure.4 Image Acquisition – Sony Digital Camera with Tripod stand

Figure-5: Stereo-pair images

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1.7.2 Stereo Model

Using add frame tools all the images are added in the LPS project Manager. Then Camera model is
defined such as Focal Length, Interior Orientation (pixel size of X0, Y0) and Exterior Orientation.

At this point the control points are collected in overlapping areas of images in the block file, that determine
the approximate exterior orientation parameters. Using point measurement tool the automatic tie point
extraction have been carried out. Now the control points are added using control point sketch. Then Aerial
Triangulation property was setup and the run the AT process. Based on the GCP points and Image points
residual error the adjustment was repeated until the residual error within tolerance. Then stereomodel are
created.

Figure-6: Stereo Model with DTM parameter

1.7.3 DEM

DEM was generated from all coordinate points resulted from tie points and Ground control points and then
interpolated by triangular irregular network (TIN) method. The TIN method was selected because of the
simplicity and it’s characteristic to maintain the position of known points.

The DEM was generated by adding 10% of measured points to the particular surface, which the points
were well distributed on the surface. The same process was repeated adding each time an additional 10%
of the measured points, until the last DEM was created with 100% of the points.

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1.7.4 Base Map

The Base Map and Drainage Map of study area shown in the Figure. 7 and 8

Figure-7: Base Map

Figure-8: Drainage Map

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1.9 Results and Discussion

The point density ranging from 10% to 100% given in each model. Each model was then compared to the
reference DEM. Based on the DEM points derived from DCRP technique and the dome structure of the
Kadavur area is created (Figure.9). Small features are clearly visible such as small drainage, fracture and
cracks in meters, centimeters and also sub-centimeters level.

Figure-9: Dome Structure – Kadavur

The 1m Contour is created using DEM derived from DCRP technique (Figure. 10). The general
elevation of the area is ranging between 100 m and 2500m above mean sea level.

Figure 10. 1m Contour - Kadavur

1.11 Conclusion
Stereo images have been utilized in geology for a long time, since they can provide a better understanding
of the terrain landform. Moreover compared to Satellite Images and Aerial Images, this DCRP images are
giving more lateral information of the objects and terrain. Using DCRP technique the information
extraction from the objects are accuracy in sub-centimeter level. The 3D imaging and measurement
capabilities of digital photogrammetry will improve and become even simpler as software development
progresses, and digital camera resolution improves.
.
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