Solution The basic equation used was Eq.

(8-5), and the partial derivatives in that equation

taken with respect to each of the three error sources are

Substituting the above expressions into Eq. (A-2) gives

Substituting numerical values into the above, we get

Errors in computed answers using any of the equations of this chapter can be analyzed in
the fashion described above. It is, of course, necessary to estimate the magnitude of the
random errors in the measured variables used in the equations. It is more difficult to analyze
errors caused by tilt in the photographs. The subject of tilted photographs is discussed in Chap.
10, and rigorous analytical methods are presented in Chap. 11. For the present, however,
suffice it to say that for normal photography intended to be vertical, errors in parallax equation
answers due to tilt are compatible with errors from the other sources that have been considered.

References
American Society of Photogrammetry: Manual of Photogrammetry, 3d ed., Bethesda, MD, 1966,
chap. 2.
———: Manual of Photogrammetry, 4th ed., Bethesda, MD, 1980, chap. 2.
Avery, T. E.: “Two Cameras for Parallax Height Measurements,” Photogrammetric Engineering,
vol. 32, no. 6, 1966, p. 576.
Bender, L. U.: “Derivation of Parallax Equation,” Photogrammetric Engineering, vol. 33, no. 10,
1967, p. 1175.
Nash, A. J.: “Use a Mirror Stereoscope Correctly,” Photogrammetric Engineering, vol. 38, no.
12, 1972, p. 1192.
Porter, G. R.: “Errors in Parallax Measurements and Their Assessment in Student Exercises,”
Photogrammetric Record, vol. 8, no. 46, 1975, p. 528.
Schut, G. H.: “The Determination of Tree Heights from Parallax Measurements,” Canadian
Surveyor, vol. 19, 1965, p. 415.

Problems
8-1. Calculate the stereoscopic parallaxes of points A through D, given the following
measured flight-line axis coordinates. Which point is the highest in elevation? Which is lowest?
 8-2. Calculate the elevations of points A through D of Prob. 8-1 if the camera focal length is
152.62 mm, flying height above datum is 2763 m, and the air base is 1135 m.

8-3. A pair of overlapping vertical photographs is mounted for parallax measurement, as

illustrated in Fig. 8-5. Distance D is measured as 276.1 mm. Calculate the stereoscopic
parallaxes of the points whose measured d values are as follows. Which point is highest in
elevation? Which is lowest?

Point d
A 183.0 mm
B 185.5 mm
C 186.4 mm
D 187.8 mm

8-4. Repeat Prob. 8-3, except D was measured as 272.7 mm, and measured d values are as
follows.

Point d
A 182.5 mm
B 184.7 mm
C 185.3 mm
D 180.2 mm

8-5. Assume that point A of Prob. 8-3 has an elevation of 357.1 m above datum and that the
photos were taken with an 88.74-mm-focal-length camera. If the air base is 1357 m, what are
the elevations of points B, C, and D?

8-6. Assume that point A of Prob. 8-4 has an elevation of 249.0 m above datum and that the
photos were taken with a 153.07-mm-focal-length camera. If the air base is 1773 m, what are
the elevations of points B, C, and D?

8-7. From the information given for Probs. 8-1 and 8-2, calculate the horizontal ground length
of line AC. Measured y coordinates on the left photo are ya = 70.8 mm and yc = –64.9 mm.

8-8. Repeat Prob. 8-7 except that the computations are for line BD. Measured y coordinates
on the left photo are yb = 10.8 mm and yd = –81.5 mm.

8-9. From the data of Probs. 8-3 and 8-5, calculate the horizontal area of triangle ABC.
Measured x and y flight-line axis coordinates of a, b, and c on the left photo were xa = –7.6 mm,
ya = 90.3 mm, xb = 31.8 mm, yb = –79.3 mm, xc = 88.4 mm, and yc = 16.1 mm.

8-10. Distances b on the left photo and b′ on the right photo of a pair of overlapping vertical
photos are 91.0 mm and 88.2 mm, respectively. If the air base is 604 m and the camera focal
length is 88.78 mm, which ground principal point is higher and by how much?

8-11. Repeat Prob. 8-10, except that b and b′ are 90.6 mm and 92.1 mm, respectively, the air
base is 682 m, and the camera focal length is 152.60 mm.

8-12. A pair of overlapping vertical photos is taken from a flying height of 981 m above ground
with a 152.46-mm-focal-length camera. The x coordinates on the left photo of the base and top
of a certain tree are 76.2 mm and 82.9 mm, respectively. On the right photo these x′ coordinates
are –13.8 mm and –16.1 mm, respectively. Determine the height of the tree.

8-13. A pair of overlapping vertical photos is taken from a flying height of 1273 m above the
base of a radio tower. The x coordinates on the left photo of the top and base of the tower were
87.3 mm and 80.4 mm, respectively. On the right photo these x′ coordinates were –11.6 mm
and –10.2 mm, respectively. What is the approximate height of the tower?

8-14. The air base of a pair of overlapping vertical photos was determined to be 793 m. The
focal length of the camera was 152.35 mm. The image coordinates of point A, whose elevation
is 203 m above datum, were determined on the left photo as xa = 37.2 mm and on the right
photo as xa′ = –52.9 mm. What is the flying height above datum for the stereopair?

8-15. Repeat Prob. 8-14, except that the air base was 514 m, the camera focal length was
209.60 mm, and point A, whose elevation was 365 m above datum, had image coordinates of
xa = 44.9 mm on the left photo and xa′ = –46.9 mm on the right photo.

8-16. The images of two control points A and B appear in the overlap area of a pair of vertical
photographs. The following photo coordinates and ground coordinates apply to points A and B.
Calculate the air base of the stereopair, using Eq. (8-11).

8-17. Repeat Prob. 8-16, except that the photo coordinates and ground coordinates for points
A and B were as follows:

8-18. A pair of overlapping vertical photos was exposed with a camera having a 209.80-mm
focal length. Calculate B and H from the following information on ground points D and E. [Hint:
Set up Eq. (8-5) for point D and for point E, then solve simultaneously.]

8-19. Repeat Prob. 8-18, except that the camera focal length is 152.53 mm and the following
information applies to points D and E.

8-20. A parallax wedge for use with a pocket stereoscope similar to that shown in Fig. 8-12
has height of graduations y equal to 160 mm. The lateral spacing between reference line and
the graduated line is 45 mm at the top and 65 mm at the bottom. What is the vertical spacing of
reference marks on the graduated line if the difference in parallax between adjacent
graduations is 0.25 mm?

8-21. In Prob. 8-14, suppose that random errors were ±1 m in h and B, and ±0.05 mm in each
o f xa and xa′. What is the expected resultant error in the calculated value of H due to these
random errors? (Assume the focal length to be error-free.)

8-22. In Prob. 8-15, suppose that random errors were ± 0.5 m in hA, ± 2 m in B, and ±0.1 mm in
both xa and xa′. What is the expected error in the calculated value of H due to these errors?
(Assume the focal length to be error-free.)

8-23. In Prob. 8-12, assume that random errors existed in the amounts of ± 1 m in H and ±0.1
mm for each of the measured photo coordinates. What is the expected error in the calculated
height of the tree due to these random errors?