CE 1101

Surveying

Md. Sohel Rana

Lecturer, Dept. of CE, RUET
Photogrammetric Surveying
Photogrammetric surveying
Photogrammetric surveying or photogrammetry is the science and art of
obtaining accurate measurements by use of photographs, for various purposes
such as the construction of planimetric and topographic maps, classification of
soils, interpretation of geology, acquisition of military intelligence and the
preparation of composite pictures of the ground.
Types of photogrammetry
The photographs are taken either from air or from station on the ground. Depending upon the
camera position at the time of photography they are of two types:
Terrestrial photogrammetry: Terrestrial photogrammetry is that brunch of photogrammetry
wherein photographs are taken from a fixed position on or near the ground.
Aerial photogrammetry: Aerial photogrammetry is that brunch of photogrammetry wherein
photographs are taken by a camera mounted in an aircraft flying over the area.
Some Definitions and Nomenclature
Vertical photograph: A vertical photograph is an aerial photograph made with
the camera axis (or optical axis) coinciding with the direction of gravity.
Tilted Photograph: A tilted photograph is an aerial photograph made with the
camera axis (or optical axis) unintentionally tilted from the vertical by a small
amount usually less than 30 .
Oblique Photograph: An oblique photograph is an aerial photograph taken with
the camera axis directed intentionally inclined between the horizontal and the
vertical.
Exposure Station: Exposure station is a point in space, in the air, occupied by
the camera lens at the instant of exposure.
Scale of a Vertical Photograph
O O

f f
a k b
Photograph
H k 𝑎0 a
H - ℎ𝑎 H - ℎ𝑏
H-h B
H 𝐾𝑏
K A A
Ground 𝐾𝑎

h ℎ𝑎 ℎ𝑏
𝐾0 𝐴0 𝐴0 K 𝐵0

Case 1: Points having same elevation Case 2: Points having different elevation
𝑘𝑎 𝑓
𝑚𝑎𝑝 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 For point A, S = Scale = =
S = Scale = 𝐾𝑎 𝐴 𝐻 − ℎ𝑎
𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑘𝑏 𝑓
𝑘𝑎 𝑓 For point B, S = Scale = =
S= = 𝐾𝑏 𝐵 𝐻 − ℎ𝑏
𝐾𝐴 𝐻 −ℎ 𝑓
In general, Scale at the elevation h, 𝑆ℎ =
𝐻 −ℎ
1
𝑅ℎ = 𝐻 − ℎ
( )
𝑓
 Computation of length of line between points of different
elevations from measurements on a vertical photograph
O Let, A and B be two ground point having elevations ℎ𝑎 and ℎ𝑏
above datum and the coordinates (𝑋𝑎 , 𝑌𝑎 ) & (𝑋𝑏 , 𝑌𝑏 ) respectively
f
which coincide in direction with the photographic coordinates a
𝑦𝑎 a (𝑥𝑎 , 𝑦𝑎 ) & b (𝑥𝑏 , 𝑦𝑏 ).
𝑥𝑏 𝑘
b 𝑦𝑏 𝑥𝑎
From similar triangles,
𝑂𝑘 𝑥𝑎 𝑦𝑎 𝑓 𝑂𝑘 𝑥𝑏 𝑦𝑏 𝑓
= = = and = = =
𝑂𝐾𝑎 𝑋𝑎 𝑌𝑎 𝐻 − ℎ𝑎 𝑂𝐾𝑏 𝑋𝑏 𝑌𝑏 𝐻 − ℎ𝑏
H
We have,
A 𝐻 − ℎ𝑎 𝐻 − ℎ𝑎 𝐻 − ℎ𝑏 𝐻 − ℎ𝑏
𝑋𝑎 = 𝑥𝑎 ; 𝑌𝑎 = 𝑦𝑎 & 𝑋𝑏 = 𝑥𝑏 ; 𝑌𝑏 = 𝑦𝑏
𝑋𝑏 𝑓 𝑓 𝑓 𝑓
𝐾𝑏 𝑋𝑎
𝐾𝑎 ℎ𝑎
B +Y
And in general, the co-ordinates X and Y of any point at an
ℎ𝑏 ℎ𝑎 elevation are,
𝐻−ℎ 𝐻−ℎ
ℎ𝑏 K X= 𝑥 and Y = 𝑦
+X 𝑓 𝑓
Origin The length L between the two points A and B is given by,
L = (𝑋𝑎 − 𝑋𝑏 )2 + (𝑌𝑎 − 𝑌𝑏 )2
Problem-1:
Two points A and B having elevations of 500 m and 300 m respectively above datum appear on
the vertical photograph having focal length of 20 cm and flying altitude of 2500 m above
datum. Their corrected photographic co-ordinates are as follows:

Point Photographic coordinates

x (cm) y (cm)
A + 2.65 + 1.36
B - 1.92 + 3.65

Determine the length of the ground line AB.

Solution:
𝐻 − ℎ𝑎 2500 −500
𝑋𝑎 = 𝑥𝑎 = × (+ 2.65) = + 265 m
𝑓 20

𝐻 − ℎ𝑎 2500 −500
𝑌𝑎 = 𝑦𝑎 = × (+ 1.36) = + 136 m
𝑓 20

𝐻 − ℎ𝑏 2500 −300
𝑋𝑏 = 𝑥𝑏 = × (− 1.92) = − 211.2 m
𝑓 20

𝐻 − ℎ𝑏 2500 −300
𝑌𝑏 = 𝑦𝑏 = × (+ 3.65) = + 401.5 m
𝑓 20

Length of AB, L = (𝑋𝑎 − 𝑋𝑏 )2 + (𝑌𝑎 − 𝑌𝑏 )2

= [265 − −211.2 ]2 + (136 − 401.5)2

= 545 m
Relief Displacement
The displacement of a point on the photograph due
to elevation difference of a point is known as relief
f
𝑎0 a
displacement. Photograph
k 𝑟
0
r
H–h
d

h
H

Datum
𝐾0 𝐴0
R
Relief Displacement
Let,
r = radial distance of a from k
f
𝑎0 a
𝑟𝑜 = radial distance of 𝑎0 from k Photograph
k 𝑟
0
R = 𝐾0 𝐴0 r
Then, from similar triangles, H–h
d
𝑓 𝑟 𝑅𝑓
= or, r = ------------- (1) A
𝐻−ℎ 𝑅 𝐻−ℎ

Also, h
H
𝑓 𝑟𝑜 𝑅𝑓
= or, 𝑟𝑜 = ----------------- (2)
𝐻 𝑅 𝐻
Datum
𝐾0 𝐴0
R
Relief Displacement
Hence, the relief displacement d is given by,
𝑅𝑓 𝑅𝑓 𝑅𝑓ℎ f
d = r – 𝑟𝑜 = − = ------- (3) 𝑎0 a
𝐻−ℎ 𝐻 𝐻 (𝐻 − ℎ) Photograph
k 𝑟
0
𝑟 (𝐻 − ℎ) 𝑟𝑜 ℎ
But, R = = [From eq (1) and (2)] r
𝑓 𝑓
H–h
d
Now from eq (3),
𝑟 (𝐻 − ℎ) 𝑓ℎ 𝑟ℎ A
d= . =
𝑓 𝐻 (𝐻 − ℎ) 𝐻
h
𝑟𝑜 ℎ 𝑓ℎ 𝑟𝑜 ℎ H
d= . =
𝑓 𝐻 (𝐻 − ℎ) 𝐻−ℎ
Datum
𝑑𝐻
Height of object from relief displacement, h = 𝐾0 𝐴0
𝑟 R
Overlap of Aerial Photograph
Reasons for Overlap
 To tie the different points together accurately.
 To overcome the distortions and displacements quite effectively while
constructing the maps if the overlap is more than 50%.
 If any picture distorted by excessive tilt or by cloud shadows etc. it can be
rejected without the necessity of a new photograph.
 To view the pair of photographs stereoscopically.
 If the flight lines are not maintained straight and parallel, the gaps between
adjacent strips will be left. These gaps can be avoided by having sidelap.
 In the stereoscopic examination, objects can be viewed from more than one
angle if sufficient overlap is provided.
Number of Photographs Necessary to Cover A Given Area
Let,
A = total area to be photographed
l = length of the photograph in the direction of flight
w = width of the photograph normal to the direction of flight
𝐻 (𝑚)
s = scale of photograph = (i.e. 1 cm = s metres)
𝑓 (𝑐𝑚)
L = net ground distance corresponding to l
W = net ground distance corresponding to w
a = net ground area covered by each photograph = L × W
𝑃𝑡 = percentage overlap between successive photographs in the direction of flight
𝑃𝑤 = percentage overlap in side
Since each photograph has a longitudinal lap of 𝑝𝑙 , the actual ground length (L) covered by each photograph
is given by, L = (1 – 𝑝𝑙 ) sl
Similarly, the actual ground width (W) covered by each photograph is given by, W = (1 – 𝑝𝑤 ) sw
Hence the ground area (a) covered by each photograph
a = LW = (1 – 𝑝𝑙 ) sl (1 – 𝑝𝑤 ) sw = lw𝑠 2 (1 – 𝑝𝑙 ) (1 – 𝑝𝑤 )
The number of the photographs (N) required is given by
N = A/a
Number of Photographs Necessary to Cover A Given Area
If, however, instead of total area A, the rectangular dimensions (length and width) of the ground area given,
the number of the photographs required are computed by calculating the number of strips and the number of
photographs required in each strip and multiplying the two.
Let,
𝐿1 = dimensions of the area parallel to the direction of flight
𝐿2 = dimensions of the area normal to the direction of flight
𝑁1 = number of photographs in each strip
𝑁2 = number of strips required
N = total number of photographs to cover the whole area
𝐿1 𝐿1
Number of photographs in each strip is given by, 𝑁1 = +1= +1
𝐿 (1 – 𝑝𝑙 ) sl
𝐿2 𝐿2
Hence, number of strip required are given by, 𝑁2 = +1= +1
𝑊 (1 – 𝑝𝑤 ) sw
The number of the photographs (N) required is given by
𝐿1 𝐿2
N = 𝑁1 × 𝑁2 = { + 1} × { + 1}
(1 – 𝑝𝑙) sl (1 – 𝑝𝑤 ) sw
Problem-2:
The scale of an aerial photograph is 1 cm = 100 m. The photograph size is 25 cm x 20 cm.
Determine the number of photographs and spacing of the flight lines needed to cover an area 10
km x 10 km, if the longitudinal lap is 55% and the side lap is 35%.
Solution:
Here,
𝐿1 = 10 km
𝐿2 = 10 km
𝐿1
Number of photographs in each strip is given by, 𝑁1 = +1
𝐿
𝐿1
= +1
(1 – 𝑝𝑙 ) sl
10000
= + 1 = 12.5 + 1 ≈ 14
(1 – 0.55) × 100 ×25
𝐿2
Hence, number of strip required are given by, 𝑁2 = +1
𝑊
𝐿2
= +1
(1 – 𝑝𝑤 ) sw
10000
= + 1 = 7.6 + 1 ≈ 9
(1 – 0.35) × 100 ×20
The number of the photographs (N) required is given by
N = 𝑁1 × 𝑁2 = 14 × 9 = 126
The spacing of the flight lines would be 10/9 = 1.11 km.
Problem-3:
The scale of an aerial photograph is 1 cm = 100 m. The photograph size is 20 cm x 20 cm.
Determine the number of photographs required to cover an area of 100 sq. km, if the longitudinal
lap is 60% and the side lap is 30%.
Solution:
Here,
l = 20 cm, w = 20 cm; 𝑝𝑙 = 0.6 & 𝑝𝑤 = 0.3
𝐻 (𝑚)
s= = 100
𝑓 (𝑐𝑚)

The actual ground length (L) covered by each photograph is given by,
L = (1 – 𝑝𝑙 ) sl = (1 – 0.6) × 100 × 20 = 800 m = 0.8 km
The actual ground width (W) covered by each photograph is given by,
W = (1 – 𝑝𝑤 ) sw = (1 – 0.3) × 100 × 20 = 1400 m = 1.4 km
Hence the ground area (a) covered by each photograph
a = LW = 0.8 × 1.4 = 1.12 sq. km.
The number of the photographs (N) required is given by
N = A/a = 100/1.12 = 89.28 ≈ 90
Crab
Crab is the term used to designate the angle formed between the flight line and the edges of the
photograph in the direction of flight.
Cause: If the focal plane of the camera is not square with the direction of flight, the carb is
caused on photograph and when the aircraft is not oriented with flightline.
Impact: It reduces effective coverage of the photograph.
Remedy: It can be corrected by rotating the camera around the vertical axis.
Drift
Drift is caused by the failure of the photograph to stay on the predetermined
flight line.
Cause: It may be caused by the blowing wind or by the navigational errors.
Impact: Drift may cause a serious gap between adjoining strips of photographs.
Remedy: Excessive drifts are the most common cause for gaps in photo
coverage. When this occurs, reflights are necessary.