What Is Photogrammetry?

If you worked in the area of topographic mapping, you would probably be familiar with photogrammetry. Just in case you don’t know, topographic maps are ones that have large-scale detail, such as contour lines, and they also show natural and man-made features.

Photogrammetry has long been established in topographic mapping, but it is also now being used in other fields, such as architecture, engineering and geology. But what exactly is photogrammetry? This blog from SEO company Liverpool will tell you and explain a little more about its applications.

How Does Photogrammetry Work?

Here’s an explanation from web design company Liverpool.

Photogrammetry relates to the computer analysis of photographs as a way of gathering information or measurements from the real physical world. It is seen as a scientific tool.

In photogrammetry, two or more images of an object are analysed and used as the basis to create a 3D model of the object. This can be used to estimate the measurements between fixed points or to estimate the 3D motion of a subject, such as a vehicle or a biological organism. Algorithms process the data, and the results are impressive, giving an accurate portrayal of what has been captured.

Some Key Concepts

At our SEO company Liverpool we’d like to give you some more background on this fascinating use of technology.

The main principle behind photogrammetry is known as “aerial triangulation”. At least two photographs of an object need to be taken from at least two different locations. These locations are known as “lines of sight” and they are mathematically intersected to create the 3D model.

There are two main definitions that are worth knowing. They are as follows:

  • Metric photogrammetry. This can be summed up as a way of making precise measurements from photographs
  • Interpretative photogrammetry. This can be summarised as recognising and identifying objects, as well as studying their importance through systematic analysis

Other terminology relates to resolution, which can be defined as spatial (identifying the smallest pattern of detail), radiometric (similar to contrast), spectral (ability to respond to a frequency range of visible and non-visible light) or temporal (how long it takes a satellite, for instance, to return to the same place to take another picture from a different angle).

Applications In Different Industries

At our web design company Liverpool we like to keep up to date on technological advances. So we’ve noticed that photogrammetry is being utilised in numerous industries, such as the ones mentioned earlier.

Photogrammetry is also a useful tool in creating 3D games or movies if there’s the need for a realistic background. Apart from capturing an image, it can transfer the image’s relevant colours into a 3D model. This means that it saves times, and reduces the laborious process of modelling background assets in a game.

Photogrammetry has certainly come along way since it was first introduced by the architect Albrecht Meydenbauer in 1867. He’s known for creating some of the earliest topographic maps and his legacy will continue to live on, as industries continue to benefit from this innovative form of photographic analysis.

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