The Spatial Measurement and Information Group (SMIG) has been involved in digital photogrammetry since the purchase of the Leica Helava Digital Photogrammetric Workstation (DPW) at the start of 1994. The DPW is a Sun Sparcstation running the Leica Helava Socet Set software. Mid way through 1995 SMIG purchased a Digital Photogrammetric Scanner, the Leica Helava DSW 100. The DPW is used in several ways, firstly it is used as a training tool for undergraduate students within the School of Geoinformatics, Planning and Building. The DPW is used for photogrammetric research within SMIG, testing the validity Of digital photogrammetry and the DPW itself in both aerial and close range photogrammetry. The system is also used for standard photogrammetric procedures such as producing DEMs or orthophotos for other research within SMIG or the University in fields such as GIS or Remote Sensing. The Digital Photogrammetric Scanner (DSW100) is used to support the teaching and research enabling us to scan as required. Photogrammetric scanning was very limited within South Australia, therefore there was a high demand for one within the State. The photogrammetric equipment is also used commercially. We are able to produce high quality  photogrammetric products such as DEMs, Orthophotos or Image Maps. The Scanner is also used commercially and runs constantly during work hours to meet the demand for this work within South Australia.
 
 

Research Projects

SMIG has an on going research into the use of auto correlation with the Socet Set software to generate DTMs. The software is tested for the accuracy's that can be achieved using different methods within the software as well as different scales of photography, scan resolutions, and film types over different terrain types.

Practical tests of automatic DTM generation in digital image photogrammetry   P.D. Connelly and D.M. Byrne Spatial Measurement and Information Group University of South Australia A key advantage of digital image photogrammetry is the automatic extraction of terrain elevations by way of software using image correlation algorithms. This paper presents the initial findings of a series of  investigations being undertaken by the authors into the behaviour of such algorithms in practical application.
The software under investigation in this instance is the Automatic Terrain Extraction module of SOCET SET by Helava Associates. The software is installed on a digital photogrammetric workstation  - the Leica DPW-770-D by Helava. The digital imagery for the investigations was obtained from the scanning of  aerial photography on a Leica DSW-100 by Helava.
The tests take into account specifically photogrammetric considerations (scale, film type and scan resolution) and also examine the results of the operators in various terrains. Consideration is also made of  the parametric governing of the image matching algorithm in order to minimise the error associated with the processes.

 
 

SMIG has used its digital photogrammetric system for architecture, testing to see whether Socet Set (which is designed specifically for aerial or satellite data in mind) can be a useful tool in this area. One project in particular was used to generate an orthophoto of an architectural facade.

  The application of digital image techniques to heritage and architectural photogrammetry

P.D. Connelly and D.M. Byrne Spatial Measurement and Information Group University of South Australia Photogrammetry has proved to be a useful tool for the recording of heritage and architectural items and has always permitted measurement on both a macro and micro scale.  With the advent of digital image photogrammetry it now proves practicable to not only obtain a vector representation of such items but to also generate a rectified or ortho-rectified image suitable for other work and indeed for publication.
This paper discusses the authors' experimentation and provides several case studies including the plotting and measurement of heritage building facades and other architectural features.  Problems related to the relief within the object are discussed in addition to the consideration of geometric connection and radiometric balancing for the mosaicing of image segments.
   

The digital photogrammetric system has been used to map the surface of a solar car. The surface data of the solar car was then used in external software which simulates a wind tunnel. This was achieved by using multistation photography around the car, then scanning the photography to digital form. A series of marked points on the solar cars surface were then measured within the digital photogrammetric system and 3d coordinates were determined for each of these points.

 

Another interesting close range photogrammetric project in which SMIG has applied the digital system was in the area of podiatry. Casts had been made from the foot prints in sand at a crime scene and they were to be compared to casts made from suspects. We were to precisely measure distances between  key features of the casts so they could be compared and any similarities could be drawn.

 
 
 
 

Scanning Service