الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
CHAPTER (1)
INTRODUCTION
When incepted over a century ago, one of the major application ofphotogrammetry was the
compilation of topographic maps on the basis of measurements and information obtained from
photographs. In the early days, maps were derived from terrestrial photographs captured by
cameras on the ground. Following the invention of the aeroplane in ] 906 by the Wright
Brothers, the use of aerial photographs for map compilation became quickly popular. Since
then, the photogrammetric cameras were mainly mounted on airborne platforms and little
work was done on the ground, mainly for non-topographic applications. For less than 300m
object-to-camera distance, the term ”Close Range Photogrammetry” was coined.
In the early non-topographic applications, overlapping frame photographs were usually taken
with well-controlled metric cameras. These photographs were then used in analog optical-
mechanical plotters to extract information about the photographed object. Restrictions for the
photograph format, the camera used, and the image configuration limited the use of this type
of plotters for close range applications. Ahhough many of these analogue instruments are still
in operation throughout the world, this era is rapidly drawing to an end.
With the development of comparators and analytical evaluation, and especially with the
invention of the analytical plotter by Helava in the ]950’s, more flexibility was provided to
both the photogrammetric data acquisition and the evaluation systems. The introduction of
non-metric cameras as a data acquisition instruments. instead ofbuIky, heavy and expensive
metric cameras, became possible. This was a big step towards opening up more close range
applications. The 1970’s was the era of non-metric cameras, where intensive research was
devoted to explore the potentials of non-metric cameras. The combination of non-metric
cameras with powerful software proved its suitability for most close range applications’
accuracy requirements (Faig, 1976a).
Since the early stage of analytical photogrammetry, the computer has drawn the attention of
the photogrammetric community as a data evaluation instroment. It became the new challenge
for all photogrammetrists to exploit the endless features and facilities of the computer. or in
another words, to ”digitize” the existing approaches and algorithms. Not only does
”digitization” mean the use of a computer to perform the manual operations (automation), but
also the use of digital images instead of hard- copy- film-based images, thus the computer can
be utilized as a complete digital photogrammetric workstation. Nowadays, the terms ”Digital
Photogrammetry” in general, and ’’Digital Close Range Photogrammetry” m particular are
considered the most recent trends m that field.
Digital images can be obtained either by digitizing (S(’.JI111Iing) a hard-copy-film-based
photograph with special devices (scanners), or by C8pturmg the photograph in digital form
using an array camera. The types and numbers of array cameras m the market are enormous.
Vidicons, camcorders, and digital cameras are aD mcluded m this category.
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