problem of decommissioning a nuclear power plant, a
system which allows him to directly compare inaccessible
features with design plans through a display, is inval
uable. Already those organisations which produce 3D da
ta from satellite image work entirely with digital data. I am
therefore convinced that there is sufficient impetus to
develop digital photogrammetric systems to the point
where they will be reliable and cost effective.
A major factor in the acceptance of digital systems will be
the development of algorithms for automatic feature
extraction [Förstner, NGT Geodesia 1993/8, p. 372],
To return then to the future of the photogrammetrists.
Will they be extinct by the year 2000 Leberl argues [13]
that photogrammetry may be submerged into computer
science. It is instructive to see where at present the
photogrammetrist has a clear identity. In education there
are few courses now which are labled photogrammetry.
Even ITC, which is still associated primarily in the eyes of
most photogrammetrists around the world as being a
training centre for photogrammetry, no longer has a de
partment of photogrammetry and the only course with
photogrammetry in the name is a post graduate diploma
in Production Photogrammetry. At UCL, one of the only
departments in which photogrammetry comes first, the
MSc in Photogrammetry will be awarded in the future to
someone who specializes in photogrammetry within a
broader area of study. There are of course specialist
institutes of photogrammetry in Germany and the Nether
lands, but these concentrate on research.
Within national mapping organisations there are depart
ments of photogrammetry in which photogrammetric
technicians produce maps by photogrammetric means
but it is likely that such departments will not be managed
by specialist photogrammetrists, but someone with a
broader training in surveying science, GIS, computing or
even management.
There are still companies which specialize in photo
grammetry but it is now unusual for their work to be ex
clusively for map production and most of their clients
want digital data to be compatible with their own data
management systems.
In many organisations producing value added products a
photogrammetric system will be used, or data produced
by photogrammetry will be brought in, but the photo
grammetric process is regarded as a black box: a soft
ware package to produce 3D data. It is to this market that
the industry and educators should be looking. Black
boxes must be robust and the designer must be aware of
the problems associated with the use of photogrammetry
(failure cases, lack of proper ground control, lens dis
tortion and the need for camera calibration, for example).
The educators must train people to understand these
problems in the context of the application and the hard
ware and software environment. There is still room for the
photogrammetric specialist but he or she must be broadly
educated and sympathetic to the needs of other disci
plines.
Photogrammetry has a future but only if we are alert to
the potentials of the science and train people to realise
that potential.
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NGT GEODESIA 93 - 8
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