Ilearn - 1A - AERIAL PHOTO

Introduction To
Aerial photos
Types of Photographs
 Vertical. A vertical photograph is taken with the

camera pointed as straight down as
possible.Allowable tolerance is usually + 3° from the
perpendicular (plumb) line to the camera axis. The
result is coincident with the camera axis.
A vertical photograph has the
following characteristics:
(1) The lens axis is perpendicular to the surface of the earth.

2) It covers a relatively small area.
(3) The shape of the ground area covered on a single vertical photo
closely approximates a square or rectangle.
(4) The scale is constant for a flat terrain.
(4) Being a view from above, it gives an unfamiliar view of the ground.
(5) Distance and directions may approach the accuracy of maps if
taken over flat terrain.
(6) Relief is not readily apparent.
Vertical Aerial Photos
Low Oblique
 Low Oblique. This is a photograph taken with the

camera inclined about 30° from the vertical. It is
used to study an area before an attack, to
substitute for a reconnaissance, to substitute for a
map, or to supplement a map.
A low oblique has the following
characteristics:
(1) It covers a relatively small area.

(2) The ground area covered is a trapezoid, although the
photo is square or rectangular.
(3) The objects have a more familiar view, comparable to
viewing from the top of a high hill or tall building.
(4) No scale is applicable to the entire photograph, and
distance cannot be measured. Parallel lines on the ground
are not parallel on this photograph; therefore, direction
(azimuth) cannot be measured.
(5) Relief is discernible but distorted.
(6) It does not show the horizon.
low oblique
high oblique
 High Oblique. The high oblique is a photograph

taken with the camera inclined about 60° from the
vertical. It has a limited military application; it is used
primarily in the making of aeronautical charts.
However, it may be the only photography available.
A high oblique has the following
characteristics:
(1) It covers a very large area (not all usable).

(2) The ground area covered is a trapezoid, but the
photograph is square or rectangular.
(3) The view varies from the very familiar to unfamiliar,
depending on the height at which the photograph is
taken.
(4) Distances and directions are not measured on this
photograph for the same reasons that they are not
measured on the low oblique.
(5) Relief may be quite discernible but distorted as in any
oblique view. The relief is not apparent in a high altitude,
high oblique.
(6) The horizon is always visible.
High Oblique
The basic advantages of vertical air photos
are:
 The scale is essentially constant;

 Measurements of directions are easier than on
oblique photograph. Directions can also be measured more
accurately;
 Within limits a vertical aerial photograph can be used as a map (if
grids and marginal data are added); and,
 Vertical aerial photographs are often easier to interpret than oblique
and are better for stereo.
The advantages of an oblique
aerial photograph :
 Given a constant altitude and camera you can

cover a much larger area on a single photo;
 The view of some objects is more familiar to the
interpreter; and,
 Some objects not visible on vertical photos may be
seen on oblique.
Three terms need defining here; they are Principal Point, Nadir and
Isocenter.
1. Principal Point - The principal point is the point where

the perpendicular projected through the center of the
lens intersects the photo image. In other words, it is the geometric
centre of the image.
2. Nadir - The Nadir is the point vertically beneath the

camera center at the time of exposure. This is analogous to the
plumb line underneath a level or theodolite in surveying. The
displacement caused by topography is measured from the Nadir.
3. Isocenter - The point on the photo that falls on a line half- way
 On a true vertical aerial photograph all three of
these would be at the same point. There is no such
thing as a true vertical aerial photo. All air photos
have some degree of tip or tilt.
Please remember
 Vertical photographs are those taken with the optical axis of the lens pointing vertically
downward at the time of exposure.
 Oblique photographs are those taken with the optical axis intentionally deviated from the
vertical.
 A low oblique has a relatively small or low angle of deviation from the vertical, and does
not include the apparent horizon.
 A high oblique has a relatively large or high angle of deviation from the vertical and
includes the apparent horizon.

 Vertical aerial photographs are actually only nearly vertical, because at present
there is no practical means available of holding the optical axis in an exactly vertical
position at the instant of exposure. Each vertical photograph is therefore tilted, in
some degree, from the true vertical.
 For many practical purposes, however, good near-vertical aerial

photographs are so nearly vertical that they may be used as such
without corrections or rectifications.
 In precise photogrammetric instruments, means are
provided for determining conveniently the amount of
tilt in each photograph so that rectification to the
equivalent of the true vertical can be accomplished by
simple adjusting devices.
 Therefore, the lack of true verticality in the pictures

should not affect the accuracy of the final results.
 Photogrammetry, in its simplest definition as art of

scribing and measuring by light, was practiced long
before the invention of photographic process, as was
remote sensing in its most direct and nature given form
of human vision.
GEOMETRY OF A SINGLE VERTICAL
AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH
 A diagrammatic representation of the

geometry of a single vertical aerial
photograph is shown in Figure 3.
 In this example, a 9 x 9 in. Negative was

obtained at exposure station L at 1100 m.
above sea level (H) with a local elevation
of 100 m. (h).
 The developed negative image space

(a’, b’, c’ and d’) is a reversal in both
tone and geometry of the Earth object
space (A, B, C, and D) and is situated a
distance equal to the focal length f
(distance o’L) behind the rear nodal point
of the camera lens.
Fiducial Marks and Principal Point (PP)
 The airphoto prints also show fiducial marks located mid way along
the edges and at each corner of the print.
 These are v-shaped notches that are used to locate the X and Y axes
of the image. The intersection of the X and Y axes is the principal
point of the airphoto.
 This point is the centre of the airphoto. For a vertical airphoto, this will
be the point that was directly below the centre of the lens at the
instant of exposure
Overlapping
stereophotography
 Airphotos are taken so that the images overlap by

approximately 60% along flight lines
(overlap/endlap) and 20% to 30% between flight
lines (sidelap).
 The exposure station is the position of the front nodal
point of the lens at the instant of exposure.
 The distance between the exposure stations of two
successive images is called the air base (B) and is
equal to the ground distance between the principal
points of the two images.
Overlap/endlap, sidelap

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Introduction To

 Vertical. A vertical photograph is taken with the

(1) The lens axis is perpendicular to the surface of the earth.

 Low Oblique. This is a photograph taken with the

(1) It covers a relatively small area.

 High Oblique. The high oblique is a photograph

(1) It covers a very large area (not all usable).

 The scale is essentially constant;

 Given a constant altitude and camera you can

1. Principal Point - The principal point is the point where

2. Nadir - The Nadir is the point vertically beneath the

 For many practical purposes, however, good near-vertical aerial

 Therefore, the lack of true verticality in the pictures

 Photogrammetry, in its simplest definition as art of

 A diagrammatic representation of the

 In this example, a 9 x 9 in. Negative was

 The developed negative image space

 Airphotos are taken so that the images overlap by

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