3D Digital Aerial Photogrammetry Software

A wide range of 3D Digital Aerial Photogrammetry Software are available in market. Here you will find most of the 3d Digital Aerial Photogrammetry Software. This photogrammetry software directory is very helpful for all aerial photogrammetry professionals. You may include others by commenting end of the post.

Desktop Digital Photogrammetry System (DDPS)
As 3D Mapper 3D aerial photogrammetry software says “DDPS does not require special photogrammetric skills to generate products such as digital elevations models (DEMs), orthoimages and 3D vector information.” DDPS can be used to produce intermediate deliverables, such as epipolar (rectified images) files which extends the range of products that you may offer your clients. The DDPS operates on Windows 95/98 or Windows NT, and is available as a complete system or as individual modules depending on your needs.There are four software modules available in DDPS, namely, OrthoMaker, StereoMaker, StereoMapper, and ImageViewer.

ESPA 
ESPA is a desktop 3D aerial photogrammetry software aimed at digital aerial photogrammetry and airborne Lidar processing. The modules include EspaCity - stereoscopic 3-D workstation; EspaGate - GIS/CAD/Spatial database connections; EspaKernel – for image processing; EspaEngine – for airborne Lidar processing; EspaBlock – for digital aerial triangulation; EspaBundle – for bundle block adjustment;EspaOrtho – for orthophoto rectification and orthophoto mosaics.

Geomatica
PCI Geomatics has developed Geomatica 3D aerial photogrammetry software that offers a single integrated environment for remote sensing, GIS, photogrammetry, cartography, web and development tools. Geomatica 10 has a number of features like: Rigorous orthorectification support for IRS-P6 (RESOURCESAT-1), CBERS and FORMOSAT (ROCSAT); Ortho-mosaic componentization; Complete Oracle 10g Spatial GeoRaster loading and exploitation; Instant OrthoCorrection; Photogrammetry improvements including advanced tools for accuracy estimation and blunder detection, greater mosaicking flexibility in color balancing and cutline selection, and improved rational functions support for satellite imagery; RADAR processing improvements and radiometric terrain correction.

Image Station
Intergraph’s 3D aerial photogrammetry software Z/I Imaging ImageStation is a photogrammetric platform that seamlessly integrates hardware and software. Image Station comprises modules like Photogrammetric Manager, Model Setup, Digital Mensuration, Automatic Triangulation, Stereo Display, Feature Collection, DTM Collection, Automatic Elevations, ImageStation Base Rectifier, OrthoPro, PixelQue, Image Viewer, I/RAS C and Image Analyst.

INPHO
INPHO 3D aerial photogrammetry software is an end-to-end photogrammetric systems supplier. INPHO’s portfolio covers the entire workflow of photogrammetric projects, including aerial triangulation, stereo compilation, terrain modeling, orthophoto production and image capture. Inpho’s Photogrammetric System V5.0 product line comprises MATCH-AT for digital aerial traingulation, inBLOCK for bundle block adjustment, OrthoMaster for orthorectification and OrthoVista for mosaicing.

iWitness
iWitness 3D aerial photogrammetry software from DeChant Consulting Services is a close-range photogrammetry software system that has been developed for accident reconstruction and forensic measurement. iWitness uses images from consumer-grade and professional cameras to create 3D measurements and 3D object models.

Leica Photogrammetry Suite
The Leica Photogrammetry Suite (LPS) 3D aerial photogrammetry software from Leica Geosystems is an integrated suite of digital photogrammetry products . LPS is fully compatible with Leica Geosystems' flagship geographic imaging software suite, ERDAS IMAGINE®. The product suite consists of LPS Core (Core), MosaicPro, Gpro, Image Equalizer, Stereo Analyst, LPS Stereo (Stereo), LPS Automatic Terrain Extraction (ATE), LPS Terrain Editor (TE),LPS PRO600 (PRO600) and LPS ORIMA (ORIMA).

PHOTOMOD 
PHOTOMOD 3D aerial photogrammetry software family from Racurs, Russia, comprises of products for photogrammetric processing of the remote sensing data which allow to extract geometrically accurate spatial information from almost any commercially available type of imagery obtained by film or digital cameras, high resolution satellite scanners and synthetic aperture radars. The latest version is Photomod 4.2, which has a variety of software modules that include Montage Desktop, AT, AAT, Solver, DTM, StereoDraw, Mosaic and GeoMosaic.

PhotoModeler
PhotoModeler, the 3D aerial photogrammetry software program from Eos Systems, allows you to create 3D models and measurements from photographs. The product is used by professionals in the fields of accident reconstruction, architecture, archaeology, engineering, forensics, web page design, and 3D graphics. The products comes with tools for creating modes, surfaces, Export Capabilities to Autodesk DXF (2D and 3D), 3D Studio 3DS, Wavefront OBJ, VRML (1&2), IGES, OpenNURBS/Rhino, StereoLithography STL, RAW, Maya Script format, and Google Earth’s KML and KMZ.

SOCET SET
This is a digital 3D aerial photogrammetry software application from BAE Systems. SOCET SET v5.3 works with the latest airborne digital sensors and includes innovative point-matching algorithms for multi-sensor triangulation. BAE Systems has launched an upgraded version too-SOCET SET® v5.4: NGATE. NGATE (Next Generation Automatic Terrain Extraction), a licensed software module for SOCET SET®, is used for high-resolution terrain extraction and surface modelling.

SUMMIT EVOLUTION 
Summit Evolution is the digital 3D aerial photogrammetry software and  workstation from DAT/EM, which was first released in April of 2001 at the ASPRS Conference. The features of the software include subpixel functionality, support for different orientation methods, formats support Multi-image-tiled TIF and other TIF files, GeoTIF, ADS40 TIF, DMC TIF, JPG, BMP, SMTI format, TGA, TJP, PCX,ECW etc. Other products include Stereo Capture for ArcGIS , DAT/EM Capture for AutoCAD , DAT/EM Capture for MicroStation and more.

Vr Mapping Software 
Cardinal Systems, LLC is the developer of Vr Mapping 3D aerial photogrammetry software . Vr Mapping Software is being used World wide e.g., USA, Europe, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Australia, India. Vr Mapping Software Suite includes VrOne (2D/3D collection and editing), VrTwo (stereo softcopy), VrLite (vector viewer and stereo viewing plus light collection and editing), VrOrtho (orthophoto rectification), VrAirTrig (aerial triangulation), VrAdjust (bundle adjustment), VrMosaic (ortho mosaicing), VrBalance (image balancing), VrVolumes (volume computation), VrOne Microstation In/Out Translators. Our future Products are: Vr LIDAR, VrTwo with ADS40 support and many more. For Asia-Pacific region contact Cardinal Systems Sales Division at vrindia@cardinalsystems.net

Photogrammetry Introduction

Aerial photographs are not maps. They are single-point perspective views of the Earth's surface, whereas maps are orthogonal representations of the surface. Sizes, shapes, and positions of objects are distorted in aerial photographs. However, aerial photographs can be used to construct maps and to accurately measure distances, heights and elevations. The use of photography for accurate measurement is called photogrammetry.

Aerial photographs are classified in three types, depending on orientation of the picture. The tilt of the camera lens relative to the horizon is called depression angle.

• Vertical airphoto -- View straight down, depression angle 85° to 90°.
• Low-oblique vantage -- Side view, horizon is not visible, depression angle typically 20-85°.
• High-oblique vantage -- Side view, horizon is visible, depression angle typically less than 20°.

	Vertical kite aerial photograph. Lake Kahola, Kansas. Photo date July 1997, © J.S. Aber.
	Low-oblique kite aerial photograph. Lake Kahola, Kansas. Photo date May 1997, © J.S. Aber.
	High-oblique kite aerial photograph. Lake Kahola, Kansas. Photo date Sept. 1997, © J.S. Aber.

 Scale of a Vertical Airphoto

scale = f ÷ H

scale = photo distance ÷ ground distance

Where: f = lens focal length, and
H = flying height above the ground.

The scale of a vertical aerial photograph can be calculated in two ways. In either case, the units of measurement must be the same. The scale depends on the average height above the ground. In rugged terrain, photo scale varies because of large height differences within the photograph. Likewise oblique or non-vertical photos also display scale variations, so they are rarely utilized for photogrammetry.

Because of the single-point perspective nature of photography, objects toward the edge of a photograph suffer relief displacement. This is most noticable, because tall objects appear to lean away from the photo center. Conversely low objects are displaced toward the center. Relief displacement is minimal near the photo center and becomes extreme at the photo edge. This allows for a "side view" of tall objects near the edge of the photo. The height of a tall object may be calculated from its relief displacement, and the height of tall objects may also be determined from measurements of shadows.

Near-vertical kite aerial photograph. Notice different view of trees near scene center in comparison to trees at far right. This is an example of relief displacement. The bright spot on ground to left (red arrow) is an example of the opposition effect--the position in direct alignment with the sun and camera. Next to the opposition point is a dark spot (blue arrow). This is the shadow of the kite that lifted the camera. Cucharas Pass, Colorado; photo date 6/00, © J.S. Aber.

Air-photo terminology

• Principal point: Geometric center of photograph. Literally the point on the ground in line with axis of camera lens.
• Fiducial marks: Marks on the photograph margins used to locate principal point in photo.
• Conjugate principal point: Point in overlapping photo that is equivalent to principal point of adjacent photograph.
• Photo base: Distance between principal point and conjugate principal point measured on a single photograph.
• Ground (air) base: Ground (air) distance between principal points of overlapping photographs.
• Parallax: Apparent shift in relative positions of objects when viewed (photographed) from different vantage points.

Stereoscopic vision

Parallax is the basis of stereoscopic vision. The human eyes, spaced a few cm apart, each see the world from slightly different vantage points. This slight difference introduces a parallax that facilitates depth perception. In aerial photography, two vertical photographs of the same ground area may be offset by considerable distance. When the two photos are viewed through a stereoscope, an enhanced depth perception is created in which the heights and slopes of objects are greatly exaggerated. Many types of stereoscopes are in use for this kind of work.

Vertical, stereopair, kite aerial photographs taken over cemetery, Emporia, Kansas. Click on the small image to see full-sized version (129 kb). Photo date 12/98, © J.S. Aber.

Oblique, stereopair, kite aerial photographs taken over residential neighborhood, Emporia, Kansas. Click on the small image to see full-sized version (144 kb). Photo date 12/98, © J.S. Aber.

Sokkia mirror stereoscope for SFAP. This stereoscope is the ideal size for viewing 4x6-inch (10x15-cm) prints from 35-mm film. Taken from ASC Scientific.

Calculating height using parallax

The calculation of approximate heights and elevations using parallax measurements can be done quickly and easily with the formulas given below. These calculations depend upon the assumptions that ground principal points in each photo are at about the same elevation and that the bases of objects being measured are also at about the same elevation. Two formulas may be used.

 Parallax Height Formulas

h = Hp ÷ b

h = H²p ÷ Bf

p =	difference in parallax between two points in mm
H =	flying height (altitude - ground elevation) in meters
b =	average of photo bases measured on each photo in mm
B =	average of ground bases for each photo in meters
f =	focal length of camera lens in mm
h =	difference in height (elevation) of two points in meters

Example of height calculation: p = 2 mm, H = 3840 m, b = 65 mm, B = 998 m, f = 250 mm (taken from Topcon stereoscope manual).

h = (3840 x 2) ÷ 65 = 118 m

h = (3840² x 2) ÷ (998 x 250) = 118 m