A Tele-Photogrammetric Device for Mobile Telecommunication
Tele-photogrammetry is a new concept that aims to promote a range of mapping applications and services based on well-known photogrammetric techniques to a wide range of users. In general a tele-photogrammetry system combines an image capturing device, a positioning system and a network interface on a hand-held device.
This paper describes research undertaken to develop and test a prototype system for tele-photogrammetry. This system was conceived to readily acquire and transfer 3D spatial information through the web. The components of the system are a Smart-Phone enabled with automatic image geo-coding (i.e. GPS), on-screen digitising facilities and a digital compass.
The proposed methodology can geo-reference points of interest distributed over any object of any size within a global reference system without the need for a network of control points. Hence, every point measured on any object with this technique, in any part of the world, can be easily and spatially linked to other points of interest with respect to a common reference system or datum (i.e. WGS84 datum).
In this study, the system was tested to determine the position of selected points corresponding to local government assets such as trees, landscape areas and public facilities. 3D information of these objects of interest were automatically determined in the field and sent electronically to interact with a GIS environment.
Limitations in quality, precision and performance were assessed and the architecture of the software environment is currently being improved in order to synchronize the functions of the proposed system and improve users’ interaction.
The preliminary tests carried out until now demonstrate the great potential of this mapping system as well as its versatility. Indeed, the system could be used to geo-reference dynamic, static and/or difficult to reach vertical or occluded objects from vehicles such as cars, helicopters and boats.