XIII Congress of the International Society for Photogrammetry Helsinki, 1976 Commission V lnvited Paper K. B. ATKINSON University College London London, WClE 6BT, United Kingdom A Review of Close-Range Engineering Photogrammetry Recent applications of close-range photogrammetry to engineering, and some of the problems encountered, are discussed. INTRODUCTION bonnell, 1974) is the third in a comprehen­ T IS POSSIBLE to gain a certain degree ofsatis­ sive series of reports on developments in ar­ I faction from the achievements ofCommis­ chitectural photogrammetry which have sion V ofthe International Society for Photo­ taken place since Carbonnell (1969) gave an grammetry during recent years. Non­ invited paper to this Commission at the XIth topographic photogrammetry is being International Congress of Photogrammetry in applied in an ever increasing number of Lausanne. Attention has since been focussed ways. More and more measurement prob­ upon medical applications of photogram­ lems are being solved by photogrammetric metry and the Commission V symposium in techniques. In 1968, Commission V directed 1974 was devoted to this topic (Karara and ABSTRACT, There is little doubt that photogrammetry will be applied to an increasing extent in the solution of measurement problems in engineering. Already there are indications that the number and vari­ ety ofapplications is growing. An attempt has been made to review recently published examples, the majority of which have been re­ ported from the United Kingdom. They include the recording and measurement ofdam displacements, unstable geological structures, snow cover, soil, structural and hydraulic models, constructional problems, and box girder load tests. The paper concludes by indicat­ ing some of the problems which beset these applications of close­ range photogrammetry. Their solution would help to further the wider acceptance of these techniques. our attention towards the needs of architec­ Herron, 1974). An International Exploratory ture, archaeology, and the conservation of Committee on Biomedical Photogrammetry what is worthwhile of our man made herit­ has since been seeking ways of furthering age. The result was the establishment ofthe this development. International Committee on Architectural It would appear that engineering or indus­ Photogrammetry which has since fostered trial applications of photogrammetry might developments in this field with conspicious offer a further rewarding field of activity. success. Their most recent publication (Car- Those who are in a pessimistic frame ofmind PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING AND REMOTE SENSING, 57 Vol. 42, No.1, January 1976, pp. 57-69. 58 PHOTOGRAMMETRIC ENGINEERING & REMOTE SENSING, 1976 may say that several attempts to apply close­ significant application in shipbuilding, range photogrammetry to engineering prob­ which was described by Newton (1974), has lems have met with only limited success and now been joined by the establishment of a their widespread adoption has not occurred. photogrammetric unit associated with the Lacmann (1950) described many examples in construction ofoil rigs. Both aspects will be his text book, several of which date from the fully explained in another invited paper* to early part ofthe 20th century. To this writer's be given to the XIIIth International Congress. knowledge, applications in the motor and These developments have resulted from co­ chemical industries were eventually discon­ operation between the University ofNewcas­ tinued, despite the proven success of the tIe upon Tyne and the British Ship Research photogrammetric methods (Farrand, 1965). Association in the first case, and between the This appears to have been because, very of­ University and Longdin and Browning (Sur­ ten, the engineer chooses to use those veys) Ltd. in the second. methods and equipment with which he is Because they are the subject ofan invited familiar, unless the alternative offers distinct paper**from the United Kingdom, it is ap­ advantages. Ifphotogrammetry is just as good propriate to mention here the impact of co­ as, but no better than, an established tech­ herent optical methods on measurement nique, it is unlikely to be adopted because it problems in engineering. Developments requires expertise and equipment which are have already been reported by Gates (1975) relatively unusual. However, there are cir­ and Burch and Forno (1975) of methods cumstances in which photogrammetry may which are being evolved at the National be applied to advantage and this paper enu­ Physical Laboratory and, in the latter case, in merates some ofthem and indicates possible collaboration with the Transport and Road lines of development. Research Laboratory. Burch and Forno were specifically concerned with measurements of RECENT ENGINEERING ApPLICATIONS. WITH deflections of a large beam under load by PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO WORK IN THE UNITED using techniques which, hitherto, had not KINGDOM In an attempt to limit the coverage of this paper, it was decided to review engineering applications of photogrammetry which have been published since January, 1972 or which are known to be in progress. The majority of examples which will be cited have originated in the United Kingdom but similar.work has taken place in a number of other countries. January, 1972 was chosen as a suitable date because most work reported at the XIIth International Congress ofPhotogrammetry in Ottawa would have been prepared or pub­ lished before that date. Readers in search of examples of earlier work could consult, for example, FIG. 1 A scheme to double the carriageway ofa Bulletin de la Societe Franc;aise de road near Plymouth, Devon involved a section of Photogrammetrie, 22 (1966) which contains excavation in rock. The southern extremity is articles on the application of close-range shown in one ofthe survey photographs, together photogrammetry in the hydro-electric power with adjoining property and a retaining wall and industry;joumal ofjapan Society for Photo­ slope stabilisation measures. The determination grammetry, Special Volume 2 (1966) which ofquantities for a further extensive retaining wall contains the papers given at the Commission could be made from the results of a photogram­ V symposium ofthat year; and reviews by the metric survey which was carried out by Univer­ author (Atkinson, 1968 and 1972b), both of sity College London and Cartographical Serv­ which include sections on, and references to, ices (Southampton) Ltd. for Devon County close-range engineering photogrammetry. Council. The period under review has seen further gradual development of non-topographic Invited papers, Commission V, International Con­ photogrammetry in the United Kingdom. gress of Photogrammetry, 1976. * Close-range photogrammetry as an aid to mea­ Engineering applications form a substantial surement of marine structures, by 1. Newton. section of this development. Perusal of the ** Three-dimensional location and measure­ Directory which was compiled and edited by ment by coherent optical methods, by J.W.C. Dowman (1974) confirms this impression. A Gates. A REVIEW OF CLOSE-RANGE ENGINEERING PHOTOGRAMMETRY 59 been easy to apply away from the stability of conducted a photogrammetric study ofjoint laboratory surroundings. influence on weathering ofsteep chalk faces; An area in which commercial photogram­ it has determined the joint disposition and metric companies have been able to contrib­ material volume after slide failure in Oxford ute to the application of close-range tech­ Clay; and it has monitored a deep, steep rock niques is thatofdams and rock outcrops, both cutting on the Trans-Pennine (M62) motor­ natural and excavated. Fairey Surveys Ltd. way. carried out a survey of Edinburgh Castle An interesting variation on surveys of this Rock (Cheffins and Rushton, 1970) in 1969 type and magnitude of structure is reported using a Wild RC5A camera, and since that from Poland (Butowtt et ai., 1974) where time several other companies have been in­ studiesoferosion ofa numberofscarps on the volved in similar surveys in places as Widely banks of the River Vistula have been carried separated as Muckle Flugga in the Shetland out. A modified Fairchild air survey camera Isles and Plymouth in Devon (Figure 1). The (cf. Cheffins and Rushton, 1970), carried on a engineering contractors need these surveys launch, was used for photography, and con­ because ofthe instability ofthe rock surfaces. toured plots and profiles were derived from Rock bolting, construction ofretaining walls, the photography. rock blasting and related safety aspects, and Collaboration between the Institute of prefabrication ofstructures all require the in­ Hydrology and The City University has led to formation provided by, typically, a 1:50 scale the use of terrestrial photogrammetry in an survey with contours or isometrons* related analysis of snow distribution (Blyth et ai., to a vertical datum plane. A dam is a structure 1974). A research catchment on the eastern of similar size and its behaviour is of the ut­ slopes of Pumlumon Fawr in Wales con­ most concern; photogrammetric surveys of tained a test area, 300 m x 100 m in extent and dams have been reported in the United King­ ranging in height between 460 m and 525 m. dom and elsewhere. The Building Research This site was photographed, both free of Station and Hunting Surveys Ltd. were snow and under snow cover ofabout 100 mm jointly responsible for the photogrammetric depth, from each end of a 100 m base. En­ study of the constructional displacements