IMAGINE Photogrammetry (formerly Leica Photogrammetry Suite – LPS) is a software application for performing
photogrammetric operations on imagery and extracting information from imagery. IMAGINE Photogrammetry is significant because it is a leading commercial photogrammetry application that is used by numerous
national mapping agencies
A national mapping agency is an organisation, usually publicly owned, that produces topographic maps and geographic information of a country. Some national mapping agencies also deal with cadastral matters.
According to 2007/2/EC European direc ...
, regional mapping authorities, various
DOTs, as well as commercial mapping firms. Aside from commercial and government applications, IMAGINE Photogrammetry is widely used in academic research. Research areas include landslide monitoring, cultural heritage studies, and more.
Capabilities
IMAGINE Photogrammetry is generally used for the processing of raw imagery through to the creation of geospatial data products such as
digital terrain models
A digital elevation model (DEM) or digital surface model (DSM) is a 3D computer graphics representation of elevation data to represent terrain or overlaying objects, commonly of a planet, moon, or asteroid. A "global DEM" refers to a discrete g ...
, 3D features, and
digital orthophotos. There are a number of approaches for photogrammetric applications. Imagery may come from remote sensing satellites, airborne cameras (film or digital), or ground-based cameras. In the context of airborne film cameras, the workflow would involve scanning the imagery (creating a digital version of the film imagery), solving the interior orientation parameters, and triangulating the images. Once the images are
triangulated
In trigonometry and geometry, triangulation is the process of determining the location of a point by forming triangles to the point from known points.
Applications
In surveying
Specifically in surveying, triangulation involves only angle me ...
, image pairs may be viewed in stereo and 3D measurements can be made. The system can automatically generate
digital terrain models
A digital elevation model (DEM) or digital surface model (DSM) is a 3D computer graphics representation of elevation data to represent terrain or overlaying objects, commonly of a planet, moon, or asteroid. A "global DEM" refers to a discrete g ...
, which can be reviewed and edited in stereo. Once an accurate 3D surface has been derived, triangulated images may be
orthorectified. In addition to this workflow, IMAGINE Photogrammetry supports 3D feature extraction, radiometric adjustment, and a number of additional digital image processing capabilities available from
ERDAS IMAGINE, which is included with IMAGINE Photogrammetry.
Other workflows
In addition to the workflows above, IMAGINE Photogrammetry also supports the following applications:
* Satellite Photogrammetry
* Direct Georeferencing: ground control points (GCPs) are not used because the aircraft is equipped with Airborne
GPS and IMU systems. This is an emerging workflow that is suitable for remote area mapping.
* Close-Range Photogrammetry
History
While the initial release of IMAGINE Photogrammetry (called "Leica Photogrammetry Suite 8.7") was in late 2003, it was a combination of new technology as well as software previously developed by ERDAS (which was acquired by
Leica Geosystems in 2003). The product evolution is as follows:
* 1991 - "Digital Ortho" in ERDAS 7.5
* 1993 - OrthoMAX
* 1994 - Warptool & Mosaictool in IMAGINE 8.2
* 1999 - OrthoBASE first release in IMAGINE 8.3.1
* 2000 - Stereo Analyst 1.0 (module for stereo feature extraction)
* 2001 - OrthoBASE Pro (module for automated terrain extraction)
* 2003 - Leica Photogrammetry Suite 8.7",
[Leica Geosystems GIS and Mapping, LLC (December 16, 2003)]
"Now Available: Leica Photogrammetry Suite from Leica Geosystems"
. ress Release Retrieved January 11, 2009.
* 2004 - Leica Photogrammetry Suite 8.7 Service Pack 1 (incorporates add-on modules of ORIMA and PRO600, which were initially developed for use with
SOCET SET)
* 2005 - Leica Photogrammetry Suite 8.7 Service Packs 2 and 3 (
eica GeosystemsADS40 sensor support, automated point measurement improvements)
* 2005 - Leica Photogrammetry Suite 9.0 (new module for image mosaicking, called MosaicPro)
* 2006 - Leica Photogrammetry Suite 9.1 (new TIN format: LTF, terrain split and merge improvements)
* 2008 - Leica Photogrammetry Suite 9.2 (ATE improvements, new sensor models, enhanced mosaicking)
* 2008 - With the re-branding of "Leica Geosystems Geospatial Imaging" to "ERDAS", the "Leica Photogrammetry Suite" name was converted to an acronym, "LPS".
* 2008 - LPS 9.3 (PRO600 Fundamentals released)
* 2010 - LPS 2010 released
* 2010 - LPS 2010 v10.1 released (new algorithm eATE release, as follow up to ATE)
* 2010 - LPS 2011 released (improvements to MosaicPro, Terrain Prep Tool and more)
* 2012 - LPS 2013 released
* 2014 - IMAGINE Photogrammetry (New package, New abilities like SGM)
See also
*
Aerial Photography
Aerial photography (or airborne imagery) is the taking of photographs from an aircraft or other airborne platforms. When taking motion pictures, it is also known as aerial videography.
Platforms for aerial photography include fixed-wing aircr ...
*
Digital Surface Model
A digital elevation model (DEM) or digital surface model (DSM) is a 3D computer graphics representation of elevation data to represent terrain or overlaying objects, commonly of a planet, moon, or asteroid. A "global DEM" refers to a discrete gl ...
*
ERDAS IMAGINE
*
Leica Geosystems
*
Orthophoto
An orthophoto, orthophotograph, orthoimage or orthoimagery is an aerial photograph or satellite imagery geometrically corrected ("orthorectified") such that the scale is uniform: the photo or image follows a given map projection. Unlike a ...
*
Photogrammetry
Photogrammetry is the science and technology of obtaining reliable information about physical objects and the environment through the process of recording, measuring and interpreting photographic images and patterns of electromagnetic radiant ima ...
*
Remote Sensing
Remote sensing is the acquisition of information about an object or phenomenon without making physical contact with the object, in contrast to in situ or on-site observation. The term is applied especially to acquiring information about Ear ...
*
Satellite imagery
*
Stereoplotter
A stereoplotter uses stereo photographs to determine elevations. It has been the primary method to plot contour lines on topographic maps since the 1930s. Although the specific devices have advanced technologically, they are all based on the app ...
*
Stereoscopy
Stereoscopy (also called stereoscopics, or stereo imaging) is a technique for creating or enhancing the illusion of depth in an image by means of stereopsis for binocular vision. The word ''stereoscopy'' derives . Any stereoscopic image i ...
*
Triangulation
In trigonometry and geometry, triangulation is the process of determining the location of a point by forming triangles to the point from known points.
Applications
In surveying
Specifically in surveying, triangulation involves only angle ...
References
{{reflist
External links
Hexagon Geospatial, official IMAGINE Photogrammetry product page
Photogrammetry software