14.11.

SCALE OF A VERTICAL PHOTOGRAPH

Since a photograph is the perspective projection, the images of ground points are
displaced where there are variations in the ground elevation. Thus, in Fig. 14.20 (a) the
images of two points A and Ao, vertically above each other, are displaced on a vertical
photograph and are represented by a and a0 respectively. Due to this displacement, there
is no uniform scale between the points on such a photograph, except when the ground
points have the same elevation. If the elevation of points vary, the scale of the vertical
photograph will vary from point to point on the photograph.
Let us first take the case when the ground is horizontal, i.e., all the points are
having the same elevation, such as shown in Fig. 14.20 (a).
Let S = scale = map distance
ground distance
From Fig. 14 .20 (a) , S = ka, = Ok = _f_ _ f .. . (14.9)
KA • H-h- H-h
O\<.
 543
pHOTOGRAMMETRIC SURVEYING

1
0

H-h
T
k
r
H- 11
a
k
b H - hD

I
H

K,
\
A
'/Wl\'

ho
K,
11

I Ko Datum
K
Datum
B"
Av A,,

FIG. 14.20. (a) SCALE OF A VERTICAL FIG . 14.20. (b) SCALE OF A VERTICAL
PHOTOGRAPH PHOTOGRAPH.

where H = height of the exposure station (or the air plane ) above the mean sea level
f = focal length of the camera
h = height of the ground above mean sea level
Let us now take the case when the points are not having the same elevation, -as
represented in Fig. 14 .20 (b).
Let A and B be two points having elevations ha and ho respectively above mean
sea level. They are represented by a and b respectively on the m,ap. k is the principal
point of the vertical photograph taken at height H above mean sea lev-el.
. ak
The scale of the photograph at the elevation ha 1s evidently equal to the ratio AKa

From similar
· triangles, aK - f
Ok - _;;___
AKa - OKa - H -- ha
f
Hence the scale of the photograph at the elevation ha 1s equal to H-ha

Similarly, the scale of the photograph at the elevation hb is equal to the ratio ::b.

From similar
· · bk - Ok - _;;___
triangles, BK f
- OK 0 - H - hb
0

Hence the scale of the photograph at the height hb is equal to H-hb'

f

In geheral, therefore, the scale of the photograph is given by

 544 SURVEYING

f
Sh=--
H-h

where Sh = scale at the elevation h.

The scale of the photograph can also be desi·gnated by the representative fraction
i.e.
I
R1i = _( _H___h_\
-1- J
where (H - h) and f are expressed in the same unit (i.e. metres).
Datum Scales (Sd)
The datum scale of a photograph is that scale which would be effective over the
entire photograph if all the ground points were projected vertically downward on the mean
sea level before being photographed. Thus, from Fig. 14.20 (a),
Datum scale = Sd = -ka = -Ok = -f ... (14.10)
KAo OK H
where K and A 0 are the projections of k and A on the datum plane.
Average Scale (Sav)
The average scale of a vertical photograph is that which would be effective over
the entire photograph if all the ground points were projected vertically downward or upward
on a plane representing the average elevation of the terrain before being photographed.
Thus, - f
Sav-H-J
Zav ... (14.11)
where hav = average elevation of the terrain
To Find the Scale ·of a Photograph
If the images to ground points of equal elevation and known horizontal distance
appear on the photograph, the scale of the photograph can be determined by comparing
the ground length and the corresponding length on the photograph. Thus, if l is the distance
on the . photogr~ph, between the two points A and B having the same elevation h and
the honzomal distance (ground) between them to be L, the scale at the height h is given
by
I
Sh==-
L ... (14.12)
The distance L measured on the ground either d' b h . lation or
f . . 1rect1y or y t e rnangu '
it can be· taken rom the ex1stmg maps, if available To find th ;,'. . presentative
h Ik · e average or ,au y re . d
scale of photograp severa nown lines on the photograph should be measured1 and compare
and the average scale should be adopted In case a rel. bl . . vaiiable,
· I b ·
the photographic sea e can e found by comparing th h
1a e map of the · area 1s a
d. distance
between two well-defined points at the same •I p oto istance and the map
1:: evauon.

Thus, == £!ioto distance

ap scale map distance
 GRAMMETRIC\SURVEYING
pHOTO 54)

If the focal length of the lens and the flying hei· ght (H) above m.s.l. is known, •I 1
the scale can by found from the relation I
I•
S1z=-f- I ,
H- h ... (14.13)
I:
14J2. COMPUTATION OF LENGTH OF LINE BETWEEN POIN~S OF DIFFERENT
ELEVATIONS FROM MEASUREMENTS ON A VERTICAL PHOTOGRAPH
I,
In Fig. 14.21, let A and B o
be two ground points having elevations
ha and hb above datum, and the co-
T
ordinates (Xa, Ya), (Xb, Yb ) respec-
tively with respect to the ground co-
ord ina te axes which coincide in
direction with the photographic co-
ordinates x and y-axis. The origin of I

the ground co-ordinates lie vertically I'

iI
beneath the exposure station.
Let a and b be the corresponding I
I
points of the photograph, and I
I

(xa, Ya) , (xv, Yb) be the corresponding h.: I

I
co-ordinates. From similar triangles, +Y I
I
,)
Ok _ Xa _ Ya f .,,'
- X - -Y. = H h .. (l) : ..,,,,'
OKa a a - a v +X

Also, Ok = Xb _ Yb f
OKb xb -:- Yo - H - hb .. (2)
FIG. 14. 21. COMPUTATION OF LENGTH OF A LINE.

Hence, we have, _ H-ha ... [14.14 (a)]

Xa - - - . Xa
f
H-ha .. . [14.14 (b)]
Ya =--.Ya
f
H-hb H-hb ... [14.14 (a')]
xb = f . Xb ... [14.14 (c)] ; Yb=-!- : Yb
And • m general, the co-ordinates X and Y of any point at an elevation are :
H h H-h I
X=~x · Y=--Y · I

The length L betweenf the two

' oints Af3nd B is then given
. bY
... (14.15) ·
L= (Xa - Xb)2 + (Ya - Yb/
The . . · ·
14.13 D Value of Xa ,Xb and Ya and Yb must be substituted with their proper algebraic signs.
. ETERMINATION OF HEIGHT (H) OF LENS FOR A VERTICAL PHOTOGRAPH
I If the · . 1 . . . d kn.
ength b images of two points A and B having different known e evations an own
Station etween them appear on the photograph, the elevatiop or height H of the exposure
can be calculated
· by a reversed procedure from that of the , preced'mg art1c
· le.
 546 SURVEYING

As proved m the previous article, the ground length L is by

L2 = (Xa - Xb/ + (Ya -
Yb)2
Substituting the values of Xa , Xb, Ya, Yb as obtained in the article, we get

i [H-ha H-hb ]2+[H-hay H-hbYb]i .. .(14.16)

L = f Xa - f Xb · f a f
In the above expression, the ground distance L, and elev tions ha and hb are known
quantities. The photographic co-ordinates (xa, Ya) , (xb , Yb) can be easured. The only unknown
is H. Collecting the terms for H, the equation takes the uadratic form
pH2 + qH + r = 0
where p, q and r are the numbers obtained after the known
quantities. The value of H is then obtained by
-q+ q2-.4pr
H=------
2p
The computation of H by the solution of quadrat' equation is rather very tedious
and time consuming. Alternately, the value of H can be det ined by successive approximations
as follows :
Step 1
The first approximate value of H is relationship
f ab I
---'------,--=-=- ... (14.17)
H approx . - h ab AB L
where hab = average elevation of line
AB =L = known ground dista
ab = l = measured photograp ic distance
Step 2
The approximate value of H so obtained is used for calculating the co-ordinates (Xa, Ya)
and (Xb , Yb) , Using these co-ordinates, the approximate value of H and the elevations ha
and hb, the length of the line is computed. Length is then compared with the actual distance
to get a more correct value of H. Thus,
H - hob correct AB
----=---- ... (14.18)
H approx. - h ab computed AB
Step 3 :
With this value of H, step 2 is repeated till the computed length of AB and the
correct length agree within necessary precision, usually 1 in 5000.
14.14. RELIEF DISPLACEMENT ON A VERTICAL PHOTOGRAPH
we have seen that if the photograph is truly vertical and the ground is horizontal,
and if other sources of errors are neglected, the scale of the photograph will be uniforOl·
Such a photograph repres_ems a true orthographic projection and hence the true map of
the terrain. Jn actual practice, however, such conditions are never fulfilled . When the ground
is not horizontal, the scale of the photograph varies from point to point and is not constant.
 MMETRlC SURVEYING 547
pJ-IOT9GRA
I, . .
tograph is the perspective view,
since the PhO • •
0
relief is shown m perspective
the ground . h
6~ the photograph. Ever~ pomdt ofrn the Ph~-
is therefore, displace om t eir
tograph .. . d"
true orthographic posmon. This isp1acement
is called relief displacement.
Thus, in Fig. 14.22, A, B and K
are three ground points having elevations
ha , ho and hk above datum. Ao, Bo and Ko
are their dalum positions respectively, when
projected vertically downwards on the datum
plane. On the photograph, their positions
·· . a, b and k respectively, the points k
ing chosen vertically below the principal
point. If the datum points Ao, Bo and
Ko are imagined to be photographed along
with the ground points, their positions will
be ao, bo and k respectively. As is clear
from the figure, the points a and b are
displaced outward from their datum photograph
positions, the displacement being along the
corresponding radial lines from the principal FIG. 14.22. RELIEF DISPLACEMENT ON
VERTICAL PHOTOGRAPH.
point. The radial distance aa0 is the relief
displacement of A while bbo is the relief
d~placement of B. The point k has not been
d1Splaced since it coincides with the principal
point of the photograph.- -- -
To calculate the amount of relief dis-
placement, consider Fig. 14.23 which shows
a. venical section through the photograph of
Fig. 14.22 along the line ka .
In Fig. 14.23,
H
Let r = radial distance a from k ·
ro = radial distance of ao from k
R = Ko Ao
Then, from similar triangles,
-L__r . Rf
H_h - R' from which r = H _ h ... (1)

Also L _ ro
H - R,
.
from which ro =
Rf
H •••(2)
Datum
A

. Hence the relief aisplacement (d) is

given by FIG . 14.23 . CALCULATION OF RELIEF
DISPLACEMENT.
548
SURVEYING

d = r - ro = _!![_ - Rf
H-h H

or d= Rfh
H (H- h) / 3)
,
But R = r(H - h) = roH from (1) and (2).
f f
Substituting the values of R in (3), we get
r(H - h) fh rh . .. (4a) [14.19 (a)]
d = f . H(H - h) =H
roH f h roh . .. (4b) [14.19 (b)]
Also d =f . H(H - h) =H - h
From equations (3) and (4) above, we conclude rye following
(1) The relief displacement increases as the distance from the principal point increases.
(2) The relief displacement decreases with the increase in the flying height.
(3) For point above datum, the relief displacement is positive being radially outward.
(4) For point below datum (h having negative value)°, relief displacement is negative,
being radially inward.
(5) The relief displacement of the point vertically below the exposure station is zero.
In the above expressions, H and h must 0
be measured above the same datum.
Height of Objeci from Relief Displacement
If the scale of the photograph is known
T
(or computed by the method discussed earlier),
equation (4 a) can be used to determine the
height of any object, such as a tower TB shown
in Fig. 14.24. Let h be the height of the tower
above its base, and H be the height (unknown)
of the exposure station above the selected datum H
passing through the base of the tower. Let t
and b be the top and bottom positions of the
tower on the photograph. The radial distance

i
r and the relief displacement can very easily
be measured. If the scale S of the photograph
is known, the height H can be calculated from h
the relation
... (i) Selected datum
B
l
Knowing H, and measuring d and r, the
height h is calculated from equation (4a). Thus,
h = dH .. .(14.20) Mean sea level
r
FIG. 14.24. HEIGHT OF A TOWER FROM
RELIEF DISPLACEMENT.