Photogrammetry
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Der vorliegende Bericht ist auch auf Deutsch, Französisch, Italienisch, Spanisch und Russisch erhältlich

The Development of Photogrammetry in Switzerland

Authors: David Hughes, Peter Fricker, Alain Chapuis, E. Traversari, P. Schreiber, F. Schapira

Introduction

In order to follow the first steps of photogrammetry in Switzerland, the book on the history of Photogrammetry in Switzerland “ Photogrammetrie in der Schweiz – Geschichte – Entwicklung " [1] is the best starting point. The history of the relatively young SGPBF (founded on the 22nd of Sept. 1928) and the two manufacturing companies Kern Aarau and Wild Heerbrugg, (both now consolidated into Leica Geosystems AG) are inseparably connected with each other. The following report sets out to explain how technological development, market requirements and infrastructure worked together to favour a small country such as Switzerland establish such a dominant influence on this technology.

 

Summary

This report discusses the three important stages of analogue, analytical and digital photogrammetry development in relation to terrestrial and airborne applications. The products of the companies Kern Aarau and Wild Heerbrugg are listed in order of their date of market introduction together with important system characteristics [ 2 ]. As of 1990 both companies were integrated into the Leica company. Lack of space in this report forces the authors to limit the product illustrations and descriptions to those highlights of major importance and technological breakthrough.

 

The analogue period

This period is characterized by the extraordinary longevity of the instruments. The development went from 1922 to 1990, when the last analogue instrument AG1 left the factory. Many of these instruments were upgraded with a digital output and software for PCs so hundreds are still in use to this day.

Product

Phase-in

Phase-out

Unit Sales

Characteristics

A1

1922

 

3 Prototypes

 

A2

1926

1941

28

For C2 and P3 photo plates

A4

1933

1963

33

Terrestrial photogrammetry with C12

Ordovás-
Kern

1930

 

1 Prototype

 

A5

1937

1953

90

1st universal instrument of Wild, workhorse instrument during WWII years

A6

1940

1953

115

less features than the A5

PG0

1946

 

1 Prototype

advanced but too expensive

A7

1952

1972

412

2nd universal instrument of Wild

A8

1952

1980

1035

“the” workhorse over nearly three decades

PUG3

1959

1973

310

point marking and transfer device for aero triangulation

PG1

1960

 

3 Prototypes

 

PG2, PG21

1960

1985

>700

most important instrument of Kern in the accuracy class of the A8

A9

1959

1974

71

3rd universal instrument of Wild with half format image carriers

B8

1961

1972

721

together with the B8S, the most-built instrument of 2nd order

A40

1964

1982

89

Terrestrial photogrammetry with C120 and C40

PUG4

1968

1985

449

improved PUG3 with zoom optics

A10

1969

1984

308

4th universal instrument

B9

1969

1971

31

complementary to the A9 with half format image carriers

B8S

1971

1982

808

most important 2nd order instrument of Wild

PG3

1971

1981

30

universal instrument of Kern

PMG2

1977

1994

>60

point marking and transfer device with comparator characteristics

AM/AMH

1977

1983

173

Family of universal instruments of Wild based on air cushions and in the accuracy class of the A8

AMU

1979

1981

21

5th universal instrument of Wild – fully electronic

AG1

1981

1990

230

simplified, economical universal instrument in the A8 accuracy class

PUG5

1984

1990

44

Ultrasonic point marking and transfer device with the accuracy of an analytical comparator

Legend:

A = Autograph of first order (Wild)                                  PUG = Point marking & transfer device (Wild)

B = Autograph of second order (Wild)                            PMG = Point marking device (Kern)

PG = Photogrametric Instrument (Kern)

    

 

Highlights in the development of the analogue photogrammetric instruments

It would have been inconceivable to think of photogrammetry instrument production in Switzerland without recognition of the following related factors:

  • The development of photography in France and Germany in the 19th century
  • The development of the basic theory of photogrammetry in Germany in the 19th and 20th century
  • The need for military maps in a topographically difficult country such as Switzerland, as was required during the period between WWI and WWII
  • Industries such as Zeiss in Jena and Kern and their supply of a basic stock of well trained precision mechanics and technical designers into the market
  • Business and capital commitment of a few Industrialists.

Without doubt, the need for military maps for reconnaissance was the driving force which guaranteed the market absorption of photogrammetry instruments in Switzerland and provided a base for the further development of instruments for civilian applications.

Today, the military customers of photogrammetric systems contribute a substantial part to the company turnover and are a driver for sophisticated development however the civilian users, after almost a century of instrument availability, have become the principal customers of photogrammetric systems.

 

The analytical period

Product

Phase-in

Phase-in

Unit Sales

Characteristics

B8 Stereomat

1964

 

1 prototype

automated correlation developed with Raytheon of USA

A2000

1968

 

1 prototype

fully automatic orthophoto instrument

OR1

1975

1991

88

computer controlled slit ortho-projector

AC1

1980

1987

45

Instrument based on Abbé principle

DSR1

1980

1984

30

compact system, controlled by several microprocessors

BC1

1982

1984

82

Simplified version of the AC1 (without Abbé)

DSR11

1984

1989

100

Simplified version of the DSR1

BC2

1984

1989

184

PC computer platform

S9-AP

1987

1990

30

analytical plotter for System 9 for online recording into a database,

as of 1989 from Prime Wild GIS AG

DSR12

1988

1991

130

PDP computer platform

DSR14

PC computer platform

DSR15

VAX computer platform

BC3

1989

1990

65

Unix PC computer platform

SD2000

1991

 

>400

PC computer platform and image injection

SD3000

1992

 

>100

PC computer platform and image injection as well as optical base change

Legend:

AC = Analytical Instrument of highest accuracy (Wild)                OR = Ortho-Rectifier (Wild)

BC = Analytical  Instruments simplified (Wild)                             SD = Analytical Instruments (Leica)

DSR = Analytical Instruments (Kern)

                           
   
RC30  1993                                                                            ADS40   2001

 

Highlights in the development of the analytical photogrammetry instruments

Apart from the prototypes B8 Stereomat and the A2000 the companies Wild Heerbrugg and Kern Aarau added analytical systems to their production relatively late. In the 1960’s U.Helava invented the analytical plotter by replacing space rods and linear scales with colinear equations and computers and proved this theory by designing and having manufactured, the US-1. The pinnacle of accuracy with analytical systems was achieved, without doubt by the AC1 but the high cost of this system forced it off the market. The SD2000 from Leica built on the collective experience of Wild and Kern, has been the culmination in the development of analytical photogrammetry technology. The economic manufacturing methods and reliability of this system has led to its continuous series production to this day and ousted competitive systems from the market.  

 

The period of interactive graphic systems

Product

Phase-in

Phase-out

Unit Sales

Characteristics

GeoMap

1981

1984

117

CAD for processing geodetic data and measurements

Informap

1979

1983

>20

product of Synercom, USA

Wildmap

1980

1983

>20

photogrammetry addition to Informap

System 9 -E/D

1987

1990

>40

GIS workstation, from 1989 Prime Wild GIS AG

Infocam

1985

2000

>70

LIS for cadastre applications

 

Highlights in the development of interactive graphic systems

Interactive graphic systems were required from the beginning of the 1980s as complementary systems to the analytical photogrammetry plotters and the electronic tachymeter used in field surveying. The entrance into this new market was made through a distribution agreement with the American company Synercom in 1979. Parallel to this partnership, GeoMap was developed for the geodesy market. Supported by experience gained during the mid 1980s, System 9 based on a comprehensive system architecture of SUN computers was then developed in Heerbrugg and Toronto. The low sales figures of this system as seen from today’s stand point, were due to a too early market entry and the reason why this system was sold in 1989 to the company Prime Wild GIS AG, and later all 100% to Prime Computer. A large part of the development team at that time is responsible today for the development of the GIS system MapInfo. In Aarau, Infocam was developed parallel to the Heerbrugg developments and positioned between GeoMap and System 9. Unfortunately none of these systems created a genuine break-through into the market.

 

The digital period

Product

Phase-in

Phase-out

Unit sales

Characteristics

DSP1

1988

 

1 prototype

First digital workstation from Kern

DSW100

1989

1994

30

Precision Film Scanner film HAI-100

DPW

1992

2003

>1000

Leica was exclusive distributor for the „Digital Photogrammetric Workstation“ by Helava

DSW20