FOUR DECADES OF PROGRESS IN PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION SINCE THE FOUNDING OF COMMISSION VII

摘要

As a co-founder of Commission VII (Photographic Interpretation) of the International Society for Photogrammetry (ISP) and as its first President (1952-1956) the author describes from those perspectives the tenuous status of photo interpretation in the early 1950s. He then eva1uates certa in developments of the past forty years that have led to the present great 1y increased usefulness of photo interpretation for both civil and military purposes. The items discussed, all in relation to the "Multi" concept as applied to photo interpretation progress, include those pertaining to the development of new sensors and sensor systems; new sensor-carrying platforms; new photo interpretation techniques and equipment; and new capabilities for displaying photo interpretation-derived results and incorporating them into various kinds of geographic information systems. Among the briefly-discussed examples of progress in photo interpretation that have been made possible by such developments are those pertaining to monitoring various components of the environment, and to managing the world's renewable and non-renewable natural resources. Also discussed are important photo interpretation-related roles that have been played by the United Nations (large 1y through FAO), the Vatican, various national and international space agencies and, especially, by ISPRS (primarily through its Commission VII). The paper concludes with a brief look to the future of photographic interpretation, with emphasis on the degree of "technology acceptance" that is likely to result in this fast-growing field.