Expand mobile version menu
  Skip to main content

Photogrammetric Technician

What They Do

Insider Info

Photogrammetry is the science of making measurements and maps using photographs. For example, a technician aboard an aircraft takes a series of overlapping photographs of an area to be mapped. Adjacent images are placed in an instrument called a stereo-plotter and calibrated using data obtained by surveyors in the field.

The resulting 3D image allows a photogrammetric technician to draw contour lines (lines of equal elevation) and enlarge the area of interest. The final map shows the features and elevations of the surface. New technologies allow contour information to be overlaid on ortho photography.

Technology is influencing photogrammetrists and cartographers. They have evolved into a new type of mapping scientist known as a geographic information system (GIS) specialist.

"GIS [specialists] drive a lot of projects, and we are a little down on the food chain," says Thomas Asbeck, who works with a photo science company in Bangor, Maine. "But generally, GIS is a boon to photogrammetry because GIS systems have to have some kind of base maps, and that is what we do."

"Everything is becoming more automated," says Ken Sherman, a geomatics instructor. "There is a shift away from the mechanical instruments to a computer-driven instrument."

At a Glance

Make maps from photos

  • The trend is toward computer-driven instruments
  • You need strong technical skills
  • The American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing offers certification

Contact

  • Email Support

  • 1-800-GO-TO-XAP (1-800-468-6927)
    From outside the U.S., please call +1 (424) 750-3900

Support


Powered by XAP

OCAP believes that financial literacy and understanding the financial aid process are critical aspects of college planning and student success. OCAP staff who work with students, parents, educators and community partners in the areas of personal finance education, state and federal financial aid, and student loan management do not provide financial, investment, legal, and/or tax advice. This website and all information provided is for general educational purposes only, and is not intended to be construed as financial, investment, legal, and/or tax advice.