From point-based to feature-based aerial triangulation

This paper is concerned with using linear features in aerial triangulation. Without loss of generality, the focus is on straight lines with the attempt to treat tie lines in the same fashion as tie points. The parameters of tie lines appear in the block adjustment like the tie points do. This requires a unique representation of lines in object space. We propose a four-parameter representation that also offers a meaningful stochastic interpretation of the line parameters. The proposed line representation lends itself to a parameterized form, allowing use of the collinearity model for expressing orientation and tie line parameters as a function of points measured on image lines. The paper describes in detail the derivation of the extended collinearity model and discusses the advantages of this new approach compared to the standard coplanarity model that is used in line photogrammetry. The intention of the paper is to make a contribution to feature-based aerial triangulation on the algorithmic level.