Lecture- 9

Photogrammetry- Parallax in Photographs

Prof. P. K. Garg
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

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 Parallax
The term parallax refers to the apparent change in relative
position of stationary objects caused by a change in viewing
position.
As applied to aerial photos, the parallax of a point is the apparent
difference in position of the point on two consecutive
photographs.

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 Parallax
If a nearby object is observed alternately with the left eye and then
right eye, its location will appear to shift from one position to
another. This apparent shift of place is known as parallax.
In aerial photogrammetry, Parallax is an apparent shift in the position
of an object due to shift in the position of the camera.
Photogrammetry is capable of measuring elevation of earth surface
through the use of parallax method.

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 Parallax

In aerial photography, an object is

photographed from two different positions,
this results in an apparent shift in the positions
of that object, which is referred to as parallax
displacement, or X-parallax.
On overlapping photos, this displacement can
be measured as a linear distance which is
related to the height of the object.

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 Parallax
Consider that the airplane is at O1, vertically above
a point P. The image of P will appear at p on the
image plane.
•When the airplane is at O2, P will appear as p' on
this image plane. The ground point P appear as p on
first image plane and p’ on the second image plane
so this shift of pp' in the position of the image
of P on the image plane is the parallax of P.
•Similarly for any other point Q, qq' in the position
of the image of Q on the image plane is the parallax
of Q.
• qq’ > pp’
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 Types of Parallax for Aerial Photographs
1. Absolute Parallax (X-Parallax/Horizontal Parallax): This parallax is
the algebraic difference of the distances of the two images from
their respective photograph nadirs, measured in horizontal plane
and parallel to the X-axis (airbase).
2. Y-Parallax or Vertical Parallax: If the stereo-photographs are vertical
photographs and take from the same flying height, the Y-Parallax is
absent.
3. Differential Parallax: The difference in the absolute stereoscopic X-
Parallaxes of two points imaged on a pair of photographs.

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 Stereoscopic parallax
Stereo-pair shows the displacement between the top and base of the
storage towers

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 Parallax

The principle of parallax can be used to find height of objects in

stereopairs of vertical aerial photographs
 Parallax Bar
Glass Floating Mark
graticules
Micrometer screw

Parallax Bar or Stereometer is used to measure the difference

of parallax between any two points, more accurately and precisely.
The parallax bar consists of a pair of glass garticules, one is attached
on left side and another to a rigid bar on right. Each graticule has
three small identical marks (cross, dot or circle) etched on the glass,
called floating marks.
 Parallax Bar
Glass Floating Marks
graticules
+
.
Micrometer screw

Floating Mark: It is a mark (circle, dot or cross), associated with parallax

bar or stereometers or stereoscopic plotting machines, used as a
reference mark in examining or measuring the objects in stereo-model.
Parallax differences are measured with floating marks. The separation
of these marks can be varied with the help of a micrometer screw
which gives reading up to 1/100 mm.
 Parallax Bar Details

• The left hand graticule can be clamped at any required distance over
a rigid bar so that the complete overlapped area is covered by the
separation of two floating marks.
• The separation of two identical floating marks can be changed by the
rotation of a micrometer screw to measure parallax distance on a
stereo-pair of photographs. The right hand graticule can be moved
with the help of a micrometer screw having a least count as
0.01mm.
 Mirror Stereoscope and Parallax Bar
Overlapping photos are to be oriented under stereoscope. Parallax
Bar is used to read parallax for points seen within the model
 Measurements by Parallax Bar
• The points on stereo-pair are selected whose parallax
bar readings are to be measured for the computation
of heights.
• The stereo-pair is oriented in the direction of flight line
(base line) to view in stereo.
 Step-1: Orienting a pair of photographs for stereo-viewing
1. One photograph is kept over the other to visually assess the
overlap region.
2. Under a mirror stereoscope, the two photographs are kept apart in
the direction of flight line on a flat surface with overlap region
inwards.
3. On two photographs, their respective principal point and conjugate
principal point are marked. Principal point and conjugate principal
point are joined by a straight line and the line extended on each
photo.
4. The stereo-pair is aligned in such a way that the line drawn on both
the photos lie in a straight line.
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 Step-1: Orienting a pair of photographs for stereo-viewing
5. The mirror stereoscope is oriented so that left lens is over
the left photograph and the right lens is over the right
photograph. The line joining the centre of the lens should be
almost matching with the direction of flight line.
6. Stereo-pair is seen through the stereoscope, and the
distance between the photographs may be adjusted slightly
till two images are fused in the brain and a 3D model of the
overlap region is created.
7. At the first attempt, it might appear a bit difficult to see the
stereo-vision. However with little more adjustments and
practice, it will appear to be easy.
 Step-1: Orienting a pair of photographs for stereo-viewing
8. The two photographs are now properly oriented (this process is
known as base lining).
9. The identification of features on photographs is much easier and
more accurate with three-dimensional view. The visual interpretation
elements (size, shape, shadow, tone, and surrounding objects) will still
be applied to identify the objects; but now with
the addition of relief, a more natural view is seen.
10. Points on left and right photos can be
measured by parallax bar. The difference between
two measured distances by parallax bar will
provide parallax differences between two points.
 Step-2: Taking Parallax Bar measurements
• The points on stereo-pair are selected whose parallax bar readings are
to be measured for the computation of heights.
• The stereo-pair already oriented in the direction of flight line (base line)
is viewed in stereo and the floating marks of parallax bar are kept at a
point (left mark on left image and right mark on right image) whose
parallax bar measurements are to be taken.
• To create stereo-model of the point, the micrometer screw of the
parallax bar is rotated. The floating marks on clear glass will move away
or come closer. While further rotating micrometer screw, at a given
instant, these marks start to fuse together into a single mark.
 Step-2: Taking Parallax Bar measurements
Main
• If micrometer screw is rotated further, these marks Scale

move closer together and appear to rise. If the

screw is rotated in opposite direction, these marks Vernier
move apart and appear to fall. Scale
• When the floating marks appear to be a single mark, resting exactly on terrain,
main scale and micrometer screw readings are read and added together, called
parallax bar reading at that point.
• Main scale reading = 43mm, Micrometer drum reading =23/100=0.23mm
• Total parallax bar reading = 43 + 0.23 = 43.23mm
• Several parallax bar readings at that point are taken and average value used in
the computation. Similarly, the parallax bar readings of other points are taken.
 Measurements by Parallax Bar
Two important aspects
of stereoscopic parallax;
(i) parallax of any point
is directly related to
the elevation of the
point, and
(ii) parallax is greater
for high points than
for low points.
 Absolute Parallax
It is defined as, “Displacement along or parallel to the line of
flight and is represented by the algebraic difference of the
distances of corresponding images from their respective nadirs
when measured parallel to the line of flight”.

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 Differential Parallax

b b’

pa = xa - x'a
a a’
pb = xb - (-x'b) = xb + x'b

∆p = difference of parallax bar readings at a and b

= (PA~ PB)

p  ( xb  xb )  ( xa  xa )
 Measurements for Parallax
Determine differential parallax (dP)
Difference of the distances between feature base and top
in a stereopair.
dt

db

PP CPP CPP PP

Example: If db = 15.20 cm and dt = 13.50 cm then dP = 1.70 cm

 Geometric relation between X-parallax (P)
and object height (h)
From Fig, two triangles are similar.
Using the properties of similar triangles,
we can write
[(H-h) / B] = f / P
H- h = [B f / P]
h = H - [B f / P]
Thank You

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