Mj. Gooch et al., Accuracy assessment of digital elevation models generated using the Erdas Imagine OrthoMAX digital photogrammetric system, PHOTOGRAM R, 16(93), 1999, pp. 519-531
The users of many digital photogrammetric systems are allowed a degree of c
ontrol over the automated digital elevation model (DEM) generation software
with a set of strategy parameters. These parameters control the search and
quality control characteristics of the algorithm; hence the wrong choice o
f parameters can have a significant detrimental effect on the accuracy of t
he DEM. This paper describes the strategy parameters used in the Erdas Imag
ine OrthoMAX digital photogrammetric system and a set of tests used to defi
ne the optimum set of parameters for a project. The algorithm employs an ar
ea correlator and a hierarchical approach in the matching process. The resu
lts show that a 35 per cent increase in accuracy can be achieved through th
e process of parameter optimization. They also demonstrate that changes to
the strategy parameters have a similar effect on the results for all areas
of a set of imagery used in the test, which is of particular note because t
he imagery contains a diverse range of landcover types. The paper additiona
lly provides a description of a system currently being developed which will
automatically prescribe the correct set of parameters for a project.