The measurement of river channel morphology using digital photogrammetry

This paper seeks to review the progress that is being achieved by fluvial g eomorphologists in making use of digital photogrammetry for river channel r esearch. Fluvial geomorphology is first placed in a basic historical contex t from which the failure to make full use of the potential of photogrammetr y is noted. A review is then given of the ways in which fluvial geomorpholo gists are now making use of photogrammetry, recognizing that the developmen t of digital approaches has both made photogrammetry a more cost-effective tool and also introduced a range of new research questions. The main object ive of this paper is to demonstrate the importance of these questions and t o illustrate some of the ways in which they are being addressed. Special at tention is given to the issue of data quality, which is frequently (and per haps conveniently) ignored.