Design and calibration of close-range stereophotogrammetric systems in biology and biomedicine

This thesis discusses the design and calibration of close-range stereophotogrammetric systems in biology and biomedicine. Two applications of photogrammetry are described The first is the design and validation of a photogrammetric method of measuring the surface topography of the human cornea. The second encompasses three photogrammetric methods of measuring the aggregation behaviour of underwater animals. Some aspects of the designs have required new instrumentation, others have required further investigation of current techniques or the application of established technique to new circumstances. Two investigations that were a component of the design and calibration process are described in detail. One is an investigation of the accuracy of video tape as a recording medium in digital photogrammetry. The other is an investigation of the geometric reliability of an underwater stereocamera submerged in deep-water. The applications and investigations that are described serve to illustrate a cross section of current technology and methodology in biomedical and biological stereophotogrammetry. They involve both analogue and digital cameras, single media and multi-media environments, and conventional and unconventional data reduction methods. The thesis includes: i. a review of relevant analytical and digital stereophotogrammetric techniques; 11. a description of a new method of measuring the anterior surf ace topography of the human cornea and the design of a digital implementation of a corneal measurement system; 111. a description of three applications of photogrammetry in underwater animal behaviour research; iv. an investigation of the metric characteristics of one type of image recording medium; and v. an investigation of the calibration parameters of an underwater stereocamera. The applications described share three characteristics: i. they illustrate the operational restrictions that can impose on a photogrammetric solution; ii. they have required an investigation of some aspect of the photogrammetric process; and iii. they have required an understanding of the discipline of the end-user. In the light of these characteristics a common theme is developed. Namely the extent to which a photogrammetrist must recognise the objectives, methods, and constraints imposed by the user of photogrammetric data and the way in which that affects the photogrammetric solution