What is the purpose of aerotriangulation in photogrammetry?

Aerotriangulation serves the critical function of establishing geometric relationships between overlapping photographs taken from aerial platforms. This process involves analyzing the spatial relationships and orientation of various images to construct accurate three-dimensional representations of the terrain. By determining the precise positions and angles from which these images were captured, aerotriangulation ensures that they can be aligned correctly. This alignment is essential for creating accurate topographic maps and digital elevation models, as it allows surveyors and cartographers to compile data from multiple angles and sources into a coherent format.

The other options, while they describe activities that might occur in photogrammetry or aerial imaging, do not capture the primary role of aerotriangulation in establishing the foundational geometric data necessary for further analysis and mapping.