Abstract
Coherent Optics has a natural application to the processing of two-dimensional data, such as aerial photography, because it offers the ability to perform a correlation operation on large quantities of data in parallel. It is reasonable, therefore, that coherent optical systems should find application in the areas of reconnaissance and photogrammetry. We distinguish between these two areas by noting that the photogram-metrist is interested in obtaining precise metric information regarding the terrain. The reconnaissance photointerpreter, on the other hand, is often less concerned with precise measurement and more interested with determining the presence or absence of various objects of interest. For example, the photogrammetrist is interested in measuring the position of a road; the photointerpreter is often more concerned with determining the volume of traffic on the road. More-over, photogrammetric imagery is, in general, much better controlled than imagery obtained primarily for aerial reconnaissance. Consequently, while the data processing needs of these two areas are similar in many respects, there are some differences. We will, there-fore, consider separately some promising applications of coherent optics to reconnaissance and photogrammetry.
