Photogrammetry

Photogrammetry "is the art, science, and technology of obtaining reliable [and quantitative] information about physical objects and the environment", using recording, measuring and analyzing electromagnetic energy and other phenomena. The images used for analysis are typically obtained by remote sensing, although it need not be long-range sensing; photogrammetric methods can be used to validate and interpret short-range photographs. Closely related fields include geographic information systems, imagery intelligence, geodesy, and geospatial intelligence.

One way to think of modern photogrammetry is as a process that takes one or more recorded images, and converts them to a two- or three-dimensional set of coordinates and attributes. Photogrammetric metrology takes precise measurements by computations on the coordinates.