Photogeology
Contract the best photogeology services for your energy and environmental project needs
Photogeology, or photogrammetry, uses aerial and satellite photography to both quantitative and qualitative information about the terrain being photographed. Photogeologists first identify and then map geologic conditions in a particular area such as land and rock formations, patterns of erosion and impact features such as faults and craters. The photogeologist then makes educated predictions about what is happening below the viewable surface. Multiple vertical aerial photos are the most useful for accurately mapping surface terrain.The experience and training of the individual who analyzes the photos determines the amount and accuracy of information derived from them. The photogeologist uses everything at his disposal to interpret the photos, including patterns, size, shapes, shadows, colors and relative placement. In addition to the generic topographical mapping of a specific area, the various geologic events or conditions studied with photogeology include site selection for future drilling or mining or identification of potential hazards such as avalanches, landslides or earthquakes. Photogeology also quantifies changes caused by natural disasters and pre-construction scouting for geo-sensitive structures such as dams, bridges and harbors.
1. Understand what photogeology is all about.
2. Find a specialist to help successfully complete your photogeology project.
3. Use software to organize and track photogeology data.
Educate yourself about photogeology to know what services you need
To know what services you need and what to ask your contractors for you first need to know what services are available and what information those services provide. These educational sites are loaded with both basic and advanced materials about photogeology to help you decide what services best suit your project.
Try: Try the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing to kickstart your education in photogeology. The Society provides a huge amount of educational material for both the educational and business sectors. The Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing is another invaluable resource for educating yourself about photogeology and earth sciences.
Contract a photogeologist to help with your photogeology survey
Individuals and organizations who engage in photogrammetry and remote sensing often specialize in analyzing geodata for a particular type of geoform, such as fault lines or oil and gas fields. These photogeology resources help you get the best data for your project.
Try: Intergraph is a world leader in collecting and analyzing geospacial data. They use multispectral photography, imaging and state-of-the-art processing for accurate collection and analysis of data even in reduced light. Cooper Aerial Surveys provides a wide range of services including real-time photogrammetry, remote sensing, photogeological surveying, analysis for erosion control, accident reconstruction, spherical photogrammetry, IMU and GPS.
Choose software to help organize and track your geospacial data
The right software brings a photogeology project together and keeps geospacial data organized and usable. These resources are available to help focus your efforts and tighten up a finished product by weeding through unnecessary or redundant information.
Try: PCI Geomatics has developed Geomatica, which offers a single integrated environment for remote sensing, GIS, photogrammetry, cartography, web and development tools. Inpho offers a series of software that provides digital capability in triangulation, data and image capture, and terrain modeling.
- Contact the geology department of your local university and ask if any of the professors perform photogeological analysis on the side. You may get a highly qualified photogeologist to work with you at a fraction of the cost of a commercial contractor.
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