Artificial intelligence in photogrammetry

The scope of the discipline of artificial intelligence is reviewed and its relevance for the discipline of photogrammetry is analyzed. The most appropriate artificial-intelligence techniques are delt with more in detail, especially the usage of heuristics in algorithms, rule-based knowledge representation and programming, and also object-oriented programming. Urgent need for using expert-system technology is seen when replacing semiautomatic man-machine systems with fully automatic systems. In building expert systems, especially in gathering of knowledge as rules, a system-analytical approach is considered to be a necessity. It is concluded that the key issue will be the structuring task in the building of complex systems for photogrammetric analysis — also when gathering the knowledge-base for rule-based programming. In the future, it will be increasingly difficult to distinguish between the techniques and methods used in artificial intelligence and, on the other hand, those used in more conventional system design and software engineering.