The National Shipbuilding Research Program. Photogrammetric Dimensioning of Distributive Systems Models. Phase 1

Abstract : This project is a natural outgrowth of the Todd/MarAd sponsored project "Photogrammetry in Shipbuilding" which was very successfully concluded in 1976 with a report bearing the same title. In that earlier work it was demonstrated that photogrammetry can produce very reliable dimensions of an object from photographs. Five shipyards subsequently contracted for photogrammetric surveys of large structures, attesting to the productivity of the method. One of the demonstrations conducted during the earlier project produced an accurate arrangement drawing of steam systems from photographs of a portion of a machinery space model. Put, it was concluded that it would be more productive to produce dimensions from such models in digital rather than graphical form. In digital form the dimensional data could be readily manipulated for direct input to existing or developing computer-aided piping design programs. In substance, photogrammetry was seen as a logical link between design modeling of distributive systems and computer-aided piping design programs.