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Despite the potential of close range photogrammetry for high accuracy measurement, it has rarely been used by other than experienced photogrammetrists. One major contributing factor is the expertise needed to design multistation sensor configurations. This paper presents a conceptual model for the most fundamental task in this design problem, configuring a first approximation to a strong imaging geometry. This task entails making decisions on the number of camera stations needed and where they should be placed (positioned and oriented). The conceptual model is based on the theory of generic networks. A generic network constitutes compiled expertise, describing an ideal configuration of camera stations that can be employed to provide a strong imaging geometry for a class of network design problems. In addition to improving our understanding of cognition in network design, this model performs an important role in the development of an expert system for automated network design for dimensional inspection tasks.

Informal settlements are a common feature of developing countries. In South Africa the improvement of living conditions in these settlements and the upgrading to formal housing types are regarded as being of central importance to the nation's development. Effective settlement improvement and upgrading activities, which we here term "management", require adequate spatial data. To date, the acquisition of spatial models of informal settlements has been based on conventional mapping techniques, and mostly on photogrammetry. Data are compiled using analogue or analytical methods. These are manual and hence require both considerable expertise and expensive equipment. Moreover, these methods are uneconomical over the often relatively small, densely populated areas covered by informal settlements and are also too expensive to employ with a regularity required to support such tasks as change detection. Alternative imaging sources and mapping techniques are therefore needed.In this article we examine the problem of spatial information acquisition for informal settlement management from three perspectives: spatial information requirements, the role which imagery can play in satisfying these spatial information requirements, and effective imaging options. We focus on the potential of high resolution satellite imaging, small format digital aerial imagery and digital multispectral video systems for rapid mapping. We also discuss the example of automated shack extraction from aerial imagery.

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