Missing availability of reliable and specific landscape data may pose substantial restrictions to successful exploitation of remote sensing data and fast implementation of GIS (Geo-Information Systems). The possibilities to document conditions with high spacial* resolution at a given time and to review changing aspects by different disciplines represent opportunities for complex environmental programs.
The article covers: geodata acquisition and processing, research, execution, and ergonomicaYcognitive aspects. Application in inpenetrable terrain for research, landuse, and engineering requirements proved the feasibility especially in areas with high demand for timely, accurate, and comprehensive surveys.
Airborne close-range sensing was developed to survey localities and regions. It is no competition to global-change monitoring and large area mapping programs possible with remote sensing. Substituting only the bulk of field-work, leaving time for in-depth review in the field or in the office, the system provides a possibility to restudy points of interest.
Exploifation of advanced metric cameras, specialized airborne platforms, and spatial overlay, recognition, and discrimination techniques form the backbone of the TOPO-GRAMM approach. Multi-sectoral, multi-temporal, multi-spectral survey and processing methods rely basically on enlarged image scales additional to conventional aero-photogrammetry and analytic plotting. Measurements and identification, not primarily interpretation, allow to establish high-fidelity and high resolution geo-frameworks. Focussing on micro-and mesoscales, no emphasis is given to highest geometric accuracy used for geodetic surveys. Drawing near to the object allows extraction of thematical and semantical information, dimensions, and phenomenology of objects hitherto only singularily available. * distinction is made between 'spacial' (three-dimensional) and 'spatial' (two-dimensional)