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Stereo PhotographyPage 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 IntroductionStereo (3-D) photography is certainly neat to look at, but it might also soon help scientists conduct research on a variety of subjects including tornadoes. Video and photographs are sometimes detailed enough to allow scientists to identify small objects. In the case of video or sequential photographs, small objects might be traced to see how the move from frame to frame (i.e. through time). But without the third dimension, in this case depth, the scientist can only determine the motion tangent to the videographer's location. Technology has advanced enough that it seems feasible to automate digital photography of tornadoes by about 2005. Scientists at the NOAA National Severe Storms Lab and OU Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies are working out the plans now. Their idea is to mount computer-controlled cameras on NSSL's mobile mesonet fleet. The cameras must be mounted on a small platform that can rotate to aim in the desired direction, plus level itself in case the car is on an incline. The cameras on multiple vehicles must then be synchronized to take the photos at the same time in order to obtain stereo, or 3-D pairs of images. All of this must be done very quickly and automatically. Generally speaking scientists have plenty to do already just to navigate around a moving tornado and stay safe while still collecting useful data. DO NOT ATTEMPT TRY THIS WITH REAL TORNADOES. Even experienced scientists have extraordinary difficulty positioning instruments to measure tornadoes while remaining safe. Luckily, the concept and math of stereo photography can be safe - let's try it with fixed, ground objects. On to page 2...
Last updated: March 25, 2002 |