Depth perception

Depth can be judged with an image received by just one eye (monocular) or with the image
received by both eyes (binocular).

Monoscopic (or monocular) depth perception

If the observer uses only one eye then the depth assessment is made on the basis of:

 Scale
Through the evaluation of the relative size of objects.
 Superposition
From observing one object partially obscuring another.
 Shadow
Through examining the shape of an object’s shadow.
 Focus
Through changing focus of the eye.
 Perspective
Through observing that parallel features converge as the distance increases.

A person with vision in only one eye has limited ability to judge distance and depth, so simple
tasks such as catching a ball can prove challenging. The ability to judge distance can be
developed with experience, but it can never reach the same degree that can be obtained with
binocular vision.

Stereoscopic (or binocular) depth perception

Unaided binocular vision is effective over a range starting at about 150mm from the eyes to a
limit of about 400 metres.
Stereoscopic or two eyed-viewing, allows a much greater perception of depth with a very high
degree of accuracy. The main principle is that images projected onto right and left eyes are not
identical, as each comes from a slightly different direction. The brain processes these two images
to form a three-dimensional image.

When the eyes are focused on a certain point, the optical axes of the eyes converge on that point
intersecting at an angle called the parallactic angle. The nearer the object the larger the
parallactic angle and vice versa.

In the figure below the two eyes are separated by the eye base. The average eye base of an adult
is about 60-65mm. When the eyes are focused on the point A the optical axes converge to form a
parallactic angle α.

Similarly, when focusing on point B, the optical axes converge to form the parallactic angle β.
The brain automatically associates distance hA and hB with A and B, respectively, so depth is
perceived.

The distance between A and B (hB – hA) is perceived by the difference in the two parallactic
angles. This is the basis of all stereoscopic depth perception.

Beyond a distance of 400 metres the change in parallactic angle becomes so small that depth
perception cannot be discerned. The smallest difference in parallactic angle which can be
interpreted as an impression of depth is an indication of our stereoscopic acuity.

Stereoscopic viewing of aerial photos

In photogrammetry, stereoscopic vision is, in fact, artificial. Instead of observing directly with
both eyes, each eye is presented with a slightly different photograph of the object, taken from
widely separated exposure stations.

The human brain is able to see the common overlap of two aerial photographs artificially in three
dimensions. Each eye views the same image, but from a slightly different angle. High points on
the photograph have been displaced from their true position — away from the principle point of
each photograph.

The resulting image may be seen clearly if the natural link between focus and convergence can
be broken. That is if the eyes can focus at about 250mm but converge to form a parallactic angle
at a greater distance, beneath the paper in fact.

This can be seen graphically.

Two vertical aerial photographs are taken from two different exposure stations (L1 and L2). On
each photograph is the image of a tower, with base on each is labelled as B and top labelled as T.

The images of the tops of the towers have moved further across the photograph than the bases
because the top is closer to the camera. Note that there is a displacement at the top of the tower,
that is, the image at the top is displaced away from the centre of the photograph.

The two photographs are laid flat on a table, the base line formed by the principle points are
aligned with the eye base and the two images of the tower separated by about 50mm.

A viewer now could fix his left eye on the left image and his right eye on the right image and
gain the impression that the tower stands at the height ΔH.
Note that the parallactic angles, α and β, at the top and base of the tower differ as a direct result
of the x-separation, or x-parallax of each point. The greater the parallactic angle, the greater the
height of the object.

When viewing the common overlapping area of two aerial photographs, the viewer’s gaze shifts
from point to point and observes continuously changing parallactic angles.

This variation enables the viewer to gain a continuous stereoscopic image of the terrain.

Viewing aerial photographs as just described is rather impractical as there is a psychological

contradiction. Normally a person associates short focus of the eyes with a particular parallactic
angle, usually large. Conversely, infinite focus is associated with an extremely small
convergence angle of the optical axes.

Breaking this natural link is not impossible but requires practice. It is, however, possible to
overcome the problem by the use of an optical device called a stereoscope.