568 ABSTRACTS : ENGINEERING 



I 



ENGINEERING. — The use of the panoramic camera in topographic sur- 

 veying, with notes on the application of photogrammetry to aerial 

 surveys. James W. Bagley. U. S. Geological Survey Bulletin 

 657. Pp. 88, with maps, tables, and illustrations. 1917. 

 This bulletin treats of the use made of the panoramic camera in con- 

 nection with the planetable in Alaskan topographic surveys, describes the 

 supplementary instruments and devices employed for constructing 

 topographic maps, and contains maps resulting from the method. 

 Though engineers have for many years recognized the possible value of 

 the panoramic camera in topographic surveying, there is no other 

 record of its having been systematically employed in topographic sur- 

 veying. The conclusions indicate that the method is valuable in rug- 

 ged mountains, not only because it reduces the final cost of the map, 

 but because in certain classes of reconnaissance surveys where time for 

 the field work is limited there is a distinct gain in the quantity of the 

 results. 



The principles governing the use of photographs taken from aircraft 

 are briefly set forth in the chapter on the application of photogrammetry 

 to aerial surveys. The increasing importance of this branch of photo- 

 graphic surveying to certain engineering and surveying practices gives it 

 place as a subject that needs much immediate investigation. The 

 chief purpose of the notes is to call attention to this need and to indi- 

 cate a possible method of procedure. J. W. B. 



