Map of the Mount Gongga Glacier: A Combination of Terrestrial and Aerial Photogrammetry

For use in glaciological research, between 1982 and 1984, we succeeded in surveying and mapping the Mount Gongga Glacier, on a scale of 1:25 000, by means of a combination of terrestrial and aerial photogrammetry. This paper describes the method in detail.In the survey area, we set up an independent, triangulation network, with microwave distance measurement, and two, independent, straight-line traverses, for basic control. Control points were observed by intersection. The terrestrial, photogrammetric baselines were projected and corrected into distances on the. plane of the map.Terrestrial photography accounted for the majority of the photographs of the survey area. Surveying and mapping of planimetrie and topographic features were completed on a stereo-autograph, using plates mainly from terrestrial photogrammetry. Where these data were insufficient, they were supplemented by aerial photography, plotted on a photographic plotting instrument. Orientation points of the aerial photographs were established by terrestrial, photogrammetric analysis and located on the map by an optical, mechanical method.The practical result showed that a combination of terrestrial and aerial photogrammetry, in mapping a high, mountain, glacier area, on a large scale, is more feasible and flexible than other methods and more economical as well.