What is photogrammetry?

Hi I see some scenery add-ons are considered "photogrammetry", while some others are considered "landmarks", and maybe there are more types.

 

I'm not quite clear about the differences. Could someone please explain?

 

(Sorry if this may seem too obvious to some, but it is not to me, and I think the only stupid questions are those which are not asked).

 

Thanks in advance, best regards.

I may be wrong, but photogrammetry is the use of photgraphic ground textures such as Google or Bing maps. As Google maps can be built in to 3d terrain, it's used for many of the addons we see. Landmarks on the other hand are models or objects that are stored in a library and inserted in to the sim over the terrain so can be present whether photogrametric textures are on or off. If I'm wrong, someone will be along to correct me.

Photogrammetry as it applies to MSFS is the use of photos to generate 3D models. Rather than having someone sit down and accurately model each and every individual building and house, companies like Google and Microsoft will use the hundreds or thousands of aerial and street level photos to automatically generate the models. It can also be applied to smaller objects as well.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photogrammetry#3D_modeling

 

These models can then be placed on top of the underlying satellite and aerial imagery.

Here's a video demonstrating how it can be done with drones.

 

Thank you very much for your replies.

 

I may be wrong, but I conclude photogrammetry is then an automated system for building 3D models, while landmarks might be considered more "handcrafted", somehow close to CAD and allowing for better detail. Does this make sense?

Sounds about right to me.