Some Problems in Air-photo Interpretation of House Types

Abstract

In order to analyse house types in modern settlements, observation of classical house types is insufficient. In any settlement, it is necessary to observe all kinds of houses (old or new, small or big) and to attempt a complete enumeration of house types. Air-photos are suitable for achieving this purpose speedily, but the method of interpretation of small, point-shaped photo-images such as house types is insufficiently established.This paper first discusses some problems of interpretating point-shaped photo-images and, then, attempts a complete enumeration of house types by using air-photos.(1) Interpretation method of point-shaped photo-image. Five steps (Table 1) for interpreting point-shaped photo-images were established. A relationship was found between step and scale of photo in that as the photo scale became larger, a more advanced step became necessary.(2) Complete enumeration of house types by using air-photos (Table 2). An examination was made of the settlement of Mihama-cho, Wakayama prefecture. Two independent data sources were used for house type classification (Table 4). One source was local house tax records and the other was air-photos. Using a Zeiss Stereotope, individual house types (Fig. 3) in Mio were discerned and the settlement pattern (Fig. 2) was drawn. Thus, by using air-photos, an intensive classification, based on house-roof variations was made. The use of air-photos for studying house types seems more suitable for intensive surveys than for extensive surveys.