<title>Holographic Terrain Displays</title>

Abstract

The suitability of holography as a method for recording and reproducing visual displays of terrain is examined in a tutorial, non-mathematical manner. The paper is based chiefly on a literature search combined with some original work by the author. Consideration of requirements for 3-D displays in general and the particular problem of making holograms of terrain is followed by a detailed discussion of the different types of hologram and how they may be used to make terrain displays with different characteristics. Emphasis is on the 2-photograph stereoscopic hologram which is called a "holographic stereomodel". Techniques to enhance certain characteristics of holographic displays such as color rendition and efficient use of illumination are examined and possible uses of holography in tasks related to map making are suggested. A discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of selected types of holograms for terrain display is included.