History of the Chair of Photogrammetry

The beginnings of research and university education of the Technical University in the field of photogrammetry go back to Professor Dr. Reinhard Hugershoff (1882 - 1941) and to the year 1911. The development runs over many years separately or parallel in the context of the education of students of geodesy, cartography and forestry as well as a minor subject education at the university locations Dresden and Tharandt respectively.

• 1911: Appointment of Prof. Dr. Reinhard Hugershoff (1882 - 1941) as professor for mathematics and surveying (including photogrammetry) at the Forest Academy Tharandt. Topic of his inaugural speech on 24.05.1911: Photogrammetry and its importance for forestry. At the same time: Private lecturer at the Technical University with lectures on photogrammetry.
• 1925: Appointment of Prof. Dr. Paul Werkmeister (1878 - 1944) as full professor for surveying and director of the Geodetic Institute of the Dresden Technical University. Main focus of teaching and research: instrumentation and low-level geodesy (including terrestrial photogrammetry).
• 1933: Prof. Dr. Hugershoff becomes head of the Institute for Engineering and Aerial Surveying (from 1940: Institute for Forestry Surveying and Aerial Surveying) in Tharandt.
• 1938: Appointment of Prof. Dr. Hugershoff to the Chair of Surveying and Photogrammetry at the Institute of Surveying and Photogrammetry at the Dresden Technical University.
• 1943: Appointment of Prof. Dr. Kurt Schwidefsky (1905 - 1986) to the Chair of Surveying and Photogrammetry; appointment does not become effective, as Prof. Schwidefsky is suspended for the time of the war as head of the Image Measurement Department of the Zeiss Jena company.

• 1947: After the complete destruction of the institute in World War II, the reconstruction of the Dresden Technical University in the field of geodesy begins on April 1 under the direction of Prof. Dr. Alwill Buchholtz (1880 - 1972) with the reestablishment of the Geodetic Institute and the appointment of Prof. Dr. Buchholtz to the Chair of Surveying and Photogrammetry. The already 66-year-old full professor gives lectures on surveying, adjustment theory and photogrammetry. The achievements of this meritorious university teacher in the rebuilding of the Technical University in the field of geodesy under the given conditions are immense.

• 1952: After expansion of the number of university lecturers in the Geodetic Institute, Prof. Dr. Buchholtz is appointed as full professor to the chair of photogrammetry on September 1.

• 1956: In the Faculty of Forestry, Prof. Dr. Gottfried Müller (1903 - 1972) is appointed to a professorship, in 1959 as Professor of Forestry Geodesy (including photogrammetry) and in 1960 as Professor with Chair.

• 1961: The scientist of the company Carl Zeiss Jena Prof. Dr. Horst Jochmann (*1927) holds the chair of photogrammetry.

• 1968: Prof. Dr. Werner Rüger (*1912) is reappointed from the Bergakademie Freiberg to the chair of photogrammetry at the Dresden University of Technology.

• 1969: The lecture Forestry Photogrammetry and Aerial Image Interpretation for students of the Forestry Section is held by Dr. Gerhard Klier (*1940) and from 1973 by Dr. Karl Regensburger (*1933) as lecturers.

• 1978: After the retirement of Prof. Dr. Rüger, Dr. Jürgen Pietschner (*1934) is appointed as lecturer for photogrammetry.

• 1978: Dr. Eberhart Pelz (*1931) takes over as lecturer of the course Forest Photogrammetry and Aerial Photographic Interpretation at the Forestry Section. 1979: Dr. Pelz is appointed as a lecturer.

• 1981: Appointment of Dr. Pelz as lecturer in photographic interpretation.

• 1992: Appointment of Prof. Dr. Karl Regensburger (*1933) to the chair of photogrammetry. At the same time Prof. Regensburger takes over the education in the field of photogrammetry for students of forestry. This education is carried out by Dr. Ralf Donner (*1959) since 1997.

• 1993: Appointment of Prof. Dr. Elmar Csaplovics (*1956) as professor for remote sensing. Prof. Csaplovics also takes care of the education in the field of remote sensing for the students of the Forest Sciences Department.

• 1998: Appointment of Dr. Rolf-Peter Mark (*1937) as deputy chair for the department of photogrammetry.

• 2000: Appointment of Prof. Dr. Hans-Gerd Maas (*1959) as professor for photogrammetry.