What technology replaces the traditional stereoplotter for manipulating spatial geometry in aerial photography?

The correct answer is softcopy photogrammetry, which is a technology that has advanced to replace the traditional stereoplotter in the manipulation of spatial geometry derived from aerial photography. This method utilizes digital images and computer processing to extract three-dimensional spatial data, allowing for more precise measurements, increased efficiency, and the ability to work with various data formats.

Softcopy photogrammetry takes advantage of modern computer technology to facilitate the viewing and analysis of aerial images in a digital environment. This allows surveyors and photographers to manipulate, analyze, and interpret spatial relationships in a way that is more flexible than the physical stereoplotters of the past, which required the use of physical film and specialized equipment to display and measure aerial images.

The other choices, while relevant in the field of surveying and mapping, do not specifically serve the same function as softcopy photogrammetry. Sketch mapping software focuses on creating visual representations rather than spatial data manipulation. 3D modeling software is primarily used for visualizing three-dimensional structures, and geospatial analysis tools encompass a broad range of applications without focusing exclusively on the manipulation of aerial imagery. Thus, softcopy photogrammetry distinctly meets the needs of modern surveying techniques in ways that these alternatives do not.