Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Geodesy
8. Geodesy
Matthias Becker
8.1
188
188
189
192
192
193
193
198
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
190
191
191
8.1 Basics
Part B 8
Geodesy is the basis for all Geographic Information System (GIS) applications as it provides
all information that is required for describing the location of a point at or close to the
Earth. In this chapter the basic definitions,
quantities and mathematical relations used in
Geodesy are described. It should provide the
important understanding of reference frames,
coordinates, height systems, their variation in
time and their relation to plane coordinates. It
also includes a review of the importance of the
gravity field and basic methods to determine
coordinates.
186
Part B
Geographic Information
Part B 8.2
8.2 Concepts
Geodesy distinguishes a number of surfaces that have to
be clearly distinguished (Fig. 8.1). These are the solid
Earth surface (i. e., the topography), the reference ellipsoid, and equipotential surfaces such as the geoid or
a local level surface. The position of a point in space can
be described purely geometrically by three-dimensional
Cartesian coordinates referenced, e.g., to the center of
mass of the Earth.
Topography
Geoid
Ellipsoid
Geodesy
Global geoid
187
N
Mean Earth ellipsoid
Part B 8.3
systems