Geometric Geodesy Study Notes

Definition: The science of measuring and understanding Earth's geometric shape, orientation in space, and gravity field.
Types of Measurements:
- Distance Measurement: Using tapes, EDM (Electronic Distance Measurement), or GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems).
- Angle Measurement: Using theodolites or total stations.
- Leveling: Establishing differences in elevation using leveling instruments.

Purpose: To provide a framework for locating points on the Earth's surface.
Types:
- Geographic Coordinate System: Uses latitude and longitude.
- Projected Coordinate System: Represents the 3D surface on a 2D plane (e.g., UTM, State Plane Coordinate System).
Reference Frames: Realizations of coordinate systems at a specific time (e.g., ITRF - International Terrestrial Reference Frame).

Definition: A mathematically defined surface that approximates the shape of the Earth.
Purpose: To minimize discrepancies between the ellipsoid and the actual surface of the Earth.
Parameters:
- Semi-major Axis: Longest radius of the ellipsoid.
- Flattening: Measure of how much the ellipsoid is flattened at the poles compared to the equator.
Common Ellipsoids: WGS84, GRS80.

Definition: The process of converting coordinates from one geodetic datum to another.
Types of Datums:
- Horizontal Datum: Defines the coordinate system for latitude and longitude.
- Vertical Datum: Defines elevation or depth (e.g., NAVD88).
Transformation Techniques:
- Geometric Transformations: Rigid transformations based on control points.
- Parametric Transformations: Utilize mathematical models to account for differences.

Overview: A satellite-based navigation system that allows for precise location determination.
Components:
- Satellites: At least 24 satellites in orbit.
- Receivers: Devices that capture signals from satellites.
Functionality:
- Triangulation: Determining 3D position by calculating distances from multiple satellites.
- Accuracy: Typically within meters, improved with techniques like Differential GPS (DGPS) or Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) positioning.
Applications: Surveying, mapping, navigation, and geophysical research.

The science focuses on measuring Earth's geometric shape, orientation in space, and gravity field.
Types of measurements include:
- Distance Measurement utilizes tapes, Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM), or Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS).
- Angle Measurement employs theodolites or total stations for precise angular measurements.
- Leveling establishes elevation differences with leveling instruments for height determination.

Provide a framework to locate points on Earth's surface.
Categories of coordinate systems:
- Geographic Coordinate System relies on latitude and longitude for global location referencing.
- Projected Coordinate System translates the 3D surface to a 2D plane, such as UTM or State Plane Coordinate System.
- Reference Frames, like the International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF), represent the coordinates at a specific instant in time.

A mathematically defined surface that closely approximates Earth's shape for geodetic purposes.
Aims to minimize discrepancies between the ellipsoid and actual Earth surface.
Key parameters include:
- Semi-major Axis, indicating the longest radius of the ellipsoid.
- Flattening, defining how much the ellipsoid is compressed at the poles relative to the equator.
- Commonly used ellipsoids are WGS84 and GRS80.

Involves converting coordinates between different geodetic datums.
Types of datums include:
- Horizontal Datum, which defines the coordinate system for latitude and longitude.
- Vertical Datum, used for defining elevation or depth, exemplified by NAVD88.
Transformation techniques consist of:
- Geometric Transformations, which are rigid and based on established control points.
- Parametric Transformations, which apply mathematical models to manage datum discrepancies.

A satellite-based navigation system enabling precise location determination globally.
Key components of GPS include:
- A minimum of 24 satellites providing coverage around the Earth.
- Receivers that capture satellite signals for positioning.
Functionality is based on triangulation to find a 3D position using distance measurements from multiple satellites.
Accuracy typically ranges within meters, enhanced by Differential GPS (DGPS) and Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) techniques.
Applications span parts like surveying, mapping, navigation, and geophysical research.