Geometrical Geodesy

Surveying a Century Ago As it was based on the principles of geometry and trigonometry, surveying may be may be looked upon as a branch of practical mathematics. Hence, it was necessary that land surveyors and hydrographers should have a fair general knowledge, not only of these subjects, but also of all the subjects comprised by the term mathemat ics. In addition, the knowledge of mathematics required in ordinary chain surveying and levelling was not very extensive but in geodetical work, the highest mathematical ability and great organising power were required for a proper conception and supervision of the operations (Threlfall, 1940). Only small area of a few hundred square kilometres can be accurately mapped and surveyed without a frame work, since no difficulty is encountered because of Earth-curvature. In the past, especially in hydrography due to the type of work, surveying was carried out on the principles of ordinary practice, but in a very rough man ner, rapidity of execution being of paramount importance, the permissible error was sometimes large. The relative positions of the main surface features were obtained by aid of portable instruments, such as sextants and lead lines, tide poles, and logships. Sketching, just like military surveying was often filling in the smaller detail. In contrary, survey works done by the national mapping agencies (NMAs) were of a higher-level, and comprised the delimitation of boundaries as well as topographical surveys.

Introduction to Geometrical and Physical Geodesy: Foundations of Geomatics explores geodesy, the discipline dealing with the measurement and representation of the earth. Establishing GIS as a coordinate-based system, and building on this concept, the book culminates in the reader's applied knowledge of geodesy. To simplify presentation, mathematics in this book are discussed without origin or proof, and all formulas have detailed examples illustrating their use. Intended for the classroom or professional reference, Introduction to Geometrical and Physical Geodesy: Foundations of Geomatics simplifies the geodesic formulas related to surveying, making it a practical approach to geodesy and GIS.

Geodesy: The Concepts, Second Edition focuses on the processes, approaches, and methodologies employed in geodesy, including gravity field and motions of the earth and geodetic methodology. The book first underscores the history of geodesy, mathematics and geodesy, and geodesy and other disciplines. Discussions focus on algebra, geometry, statistics, symbolic relation between geodesy and other sciences, applications of geodesy, and the historical beginnings of geodesy. The text then ponders on the structure of geodesy, as well as functions of geodesy and geodetic theory and practice. The publication examines the motions, gravity field, deformations in time, and size and shape of earth. Topics include tidal phenomena, tectonic deformations, actual shape of the earth, gravity anomaly and potential, and observed polar motion and spin velocity variations. The elements of geodetic methodology, classes of mathematical models, and formulation and solving of problems are also mentioned. The text is a dependable source of data for readers interested in the concepts involved in geodesy.

Traditional methods for handling spatial data are encumbered by the assumption of separate origins for horizontal and vertical measurements, but modern measurement systems operate in a 3-D spatial environment. The 3-D Global Spatial Data Model: Principles and Applications, Second Edition maintains a new model for handling digital spatial data, the global spatial data model or GSDM. The GSDM preserves the integrity of three-dimensional spatial data while also providing additional benefits such as simpler equations, worldwide standardization, and the ability to track spatial data accuracy with greater specificity and convenience. This second edition expands to new topics that satisfy a growing need in the GIS, professional surveyor, machine control, and Big Data communities while continuing to embrace the earth center fixed coordinate system as the fundamental point of origin of one, two, and three-dimensional data sets. Ideal for both beginner and advanced levels, this book also provides guidance and insight on how to link to the data collected and stored in legacy systems.

Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the Geophysical Monograph Series, Volume 15. This monograph contains 34 communications presented at the Third International Symposium on the Use of Artificial Satellites for Geodesy in 1971, and 4 invited papers on subjects that complement the others and provide continuity. All contributions represent the most recent findings in the theoretical and applied fields of satellite geodesy, including new instrumentation (satellite sensors and ground equipment) of potential use in satellite geodesy. The two preceding symposiums were held at Washington, D.C., in 1962 and at Athens, Greece, in 1965. The Proceedings of the first were published by North-Holland Publishing Company, Amsterdam, in 1963, and the Proceedings of the second by the National Technical University, Athens, in 1967. The prime mover behind both was George Veis, and his continuing dedication to this subject was in large measure responsible for scheduling this third symposium.

Apart from Hotine's work on Mathematical Geodesy, several previously unpublished reports are collected in this monograph, complemented by extensive comments on these contributions and a complete bibliography of Hotine by the editor.

The science of Geodesy has undergone far-reaching changes in the last half century. The impact of new technology, from electromag netic distance measurements to the use of artificial satellites, has been great, and is still largely to be felt. These changes have forced the practitioners of the ancient art of Earth measurement to alter their way of thinking about the space that surrounds us, something fundamentally more difficult than absorbing a new technology. A key influence in this modem change in geodetic thinking has been the work of Antonio Marussi, in his scientific publications from 1947 onwards, through his students and collaborators at the Uni versity of Trieste, and in the series of symposia on three-dimensional Geodesy which he organised with his great friend and collaborator, Martin Hotine. His influence on the latter, stemming from their first meeting at the General Assembly of the International Association of Geodesy in Oslo in 1948, was remarkable in itself, leading as it did to the ultimate publication of Hotine's Mathematical Geodesy in 1969.