Geodesy came from the Greek word “geo” meaning Earth and “desa” meaning to divide.

Positioning is a result of a measurement method on the surface of the earth based on a

F.R. HELMERT (1880) define geodesy as “the science of measuring and portraying the
Earth’s surface”.
VANICEK & KRAKIWSKY defined geodesy as “the discipline that deals with the
measurement and representation of the Earth’s surface.
TASKS OF GEODESY
1. to establish precise global, regional or local three-dimensional positions;
2. to determine the Earth’s gravity field; and
3. to measure and model geodynamic phenomena
BRANCHES OF GEODESY
GEOMETRIC GEODESY – defines the Earth using the properties of an ellipsoid of
revolution and other geometric concepts
PHYSICAL GEODESY – studying of Earth’s gravity field in order to determine its true
size and shape
SATELLITE GEODESY - the use of satellite positioning systems
GEODETIC ASTRONOMY – the study of determining position using measurements
made by observing the celestial bodies
INTEGRATED GEODESY – the physical and geometric components of the Earth
GEODESY AS A PROFESSION
THEORETICAL GEODESIST
APPLIED GEODESIST
SURVEY TECHNICIAN
HISTORY OF GEODESY
- HOMER (c.625 – c.547 BC?) described the Earth as a flat disc in his epics
- ANAXIMANDER OF MILETUS (c.611 - c.545 BC?) believed in a rectangular Earth
- PLATO (c.580 - c.500 BC?) & ARISTOTLE (c.384 – c.322 BC?) believed that the
Earth was a sphere because a sphere is a perfect figure
- ERASTOSTHENES (c.274 – c.196 BC?) made the first estimate of the Earth’s size
using the shadow cast by the sun on a well in Syene (now Assuan, Egypt)
- PTOLEMY (c.75-151 AD) made world maps which influenced both cartographers
and navigators of the middle ages
- PICARD (1670) made arc measurements confirming Erastosthenes’ estimate
- CASSINI (1625-1712) & NEWTON (1642- 1727) had opposing views of the Earth
- THE FRENCH ACADEMY OF SCIENCE (1735) sent expeditions to conduct arc
measurements confirming Newton’s view of a flattened spheroidal Earth.
- CARL F. GAUSS (1777-1855) devised the concept of the geoid, earning him the
title, “father of geodesy”
- THE GEODETIC REFERENCE SYSTEM OF 1980 (GRS80) was adopted as the
international reference ellipsoid
- THE NATIONAL IMAGERY AND MAPPING AGENCY (NIMA) established the
World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS84), a global reference system.
- In July 17, 1995, the NAVSTAR GPS was fully operational.
Ellipse is a conic section determined to be a locus of all points such that the sum of the
distances from the arbitrary point P to two fixed foci is constant all throughout
Philippine’s reference ellipsoid is the Clarke 1866. Its semi-major axis, a, is 6,378,296 m. And
its flattening ratio, 1/f, is 294.978
PARTS OF AN ELLIPSE
certain coordinate system and a reference model for the earth’s surface.
A position is expressed in two or more quantities, called the coordinates of a point.
The coordinates of a point is based upon a certain coordinate system. In geodesy, there
are several coordinate systems being used from which the position of a point on the surface
of the earth is being referred.
A coordinate system is then needed to be “put-on” a model that closely fits the surface of
the earth. In geometric geodesy, the earth is represented by an ellipsoid of revolution
whose dimensions fits closely the surface of the earth.
This ellipsoid of revolution is known as the reference ellipsoid (other older literature termed
this as “spheroid”).
The coordinate system & reference system are the essential components of a reference
framework.
DIFFERENT POSITIONING SYSTEM
POINT POSITIONING – 16 satellite orbital, or ephemeris, parameters are required
to determine a point position. Provides real-time positioning but accurate only to ±
(10-15) meters.
RELATIVE POSITIONING – two or more GPS receivers simultaneously receive
signals from the same satellites. Most accurate procedure for establishing spatial
position.
KINEMATIC POSITIONING AND NAVIGATION – one or more reference receivers
remained fixed during observation period and one or more receivers are rovers that
occupy points of interest for several minutes at each point. Static and remote receivers
must continuously track a minimum of the same four satellite.
GENERAL TYPES OF COORDINATES SYSTEM
- According to the parameters used:
RECTILINEAR TYPE OF COORDINATE SYSTEM
CURVILINEAR TYPE OF COORDINATE SYSTEM
- According to the surface/space dimension used:
LINEAR (ONE-DIMENSION) COORDINATE SYSTEM
PLANAR (TWO-DIMENSIONAL) COORDINATE SYSTEM
SPACE (THREE-DIMENSIONAL) COORDINATE SYSTEM
In studying Geometric Geodesy, three coordinate systems are commonly in use:
CARTESIAN-SPACE RECTANGULAR COORDINATE SYSTEM – a rectilinear type
of coordinate system on a three-dimensional surface where the position of the points
is expressed as coordinates of a right handed orthogonal system whose origin coincides
with the center of the ellipsoid, XZ-plane defines the zero meridian and XY plane
defines the equator.
GEODETIC COORDINATE SYSTEM – a curvilinear type of coordinate system on
three-dimensional space which uses a surface to define the position of point on the
earth. This coordinate system also uses three parameters to define the position of a
point:
(1) Geodetic Latitude (φ): the angle between the ellipsoid normal through the
point and the equator. (0≤ φ ≤ 90N or S).
(2) Geodetic Longitude (λ): the angle in the equatorial plane between the zero
meridian and the meridian of the point (0 ≤ λ ≤180E or W).
(3) Ellipsoidal height (h): the distance along the normal from the surface of the
ellipsoid to point P.
THE MAP-GRID COORDINATE SYSTEM –

Regarding the true shape of the Earth, since the topographic surface is highly dynamic and
irregular, the sphere and the ellipsoid are used as 1st and 2nd approximation for its shape.
However, it is the geoid which gives the closest fit of the true shape of the earth.

Geoid is a surface of constant potential energy (equipotential surface) that coincides with
mean sea level over the oceans.

MAJOR AXIS – the longest width across the ellipse and has a length of 2a
MINOR AXIS – the shortest width across the ellipse and has a length of 2b
CENTER – has coordinate of (h,k)
VERTEX – endpoints of the major axis having the coordinates of (h+/-a, k)
COVERTEX – endpoints of the minor axis having the coordinates (h+/-b, k)
FOCI – are 2 points inside the ellipse along the major axis that characterizes its shape and
curvature having the coordinates ( h+/-c, k) where the focal length is determined by c2=a2+b2
DIRECTRIX – is a fixed straight line that has the same distance opposite on either one of
the fixed foci in the same plan
LATUS RECTUM – a chord of the ellipse through its one focus and perpendicular to the
major axis and is parallel to the directrix
What is so important with the Geoid? Recall that a level surface is said to be “horizontal”
everywhere and is perpendicular to the plumb line, which is the vertical line that passes
through the center of an optical instrument when it is leveled an equipotential surface shares
the same geodetic significance of the horizontal and the plumb line with the level surface
which is why so much attention is paid to it in geodesy.
But since the point of interest is on the topographic surface and the geoid is a closer
approximation to this surface than the ellipsoid, then the vertical position of the point must
be referred from the geoid. However, the height of a point can be referred from the ellipsoid
(ellipsoidal height, h), or from the geoid (orthometric height, H). Therefore it is essential the
geoid surface be considered as reference for heights.
The orthometric height (mean sea level) at a given point can be determined from GPS-
derived ellipsoidal heights if the geoid-ellipsoid separation is known at that point. Orthometric
height, 𝑯 = h + N, where h is GPS ellipsoidal height, and N is the separation between the
geoid and ellipsoid

FORMULA/S
a−b
POLAR FLATTENING: 𝑓=
b
OF1 √a2 −b2
FIRST ECCENTRICITY: 𝑒= or 𝑒=
a a
OF1 √a2 −b2
SECOND ECCENTRICITY: 𝑒′ = or 𝑒′ =
b b
b
ANGULAR ECCENTRICITY: cosθ = =1−𝑓
a
OF1
sinθ = =𝑒
a
OF1
tanθ = = 𝑒′
b
LINEAR ECCENTRICITY: 𝐸 = ae