Mediaspace scheduled maintenance: Aug 25, 2026 07:00 - 12:00 AM. During this time, videos will be temporarily unavailable. Check status updates.

Lecture

Geodetic References: Definitions

Description

This lecture covers the definitions of geodetic references, including systems, frameworks, and datums, as well as the geocentric Cartesian coordinate system. It also delves into the application of GPS measurements, coordinate systems, and the challenges of GNSS in various contexts. The presentation discusses the basics of satellite tracking, geoid models, altitude systems, and ellipsoid geographies, emphasizing the importance of choosing the right coordinate system and understanding mathematical principles in geodesy. Additionally, it explores the architecture of satellite positioning systems, the quality analysis of GPS positions, and the principles of determining a GPS position.

This video is available exclusively on Mediaspace for a restricted audience. Please log in to MediaSpace to access it if you have the necessary permissions.

Watch on Mediaspace

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Earth science

Geology: Geodesy

Related concepts (32)

Satellite

A satellite or artificial satellite is an object intentionally placed into orbit around a celestial body. Satellites have a variety of uses, including communication relay, weather forecasting, navigation (GPS), broadcasting, scientific research, and Earth observation. Additional military uses are reconnaissance, early warning, signals intelligence and, potentially, weapon delivery. Other satellites include the final rocket stages that place satellites in orbit and formerly useful satellites that later become defunct.

Coordinate system

In geometry, a coordinate system is a system that uses one or more numbers, or coordinates, to uniquely determine the position of the points or other geometric elements on a manifold such as Euclidean space. The order of the coordinates is significant, and they are sometimes identified by their position in an ordered tuple and sometimes by a letter, as in "the x-coordinate". The coordinates are taken to be real numbers in elementary mathematics, but may be complex numbers or elements of a more abstract system such as a commutative ring.

Geodetic coordinates

Geodetic coordinates are a type of curvilinear orthogonal coordinate system used in geodesy based on a reference ellipsoid. They include geodetic latitude (north/south) φ, longitude (east/west) λ, and ellipsoidal height h (also known as geodetic height). The triad is also known as Earth ellipsoidal coordinates (not to be confused with ellipsoidal-harmonic coordinates). Longitude measures the rotational angle between the zero meridian and the measured point. By convention for the Earth, Moon and Sun, it is expressed in degrees ranging from −180° to +180°.

Satellite geodesy

Satellite geodesy is geodesy by means of artificial satellites—the measurement of the form and dimensions of Earth, the location of objects on its surface and the figure of the Earth's gravity field by means of artificial satellite techniques. It belongs to the broader field of space geodesy. Traditional astronomical geodesy is not commonly considered a part of satellite geodesy, although there is considerable overlap between the techniques.

Earth ellipsoid

An Earth ellipsoid or Earth spheroid is a mathematical figure approximating the Earth's form, used as a reference frame for computations in geodesy, astronomy, and the geosciences. Various different ellipsoids have been used as approximations. It is a spheroid (an ellipsoid of revolution) whose minor axis (shorter diameter), which connects the geographical North Pole and South Pole, is approximately aligned with the Earth's axis of rotation.

Related lectures (33)

Geodetic References: Coordinates and Systems MOOC: Elements of Geomatics

Explores geodetic references, coordinate systems, the geoid, and reference systems for accurate measurements.

Satellite Localization Basics MOOC: Elements of Geomatics

Covers the fundamentals of satellite tracking and GPS signals.

Coordinates and Projection Systems MOOC: Geographical Information Systems 1

Covers principles of transposing spatial entities, scales, coordinate systems, projection systems, and EPSG codes.