Geodesy, Projections & Grids

An euipotential surface of the Earth's gravity field, which closely approximates mean sea level.

Cannot be defined mathematically.

An arbitrary mathematically defined geometrical construct that closely approximates the earth's surface

It is defined by semi-major, semi-minor axes and flattening

f= (a-b) / a

An ellipsoid can be mathematically defined where the Geoid cannot as its shape depends on the irregular distribution of the mass inside the Earth.

• WGS84 - World Geodetic Systems
• GDA84 & GDA94 - Geocentric Datum of Aus
• ANS - Australian National Spheroid
• AGD66 - Australian Geodetic Datum 66 (not in use)

A method used to plot a curved surface of the Earth on a flat surface.

• Gnomonic
• Azimuthal
• Stereographic
• Conic
• Cylindrical

Parallel lines that run north and south of the equator.

Semi-circular lines that run from pole to pole, to the east and west of the Greenwich Meridian

A circle that will cut a sphere into 2 equal halves, which have both the same circumference and radius as the sphere.

They provide the shortest path between points on the Eath's surface.

Are lines that are not given as a length but as an angle of the arc. (meridian of longitude)

A system of squares superimposed on a projection so that computation & plotting of data can be done using simple trigonometry.

Geodesy is the study of the shape and size of the earths surface once this is known the curved surface can then be projected on to a flat surface. A grid is then applied to this in order to be able to work out exact positions using simple trigonometry.