Altametriikka

Altametriikka is a term used in Finnish technical literature to describe the study and practice of measuring altitude and related vertical metrics. The field encompasses the theoretical foundations, measurement techniques, and instrumentation used to determine elevation relative to reference surfaces such as mean sea level or the reference ellipsoid. It is closely related to altiometria (altimetry) and metrology.

Core principles include the definition of vertical reference frames, treatment of atmospheric and geoid effects, and the integration of independent measurements to improve accuracy. Common methods rely on radar and lidar ranging, GNSS-based height determination, barometric sensing, and photogrammetric techniques. Measurements may be performed from space, air, or ground platforms, depending on the application.

Applications span aviation and air navigation, topographic mapping and surveying, coastal and oceanographic studies, and climate research. Altametriikka also underpins autonomy in vehicles and robotics where precise altitude information supports navigation and control.

Challenges include maintaining traceability to vertical datums and geoid models, mitigating atmospheric delays and instrument biases, and ensuring consistency across sensors and platforms. Standards and intercomparison campaigns help quantify uncertainty and enable interoperability in multi-sensor systems.