Geodezice

Geodezice, or geodesy in English, is the science of measuring and representing the Earth. It encompasses determining the size and shape of the planet, its orientation in space, and its gravity field, with the goal of establishing precise geographic coordinates and stable reference systems. The discipline underpins accurate mapping, navigation, construction, and many geoscience applications.

Historically, geodetic work began with basic surveying and cartography in ancient and medieval times. The development of standardized measurement techniques, triangulation, and astronomical observations laid the groundwork for more accurate maps. The modern era brought space-based methods, enabling global measurements and refined reference frames that connect national systems into a coherent, international framework.

Key concepts in geodesy include the ellipsoid, which approximates the Earth's shape; the geoid, an irregular surface representing mean sea level extended through the oceans and continents; and datums or reference frames, which provide a coordinate system for locating points on the Earth. Horizontal and vertical datums translate measurements into usable positions and elevations for maps and engineering projects.

Geodetic techniques span terrestrial surveying, photogrammetry, and remote sensing, as well as space geodesy. Space-based methods include global navigation satellite systems (such as GPS and GLONASS), very long baseline interferometry (VLBI), satellite laser ranging (SLR), and Doppler orbitography and radiopositioning integration (DORIS). Other methods include LiDAR, InSAR, and high-precision leveling for vertical measurements.

Applications of geodezice are broad, covering land administration, infrastructure design and maintenance, disaster risk assessment, navigation, and monitoring of crustal movements and sea-level change. Ongoing developments focus on dynamic geodesy, integration with geographic information systems, and the use of advanced sensors to improve global reference frames.