Geodesy

Geodesy or geodetics^[1] is the science of measuring and representing the geometry, gravity, and spatial orientation of the Earth in temporally varying 3D. It is called planetary geodesy when studying other astronomical bodies, such as planets or circumplanetary systems.^[2]

Geodynamical phenomena, including crustal motion, tides, and polar motion, can be studied by designing global and national control networks, applying space geodesy and terrestrial geodetic techniques, and relying on datums and coordinate systems.

Geodetic job titles include geodesist and geodetic surveyor.^[3]

^ "geodetics". Cambridge English Dictionary. Retrieved 2024-06-08.
^ Vaníček, Petr; Krakiwsky, Edward J., eds. (November 1, 1986). "Structure of Geodesy". Geodesy: The Concepts (Second ed.). Elsevier. pp. 45–51. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-87775-8.50009-5. ISBN 978-0-444-87775-8. ... geodesy was thought to occupy the space delimited by the following definition ... "the science of measuring and portraying the earth's surface." ... the new definition of geodesy ... "the discipline that deals with the measurement and representation of the earth, including its gravity field, in a three-dimensional time varying space." ... a virtually identical definition ... the inclusion of other celestial bodies and their respective gravity fields.
^ "Geodetic Surveyors". Occupational Information Network. 2020-11-26. Retrieved 2022-01-28.