Exact sciences, even before their "official" appearance, played a huge role in human life. So, without primitive geometry it was impossible to build a more or less complex house, and without equally simple mathematics, it was very problematic to do so. Geodesy also belongs to the same category (although it represents the natural sciences). This is not surprising, because people have been engaged in land marking since ancient times.
Scientific definition
By the way, how can you decipher the name of this scientific discipline? The term "geodesy" itself is a conglomerate of two Greek words. The first of them is ge, which means earth, and the second is dazomai, which, as you can easily guess, means "to divide, divide." If you try to translate the name absolutely literally, you get "land division". In principle, at the time of the initial origin and development of geodesy, such a translation was fully consistent with the truth.
Yes,The Egyptians were already making complex geodetic measurements many centuries before our era, building their famous pyramids and irrigation canals.
Development of science
But geodesy is a more complex science, which is directly related to its development under the influence of the outside world. The fact is that human civilization grew and developed, it needed more and more accurate ways to measure the earth. And the very tasks that life set before geodesy became more and more complex and significant.
Defining the term in the modern world
So how is the term "geodesy" understood today? This is a science that studies the methods of land surveying, determining the size and shape of terrain. It is geodetic scientists who are developing new ways to map entire continents.
In addition, geodesy teaches us a variety of ways to measure space, not only on the surface of our planet, but also under water, above the earth and even in outer space and on other planets. In short, this is a very diverse scientific field.
The very famous scientist Witkowski gave the following definition: "It must be said that this is one of the most useful branches of knowledge; after all, our entire existence is limited by the expanses of the Earth, the structure and structure of which we need to study to the same extent as a person learn something new about the house where he lives".
Main Tasks
Note that geodesy problemsextremely diverse, since this science is constantly developing, more and more new terms are added to it. In addition, at present, there is a complete computerization of many branches of knowledge, which could not but affect the development of geodesy itself. Simply put, its tasks are divided into two large groups. The first is fundamental. These include the following works:
- Determining the size, configuration and extent of the Earth's gravitational field. In this case, the directional angle is extremely important. In geodesy, this is the name for determining a landmark from space (a very simplified definition).
- Distribution of a single coordinate system over the territory of a state, continent or planet in general.
- Representation of plots of land on various topographic plans, maps and atlases.
- In addition, surveyors are studying large-scale displacements of sections of the earth's crust.
Applied work
Thus, the following types of work currently belong to the second group of tasks:
- The process of creating and implementing GIS, that is, geographic information systems, is extremely important.
- This also includes the creation and registration of various types of cadastral plans: land, water, etc.
- Geodesic and topographic support of the state as a whole.
- Demarcation of the state border, participation in resolving controversial issues where geodesy is required. Maps drawn up by competent specialists can be the decisive argument in many disputes.
- Creation and ubiquitygenerally accepted standards in the digital mapping industry.
- Accordingly, this also includes the development of the electronic maps of the area themselves, as well as filling them with all the necessary data.
- It is the geodesists who are responsible for the development of technologies in the field of satellite determination of coordinates and their precise binding to the real area.
- Finally, the creation of complex geodetic atlases of Russia and other states.
Division into industries
Since geodesy has become extremely complicated by now, it was decided to divide it into several independent sciences, which sometimes study completely different areas of knowledge. Let's list them in more detail and give a brief description of each:
- Higher geodesy. This is the foundation of the basics. Within the framework of this science, the size, shape, structure of the Earth, its coordinates in outer space and the characteristics of its own gravitational field are studied. It is this branch that is engaged in the imposition of a coordinate system on a state, continent or the entire surface of the planet. In addition, scientists in this field study the shifts of the earth's crust from ancient times to the present, and also learn about the characteristics of the gravitational field of various celestial bodies: from stars to large asteroids. The industry is also studying coordinate systems in geodesy.
- Topography. Again, the term was created from two Greek words: "topos" - a place, "grafo" - to write, write down. If translated literally, it turns out “study, descriptionterrain." Accordingly, this industry creates new ways and techniques for drawing the outlines of the earth's surface on plans, atlases and maps.
- Cartography. Closely correlated with previous science. Learns how to create and use the same maps, atlases and topographic plans.
- Photogrammetry. As the name implies, this science studies the methods of creating geodetic documents (described above) by photographing the Earth's surface from an aircraft or helicopter (or satellite).
- Engineering industry (geodesy in construction). The most popular industry at the moment, as its specialists conduct geodetic surveys before starting the construction of any engineering structures on the ground.
- Mine surveying (underground geodesy). The patrimony of miners, as new ways of taking measurements in underground workings and mines are being studied and created.
Of course, in most cases, the boundaries between all these sciences are very, very blurred. For example, topography is associated with both cartography and higher geodesy, and the engineering industry cannot develop at all without additionally studying the materials of all related sciences.
Who needs the practical results of this science in everyday life?
If you have read all of the above, you have already seen for yourself how diverse are the tasks that surveyors have to solve daily. They need to constantly fulfill a lot of requirements of both public and purely private firms, as well ashow the same geodesy in construction is used everywhere today, and the approach to it is very strict.
Even when solving issues of a national scale, scientists sometimes need several years to conduct detailed surveys, the results of which often put an end to historical claims to certain territories. Of course, in this case, coordinate systems in geodesy are especially important, since it is on their basis that the binding to the current terrain is made.
About the "militarist" component
Actually, all geodetic documents are needed by all categories of persons who regularly move long distances on land and water on duty or work: sailors and geologists, geographers, designers, builders and the military.
Especially maps and other similar documents are needed just the same army: this is the construction of powerful engineering fortifications, and shooting at ultra-long distances, and launching rocketry without this data is impossible. Finally, it is impossible to imagine the planning of military operations without accurate maps and plans of the area. So all the military has to know at least the basics of geodesy.
Other Earth Sciences
It should be especially noted that this teaching cannot be imagined in isolation from other sciences that study our planet. Thus, physics, geology and geophysics are especially important, as they can explain the particularly complex and important processes occurring both on the surface of our planet and under it. Without oceanography, it is impossible to study the principles of the movement of sections of the earth's crust. Even a botanist - and she canbe extremely helpful.
It's amazing how versatile geodesy can be! The work of specialists also requires a deep knowledge of mathematics and geometry, without which it would be impossible to carry out even primitive calculations. But geodesy is the leader among all these industries, as it allows you to track the stages of development of our entire planet and the formation of its current appearance, taking into account not only natural, but also artificial landforms.
Connection with other branches of scientific knowledge
Besides, this science is constantly developing, absorbing the knowledge that other industries give a person. For example, physicists invented the laser. Over time, this led to the development and creation of the most valuable devices, without which it is difficult to imagine a modern surveyor: laser levels and light range finders.
As for the same ultra-precise measurements of the movement of tectonic plates, it would be physically impossible to perform if it were not for the rapid development of electronics and manufacturing.
Finally, the rapid development of information technology and programming has given geodesy such opportunities that previously could only be dreamed of: thus, it is possible to create the most complex computer models that clearly show the evolution of the face of the planet over the centuries. In this case, a surveyor can feel like a historian!
Tougher requirements for modern geodesy
The construction of huge unique engineering structures requires specialists to a degree of precision that has never been seen before.used even in mathematical calculations. For example, during the construction of the Large Hadron Collider, specialists had to take into account displacements of hundredths of a millimeter, with some structures being far over a kilometer long!
In addition, it depends on the results of the work of surveyors whether people will live in some regions of the Earth that are considered potentially seismic.
Main types of work
After reading all this, the question will surely arise as to what geodetic work needs to be done in order to obtain all this valuable information. Oh, there are quite a few of them, but we will describe the most common and constantly performed. Here is a short list of them:
- Geodetic marking works. In this case, specialists are engaged in the construction of a layout scheme with reference to the terrain, as well as other operations that help to bind to the terrain of any stages of construction work: from digging pits to putting the facility into operation.
- Executive shooting. As a building or other engineering structure is being erected, a special set of works is required. All parts of the structure, on which the stability and strength characteristics of the entire structure as a whole depend, are subject to mandatory and permanent shooting. The accuracy required for this should in no case be less than that required when marking the area before starting construction.
- Engineering and geodetic surveys. In this case, the geodetic engineer must carry out a whole range of works,aimed at a preliminary study of the relief of the area where it is planned to begin the construction of engineering structures. It includes not only the construction of a terrain model, but also the synchronization of the relief and the external appearance of the building to be erected.
- Creation of geodetic networks. Reconstruction, networking, as well as planning, development of new methods of work in this area.
As you can see, geodetic work is not only very diverse, but also extremely important at all stages of construction.
