GLS 611 / GSS611

ADVANCED GEODESY
PHYSICAL AND SATELLITE
GEODESY
Sr Saiful Aman Hj Sulaiman, PhD
Mobile: 012-2624854
Email: saifulaman@uitm.edu.my
Universiti Teknologi MARA
GLS611 / GSS611
3 Credit Hours
Non-Core

Course Learning Outcomes (GLS611)

At the end of the course, students should be able to:
1. Propose an effective GNSS and gravity surveying technique for
solving surveying projects ( C2 )
2. Demonstrate the practical skills in the use GNSS/Gravimeter ( P5 )
3. Discuss the ideas through the use of GNSS mission planning ( C5 )
4. Show concern in GNSS technology development ( A2 )
Mode of Teaching & Assessment

Mode of Teaching
Lecture & Practical

Assessment
- Final Examination / Assessment : 50%
- Continuous Assessment : 50%
- Test : 10%
- Assignment : 10%
- Practical Report : 30%
Semester Planning
Week Topic Week Topic
Week 1 Introduction & Concept of Satellite Week 9 GNSS
Geodesy

Week 2 Satellite Orbit Motion Week 10 Earth’s Gravity Field

Week 3 Satellite Orbit Motion Week 11 Earth’s Gravity Field & TEST
Week 4 Coordinates System & Transformation WEEK 12 MID TERM BREAK

Week 5 Overview of Various Satellite Week 13 Earth’s Gravity Field

Positioning Technique

Week 6 GNSS & ASSIGNMENT Week 15 Gravity Measurement and Reductions

WEEK 7 MID TERM BREAK Week 15 Vertical Reference / Height System
Week 8 GNSS Week 16 Gravity Survey and Network in Malaysia
References
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 Concept
of
Satellite Geodesy
What is Geodesy??
According to Helmert 1880
“ Geodesy is the science of the measurement and mapping of
the earth’s surface ”

Committee of geodesy 1973

“Geodesy is the discipline that deals with the measurement &
representation of the earth including its gravity field in a three
dimensional time varying space”
Geodesy and Other Disciplines
 There is no real distinction between geodesy and surveying.
 Surveying is the practice of positioning, while geodesy is the theoretical
foundation of surveying (Vanicek & Krakiwsky, 1992)
 Geodesy also provides a substantial contribution in other disciplines such
as:
1. Engineering Projects
2. Boundary Demarcation
3. Ecology
4. Environmental Management
5. Geography
6. Hydrography
Geodesy and Other Disciplines
Component of Geodesy
Geodesy can be divided into four important component:

1) Geometrical geodesy
• Concerns in size and shape of the earth
• Concerned with the three dimensional geometrical elements
of the mathematical model of the earth
• Intercontinental ties between land masses
• Determination of positions, distances and azimuth

2) Physical geodesy –
• Concerned with determining the Earth’s gravity field, mainly
for establishing height
Component of Geodesy
3) Geodetic astronomy
• Chronicles the changing position of stars and other celestial
objects.
4) Satellite geodesy
• Deals with the measurement of the dimensions of the Earth, the
location of objects on its surface and the figure of the Earth's
gravity field, and measurement of geodynamics
Satellite Geodesy
 Satellite geodesy comprises the observational and computational
techniques which allow the solution of geodetic problem using satellite.
 The main goals of satellite geodesy are:
1. Determination of precise global, regional and local three-
dimensional position (e.g. establishment geodetic control
point)
2. Determination of Earth’s gravity field and linear function of
this field (e.g. precise geoid)
3. Measurement and modelling of geodynamical phenomena
(e.g. polar motion, earth rotation, crustal deformation)
Satellite Geodesy
 Satellite (natural or artificial) , have made global
surveys a realistic objective:
i. Oceans can be spanned to connect continents
ii. Geodetic position can be determined directly on global
datum
 Path of the natural satellite such as moon, sun , planets
and stars are function of the observers position on
earth
 Sun observation to determine azimuth and to determine
position on the earth
 Celestial navigation- the art and science of finding our
way by the sun, moon, stars, and planets, and, in one
form or another- one of the oldest practices in human
history
Satellite Geodesy
Artificial satellites

 Artificial (man made) satellites are observation are

made electronically or optically
 Measure range, range rate or direction from the
observer to the satellite
 Produce :
i. Relative position among observing sensors
ii. Sensor position
iii. Definition of satellite orbit
 Different from ordinary satellite due to :
i. Orbit much closer to the earth then the orbit of any planet with respect to its
primary
o Motion of artificial satellite is significantly affected by the earth’s
gravitional field and by its temporal variation (e.g tide)
o Enable determination of parameters that defines this field, which will
yield information on the shape, mass distribution and dynamic
behavior of the earth
ii. It moves, at least partially, in an atmosphere while the natural satellite
practically in vacum- enable the determination of the atmospheric structure
and its behavior
iii. Affected by other phenomenon , such as attraction of the sun and the moon,
solar radiation pressure, lunar and solar tidal distortion and etc - effect are
relatively minor, but cannot be neglected
Current techniques
1. Earth to Space methods
 satellite laser ranging (SLR),
 Doppler positioning (TRANSIT, DORIS), and
 geodetic use of the Global Positioning System
(GPS,GLONASS, future GNSS).
2. Space to Earth methods
 radar altimetry,
 spaceborne laser, and
 satellite gradiometry.
3. Space to Space methods
 satellite-to-satellite tracking (SST).
Applications of Satellite
Geodesy
Global Geodesy
− general shape of Earth’s figure and gravity field,
− dimensions of a mean Earth ellipsoid,
− establishment of a global terrestrial reference frame,
− detailed geoid as a reference surface on land and at sea,
− connection between different existing geodetic datums, and
− connection of national datums with a global geodetic datum.

Geodetic Control
− establishment of geodetic control for national networks,
− installation of three-dimensional homogeneous networks,
− analysis and improvement of existing terrestrial networks,
− establishment of geodetic connections between islands or with
the mainland,
− densification of existing networks up to short interstation
distances.
Geodynamics
− control points for crustal motion,
− permanent arrays for 3D-control in active areas,
− polar motion, Earth rotation, and
− solid Earth tides.

Applied and Plane Geodesy

− detailed plane surveying (land register, urban and rural surveying,
geographic
information systems (GIS), town planning, boundary demarcation etc.),
− installation of special networks and control for engineering tasks,
− terrestrial control points in photogrammetry and remote sensing,
− position and orientation of airborne sensors like photogrammetric
cameras,
− control and position information at different accuracy levels in forestry,
agriculture, archaeology, expedition cartography etc.
Navigation and Marine Geodesy
− precise navigation of land-, sea-, and air-vehicles,
− precise positioning for marine mapping, exploration, hydrography,
oceanography,
marine geology, and geophysics,
− connection and control of tide gauges (unification of height systems).

Related Fields
− position and velocity determination for geophysical observations
(gravimetric,
magnetic, seismic surveys), also at sea and in the air,
− determination of ice motion in glaciology, Antarctic research,
oceanography,
− determination of satellite orbits, and
− tomography of the atmosphere (ionosphere, troposphere).
Purpose of Satellite Observation
1. Scientific Purpose
 Scientific purpose of satellite observation can be further break down into two
categories:
a) Dynamic purpose
To observe positions and motions of satellite as a function of time,
with sufficient accuracy
To predicting future positions of the satellites , at least as
accurately as they can be observe
 Requires precise knowledge of physical parameters that defines
the force field in which the satellite moves (orbit) and accurate
geocentric position of observer
Purpose of Satellite Observation
 enable :
1) Position of satellite to be computed at any time, t
2) Predicted satellite position to be estimated using least
square adjustment procedure
3) Correction to the assumed parameters and stations
coordinates due to the differences between actual and
predicted orbit, calculated using least square adjustment
procedure
b) Geometric purpose
 To observe positions of satellites from several stations of known
and unknown positions simultaneously for determining the relative
position of the stations (and satellite)
 For this purpose, satellite is regarded as observational target and
observation is often carried out in two ways:
i. Orbital method: Satellite is observed in its orbits from several stations of
assumed position. The observation results are then compared with the
computed (predicted) satellite position, which are based on assumed or
known orbital paramtes and station coordinates. From the differences,
corrections to the assumed parameters or to the coordinates, or both may
be calcualted by simulteneous or least square adjustment. Discepencies
are useful to improve the force function, the initial conditions, or the station
position of yhe observer.
ii. Stellar (space) triangulation/trilateration: Satellite is used as a
triangulation mark in space, which is simulteneous observed (by measuring
directions or distances or both) from station of known and unknown
positions. From observations at known stations, the position of the satellite
is determined at the instant of the observation. The observation at the
unknown station to the known (determined) position of the satellite will yield
the position of the observer.
• Determined station position is useful for:
 Strengthening satellite-tracking network establish for
dynamic application
 Providing connections between geodetic datum, separated
by large distance
 Determining distortions within geodetic datum
 Detecting motions between stations due to geodynamics
phenomena
2. Operational purpose
 Operational purpose of satellite observation is to meet the operational
needs of the satellite, i.e.
a) For regular surveillance of the satellite and to keep the orbital data up
to date
b) Guiding and controlling the direction of the transmitting or telemetry
antenna of the satellite

*Before studying the dynamic and geometric methods in scientific

purpose of satellite geodesy can be achieved, it is necessary to study
the orbit of the satellite.