1.2.

1 Explain the reference surfaces of

topography, geoid and ellipsoid.

1.2.2 Describe the relationship between

its reference surface in geodesy.
 primary or Zero order triangulation, trilateration and traverse.
 The measurement of height above sea-level by triangulation or sprit
levelling.
 Astronomically observations of latitude, longitude and azimuth to locate
origins of surveys, and to control their direction.
 Crustal Movements. To detect changes in the relative positions on the
ground, and in their heights above sea level.
 Observation of the direction of Gravity by astronomical observations for
latitude and longitude.
 Observation of the intensity of Gravity by the pendulum and other
apparatus.
 To deduce the exact form of earth’s sea level equipotential surfaces at
all heights.
 Polar motion studies.
 Earth tides
 The separation between the Geoid and the mean sea level.
 Engineering Surveys.
 Satellite Geodesy: includes the modern techniques of positioning by
space methods e.g. GPS, SLR and VLBI etc.
1.2.1 Explain the reference surfaces of topography,geoid and ellipsoid.
 It is a physical earth surface that is not uniform
and cannot be explained mathematically. Detail
and extensive calculation can’t be made on this
type of surface.
 For survey work on small area, earth surface is
considered as horizontal plane in order to
enable/allow calculation is made on it.
 Roughly, the figure of earth topographical
surface is almost the same as ellipsoid. The
maximum distance between these two surfaces
is 8.5 km.
 Almost all survey works for engineering and
mapping purposes were done on topographical
surface.
 It is an equipotential surface of earth which is
coincide with mean sea level. If the earth is to
be filled with flood, water level influenced by
force of gravity can be depicted as a geoids.
 Thus, Mean Sea Level influenced by other than
tides such as current, wind, air pressure and sea
water temperature can be considered as nearer
to geoids surface.
 The geoids surface is uniform compared to
topographical surface but still cannot be used as
a base for calculation. For that reason, it is not
suitable for horizontal surface reference (x,y).
 Beingan equipotential surface, the geoid is
by definition a surface to which the force of
gravity is everywhere perpendicular.

 Thismeans that when travelling by ship, one

does not notice the undulations of the geoid;
the local vertical plumb line is always
perpendicular to the geoid and the local
horizon tangential to it.

 Likewise,spirit levels will always be parallel

to the geoid.
 The diagram shows
the height of geoids
on a selected
reference ellipsoid.
 Geoids or mean sea
level is important in
survey work
because direction of
plumb line for any
point is always
normal to this
surface.
 Geoids has been
accepted as a
height datum for
any leveling work.
A geometric surface, all of whose plane
sections are either ellipses or circles
 The earth is said to be flattened at both of
the pole. Thus, the selection of ellipsoid to
represent real earth shape is better because
the size and shape of ellipsoid can be clearly
determined and calculation can be done on
its surface.
 Geodesists used ellipsoid as a mathematical
model for any calculation related to size and
shape of the earth.
Figure 1:Relationship between Topographical, Geoids and Ellipsoid Surface
 If an ellipse is rotated on a semi-minor axis (b), it will form
an ellipsoid. Ellipsoid can be used as an earth mathematical model by choosing
the right size. Hence, it is importance to know the relationship between
Ellipsoid and the other two surfaces.

 From the above diagram, the height of point P on topographical surface

from ellipsoid surface is called Ellipsoid Height (h). The height of this point
from geoids surface is known as Orthometric Height (H).

 In geodesy, orthometric height is measured along plumb line or vertical line (this
line is perpendicular to geoids surface). Geoids surface is importance because it can
be regarded as Mean Sea Level (MSL) that is not influenced by tides.

 MSL is a datum for any height measurement for engineering or mapping purposes.
Orthometrik height is also known as MSL height by most land surveyors and
engineers.

 The relationship between these three surfaces can be stated as follow:

 h=H+N

 N is geoids height measured along normal line measured from ellipsoid surface. It
can be determined directly via geodesy satellite technique just the same H
measurement from precise leveling. Gravimetric technique can be used to
calculate/determine geoids height at any places. The development in geoids
calculation technique and coverage of good gravimetric data can determine geoids
height to nearest centimeter.
 The concept of an ellipsoidal height is misleading
as it is not really height referenced to any level
surface but simply a distance along a normal
above or below the surface of an ellipsoid
 A mean sea level height, which is measured
when levelling or using a total station is
referenced to the Geoid and is a distance
measured along the local gravity vector(the
vertical) from the geoid to the local
equipotential surface passing through the point
to be heighted.
 This measurement gives what is known as a
Geoid Height or an orthometric height H
A GNSS receiver first produces XYZ coordinate
which can be coverted into geodetic latitude,
longitude and ellipsoidal height.
 To be use in surveying, the ellipsoid height
must be converted into an orthometric height
base on geoid.
 The relationship between an ellipsoidal or
GNSS height, h and an orthometric height H is
show in Figure
below :
h = H+ N
H = h -N