Geodesy: An introduction

This 2nd edition of the well-established "Introduction to Geodesy", first published in 1980, provides a systematic overview of the Earth's gravity field and the geodetic reference systems. It describes the methods of data collection and processing employed in both global geodesy and national geodetic surveys. The text has been thoroughly revised, with major changes in the chapters dealing with reference systems, terrestrial and spatial measurement techniques, including recent developments in satellite positioning, combined methods of data evaluation and gravity field modeling, geodetic contributions to geodynamics research, and the establishment of national geodetic networks. Examples of instruments and results have been updated, as well as the extensive reference list. As a basic textbook it is oriented primarily towards graduate students in the fields of geodesy, surveying, cartography, geophysics, and terrestrial and space navigation. The book will also serve as a reference for geoscientists and engineers facing geodetic problems in their professional tasks.