Teaching Modern Geodesy
Craig ROBERTS
Geodesy is enjoying a golden period. A myriad of new geodetic devices is sensing ever finer dynamics of the Earth system to unprecedented precision. Geodetic products now underpin services used by a growing number of users and are permeating into the mainstream. For example, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 5-yearly reports rely on the reference frames provided by international geodetic services, and even the United Nations now recognises geodesy as fundamental to much of its operations evidenced by the establishment of the Global Geospatial Information Management committee (UN-GGIM). Nationally, Australia is modernising its datum. Continuously OperatingReference Station (CORS) networks are enabling high-precision Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) surveying, GNSS heighting is improving and regulations are being updated to accommodate new techniques. Laser scanning (terrestrial and airborne), Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) topographic products and national foundational datasets are available for modern surveyors to use in their daily operations. What therefore should the modern academic be teaching the new cohort of students in geodesy? Classical geodesy and the history of datums are important to appreciate the historic legacy, but datum modernisation is crucial in the wake of GDA2020 and ATRF. Some basics such as time systems and satellite orbits should always be included in a geodesy course, especially now that satellite geodesy techniques are so entrenched. But the course is now very crowded. This paper will ponder which topics of geodesy should be taught. What skills should a recent graduate surveying student possess upon graduation? Where should the emphasis lie and what topics should just offer exposure? Documents such as the GDA2020 Technical Manual, ICSM SP1, Surveyor General’s Directions No. 9 and 12 should be covered as well as an understanding of data formats such as RINEX v2and v3, RTCM, NTrip, NMEA and SP3. RTK-GNSS, Network RTK (NRTK), CORS networks, multi-GNSS and Precise Point Positioning (PPP) are all very detailed topics. How much should a student know? Is there still value in providing a practical GNSS baseline processing exercise with a rapid static, multi-session project and network adjustment?
Event: FIG Working Week 2020 – CANCELLED – Smart Surveyors for Land and Water Management
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