Geodetic Arc Calculations

Abstract

In the field of geodesy, there are at least three distinct geodetic curves. Each curve gives different distances and different azimuths for anyone reference ellipsoid:

• a great elliptic arc

• normal sections

• a geodesic

Whatever type of curve is involved, calculations of distance and azimuth are directly related to:

• formulae utilised

• quality of stations P₁, P₂

• reference Datum

• parameters of reference ellipsoid

Arc distance P₁ P₂ and also the size of angles P_n P₁ P₂, P_n P₂ P₁ (Figure 62) depend upon the characteristics and behaviour of the surface curve joining the end points.