Geoid and Reference Ellipsoid 测绘英语翻译.docVIP

这篇文章出自《测绘工程专业英语》一书。 本文谈论的是测绘工程中的基础理论问题，即有关于“大地水准面和参考椭球”的一些问题。 Geoid and Reference Ellipsoid The Earth’s physical surface is a reality upon which the surveying observations are made and points are located. However, due to its variable topographic surface and overall shape, it cannot be defined mathematically and so position cannot be computed on its surface. It is for this reason that in surveys of limited extent, the Earth is treated as flat and plane trigonometry used to define position. If the area under consideration is of limited extent, orthogonal projection of this area onto a plane surface may result in negligible distortion. Plane surveying techniques could be used to capture field data and plane trigonometry used to compute position. However, if the area extended to a large area beyond limitation and treated as a flat surface the effect of the Earth’s curvature will produce unacceptable distortions. It can also be clearly seen that the use of a plane surface as a reference datum for the elevations of points is totally unacceptable. Therefore, to represent horizontal positions and elevations on maps and charts, we need a mathematical model of the Earth which includes a set of numbers for the size and shape of the Earth. We will define a mathematical surface that approximates to the shape of the area under consideration and then fit and orientate it to the Earth’s surface. Such a surface is referred in surveying as a ‘reference ellipsoid’. The Geoid Since the physical surface of the Earth can’t be used as a computational surface, a mean sea level surface is instinctively taken into consideration. Mean sea level (MSL) is defined as the average level of the ocean surface for all stages of the tide after long periods of observations. We use MSL as a plane upon which we can reference or describe the heights of features on, above or below the ground. By extending the earth’s MSL through the land areas, an equipotential surface approximately at MSL would be for