Geodesy is the science that makes global positioning possible. Geodesy is literally the science of measuring and monitoring the size and shape of the Earth and the location of points on its surface. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Geodetic Survey is responsible for the development and maintenance of a national geodetic data system that is used for navigation, communication systems, and mapping and charting.
Global Positioning Tutorial
The National Ocean Service has prepared a Global Positioning Tutorial as an overview of the history, essential elements, and modern methods of geodesy.
Geodesy Roadmap to Resources
The Geodesy Roadmap to Resources complements the information in the tutorial, leading you to additional information and data resources from NOAA and other reliable resources.
- National Ocean Service—Global Positioning