Geodesy Glossary: A Reference Guide to Geodetic Terminology
Making Geodetic Terminology Easier to Understand
Geodesy uses a wide range of specialized terms, abbreviations, concepts, services, products, and methods. For newcomers, professionals from related fields, and even experienced geodesists working outside their own area of expertise, this terminology can sometimes be difficult to follow. The Geodesy Glossary on the IAG website provides a reference guide to geodetic terminology. It explains key terms and abbreviations in short, accessible entries, usually consisting of one or two concise paragraphs. Many entries also include links to further information, helping readers explore the topic in more detail.
Connecting Glossary Terms Across IAG website
A particular strength of the glossary is its close connection to the rest of the website. Glossary terms are directly linked to related content across geodesy.science, and each term can automatically appear as a link wherever it is used on the site. This makes the glossary not only a standalone reference, but also an integrated and interconnected resource for understanding geodetic content directly while reading news, pages, reports, or other website material.
Linking Your Publications to up-to-date Explanations
The glossary is also intended to support publications, reports, presentations, and outreach material. Instead of repeatedly explaining common abbreviations or technical terms, authors can refer readers to the glossary, where the latest version of each term can be maintained centrally. This helps make geodetic terminology more consistent, easier to reference, and more up to date over time.
A Living Glossary: From the Community – For the Community
Geodesy is a broad and evolving field. New terms appear, existing definitions need refinement, links may change, and additional figures or explanations may become useful. The current glossary entries have already been contributed, reviewed, and updated by many individuals across the geodetic community. To keep improving the glossary, we invite all readers to browse the existing terms and let us know if something is missing, unclear, outdated, or incorrect. Suggestions may include missing terms or abbreviations, corrections to existing definitions, additional links to authoritative sources, useful figures or illustrations, or improved explanations for broader audiences. If you would like to suggest updates, corrections, or new entries, please contact us via this contact form: https://geodesy.science/ggos/contact-ggos/
Author: Martin Sehnal (Director of GGOS Coordinating Office)
