Bicol University

College of Engineering
Legazpi City
A.Y. 2014-2015 2nd Semester

GEODETIC ENGINEERING
WORKS AND BEYOND

CLIFFORD M. ARIMADO
Freshman Student, BS Geodetic Engineering

For: Geodetic Engineers of the Philippines Inc. Bicol University Student Chapter

Geodetic Engineering Works and Beyond

What can a geodetic engineer do and where does a geodetic
engineer work? Well, the answer is simple. A geodetic engineer or
a surveyor is the one who accurately measures the distances and
angles between some points plotted and/or scattered usually on
the earths surface. They use the elements and functions in
mathematics, mostly geometry, and trigonometry for surveying.
They are the one who make land maps and they are the one who
specify boundaries for land ownerships which are used mostly for
property sales. For short, they measure our very own planet
earth.
But are there other things a geodetic engineer can work on?
Besides all the math magic that accurately measures the land as
so called a land surveyor; what and where can a geodetic
engineer take part of his work? Well, there can be sorts of things
and works that a geodetic engineer take part of. Sure there are
other

fields

like

cadastral

survey,

deformation

survey,

construction survey, mining survey but here, were talking

about the works of a surveyor beyond the land. Taking from what
we know about its definition, they measure earth, they too can
measure the surface of the waters, the navigable air and even
outer space!
A geodetic engineer can do sorts of things in measuring the
navigable waters like they use on the land surface of the earth.
When we speak about measuring the surface of waters in the

earths surface, were talking about a surveyor looking into the

sea and see what the seafloor looks like. This study is what we
call hydrographic surveying which involves the study of hydrology
and some maritime studies. This method of surveying is used in
maritime navigation, offshore drilling and construction, and other
marine related activities. The surveyors in this field often uses
ships with echo sounding by using Sound Navigation And Ranging
(SONAR) which transmits sound pulses into the water to
determine its depth and to navigate the waters. Also, planes or
drones can help in echo sounding when they are surveying in
shallow waters. In time, there can be sorts of construction on the
seas where we find the very use of this field of surveying.
Another field of study a geodetic engineer can work on is
through the air mass of the earth. Yes, they too can do
measurements in the sky and navigate aircrafts through their
travel. The fields that can a geodetic engineer can take part on
surveying through air are aerial surveying and air navigation.
Mainly, the discipline of geomatics is applied in these studies. And
studying geomatics is a part of being a geodetic engineer. In this
study, a surveyor can measure lots of things in mid-air and
through

our

atmosphere.

They

can

study

meteorology

to

determine weather conditions in the lower atmosphere and

navigate tropical disturbances like typhoons to know their position
on the earth and to predict their path with the use of satellites
and tropospheric navigators. They can study air navigations
where a pilot derives the works of a surveyor to track and control

his flight in an aircraft by using radio navigation aids like radars.

They can do aerial surveys by using drones, helicopters and
remote sensors like the method of Light Detection And Ranging
(LiDAR). So many fields already right? Theres one more thing.
This thing, is a work that can be done partly by a geodetic
engineer. His works in this field is applied not on earth, not on
water, nor air, but in the vastness of space. Outside the
atmosphere of the earth, there are satellites that orbit the planet.
They can be tracked by using satellite navigation or satnav for
short. Satellite navigation is widely used in operating Global
Positioning System (GPS) for their location, satellite imagery to be
used in mapping and forecasting, and determining the local
apparent time in their specific location. These are done by
measuring or surveying the line of sight distance of a transmitter
station to the receiver satellite and exchanging signals at each
other according to the calculated distance. In space, however,
man sends rockets to other planets, the moon, and into faraway
reaches of our solar system. One program launched by NASA on
mid-1966 to early-1968, the Surveyor Program has seven robotic
space crafts that were sent to the moon on separate dates to
determine the trajectory of impact in achieving soft landings of
space crafts from earth to the moon. They applied geomatics and
geodesy on the surface of the moon and rocket science to
determine the trajectories of space flights. Also, a surveyor
studies geodetic astronomy where he applies astronomical
methods

in

determining

stellar

positions

and

movements,

monitoring the rotation of the earth, and doing satellite geodesy

or determining the geoid of our earth. The work of a surveyor also
applies in this fields so there can be many ways in which a
geodetic engineer can work in this field.
See, there are tons of different works and fields a geodetic
engineer or a surveyor in general can work on. It just needs a
broad mind and thinking outside the box. Better yet, we can be
accepted almost in any field that has to do with measuring
distances and navigations. So why just be a simple geodetic
engineer that measures earth when you can be an extraordinary
geodetic engineer that measures everything! Well, that is a lot of
mathematics and sciences but if one is willing, theres always a
way. Engineers find ways to make a better and working future.