Military Geodesy and Geospace Science. Unit Two,
Abstract
The general terrestrial mapping, charting, and geodesy (MC&G) problem can best be formulated as the problem of generating a metric description of the earth and its physical properties -- a description in which relative positions within and on the surface of the earth are accurately described, the figure of the earth is accurately portrayed, and the gravitational, magnetic, and spin properties of the earth are fully represented in quantitative terms. Broader and more comprehensive definitions of the MC&G problem might be found within the domain of the planetological sciences, but the concept of quantitative metric relationships resulting from actual measurement processes will always be central to the definition. In the context of modern weapon systems, MC&G applications tend to concentrate in the areas of relative position determination on the surface of the earth and quantitative characterization of the terrestrial gravity field. The classical long-range artillery problem, for example, requires highly accurate knowledge of gun and target locations with respect to a common datum in a well-defined local coordinate system, together with approximate characterization of the gravity field, if a reliable one-shot hit capability is required. Practical constraints on achieving this capability, due partly to gun/target relative location limitations and partly to non-geodetic problems in the aiming process, lead to a multiple-shot, shoot-sense-correct philosophy that persists to this day.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA105071
Entities
People
- A. Richard Leschack
- Warren G. Heller
Organizations
- TASC, Inc