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Location is not always what it seems

Technology has brought us new ways of measuring.  Location was once determined based on astronomical observations and time (which was also based on astronomical events) then measured relative to the Prime Meridian Line in Greenwich London.  

 

Now things have changed but it is not widely advertised.  Time is now based on vibrations of atoms in an atomic clock and location is often based on measurements from man made satellites orbiting the earth and new mathematical equations.  

 

One effect of this is shown when using a GNSS receiver or Google Earth to locate the Prime Meridian which is the commonly known point of 0 Longitude.  

 

GNSS and Google Earth use the WGS84 ellipsoid (mathematical equation) to locate positions.  This places 0 degrees approximately 102.5m east of  the Prime Meridian at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich London as shown in the pictures below.

 

This is not a problem or any concern, it is just something to be aware of as proof that accurate positioning requires a bit more thought as to what you are trying to achieve.

Visualise Geodesy
Visit  official Sites

 

Find links to official agencies on the wide myrid of topics that make up geodesy.  It's not just all about latitude and longitude.  Thre's centuries of development from the worlds of maths and science.

Useful Links

 

Some useful links for people trying to get their head around positioning, and how it all works.  

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This site has been compiled as part of a final year project towards the completion of a Bachelor of Spatial Science at QUT.  While I as the author am well read, I am by no means an expert and as such, information on this site should be checked for accuracy if cited.  

The information has not been checked by academics and is not regarded as  a fully polished final product yet.

 

If you have comments regarding corrections or further questions for the FAQ section please contact me via the contact form.

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