Gravity Field in Geomatics

This course provides students with an overview of the fundamentals of the Earth’s gravity field and its impact on geodetic measurements. Various tools for measurements of the static and temporal Earth’s gravity are discussed. Key topics covered in the six modules of this course include boundary value problems, anomalous gravity field, geoid determination and height systems.

Instructor: Ismael Foroughi (please contact the instructor if you need an up-to-date syllabus)
Prerequisite: Advanced Adjustment or equivalent (GGE 3122) and Geodesy II or equivalent (GGE 4211). This course is the graduate level version of GGE 5222. Credit will not be given for both GGE 5222 and GGE 6222. Students must be currently enrolled in a graduate level program to take this course.

Why take this course?

• Understand the meaning of physical geodesy and its relevance to geodesy.
• Explain the basics of potential theory and its (geodetic) boundary value problems.
• Differentiate between different types of height systems.
• Compute different anomalous of the Earth’s gravity field such as gravity anomalies, gravity disturbances, free-air anomalies and Bouguer anomalies.
• Perform basic operations in physical geodesy such as spectral analysis and synthesis.
• Comprehend the tools and techniques of gravity measurements, such as those from terrestrial, airborne and satellite gravity missions.
• Compute global and local geoid models.
• Understand the basics of the Stokes-Helmert method for geoid determination and get familiarized with the SHGeo software package developed at the University of New Brunswick.
• Compute different types of gravity reductions.
• Perform downward continuation.

Course details

Students have six months from the registration date to complete the course. All course exams and/or assignments must be completed by the designated end date.

Assignments and examinations

• 6 x Quizzes (20%)
• 4 x Assignments (45%)
• 1 x Mid-course exam (invigilated, 10%)
• 1 x Final exam (invigilated, 10%)
• 1 x Final project (15%).

Fees and payments

There is a $150 non-refundable/non-transferable online fee per course in addition to applicable tuition & fees. Learn more about tuition and fees and methods of payment.