Editing Geodesy (section)

== Definition ==
In [[English language|English]], geodesy refers to the [[science]] of measuring and representing [[geospatial information]], while [[geomatics]] encompasses practical applications of geodesy on local and regional scales, including [[surveying]].

In [[German language|German]], geodesy can refer to either ''higher geodesy'' ({{lang|de|höhere Geodäsie}} or {{lang|de|Erdmessung}}, literally "geomensuration") — concerned with measuring Earth on the global scale, or ''engineering geodesy'' ({{lang|de|Ingenieurgeodäsie}}) that includes surveying — measuring parts or regions of Earth.

For the longest time, geodesy was the science of measuring and understanding Earth's geometric shape, orientation in space, and gravitational field; however, geodetic science and operations are applied to other [[Astronomical object|astronomical bodies]] in our [[Solar System]] also.<ref name=VK/>

To a large extent, Earth's shape is the result of [[Earth's rotation|rotation]], which causes its [[equatorial bulge]], and the competition of geological processes such as the [[Continental collision|collision of plates]], as well as of [[Volcano|volcanism]], resisted by Earth's gravitational field. This applies to the solid surface, the liquid surface ([[dynamic sea surface topography]]), and [[Earth's atmosphere]]. For this reason, the study of Earth's gravitational field is called [[physical geodesy]].