Algorithms for Calculating Geodetic Heights and Latitudes by Rectangular Coordinates in the Meridian Ellipse Plane

Abstract

Owing to the widespread use of GNSS technologies in geodetic practice, the problem arises of transition from rectangular spatial coordinates of points to spatial geodetic coordinates, which are necessary for the transition to flat rectangular coordinates in the Gauss-Kruger projection. The authors proposed five algorithms for converting rectangular coordinates of points in the plane of the meridian ellipse into geodetic heights and latitudes. The first two algorithms are geometrically related to the intersection point of the ellipse with the normal passing through the point at which the rectangular spatial coordinates were obtained. The formulas of the other three algorithms are based on the geometric relationships of the point of intersection of the meridian ellipse with the straight line connecting the point with the center of curvature of the meridian. As a result of the experiments, deviations of the calculated latitudes and heights from the reference values of the given grid of geodetic coordinates were obtained. The formulas were tested not only for points under and on the earth's surface, but also outside the earth at different heights up to an altitude of 20,000 km.