Accuracy of Elevation Reduction Factor
Publication: Journal of Surveying Engineering
Volume 130, Issue 3
Abstract
When using state plane coordinates or performing other geodetic computations, the ratio is the elevation factor commonly used to reduce a horizontal distance to its sea-level or ellipsoidal equivalent. In most cases, an approximation is used for the Earth’s radius while the value of the elevation is usually much better known. This is as it should be, but the question examined in this paper is, What is an acceptable approximation for the Earth’s radius and how accurately must the elevation be known to assure sufficient precision in the answer? An equation that can be used to answer these questions is derived using concepts of error propagation.
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References
Burkholder, E. F.(1991). “Computation of horizontal level distances.” J. Surv. Eng., 117(3), 104–116.
Burkholder, E. F. (2002). “Elevations and the Global Spatial Data Model (GSDM).” Proc., Institute of Navigation, Fairfax, Va., 〈www.zianet.com/globalcogo/elevgsdm.pdf〉.
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Copyright © 2004 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 19, 2002
Accepted: Jul 9, 2003
Published online: Jul 15, 2004
Published in print: Aug 2004
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Earl F. Burkholder, M.ASCE
Associate Professor, Surveying Engineering Dept.-3SUR, New Mexico State Univ., Las Cruces, NM 88003.
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