Glossary
Key terms in professional surveying and geospatial technology.
Real-Time Kinematic. GNSS technique providing centimeter accuracy using corrections from a base station or network.
Electronic instrument combining theodolite and EDM to measure angles and distances simultaneously.
Light Detection and Ranging. Uses laser pulses to create detailed 3D point clouds of terrain and objects.
Global Navigation Satellite System. Covers GPS (USA), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (EU), BeiDou (China).
Dataset of millions of 3D points representing surfaces, produced by laser scanner or photogrammetry.
Post-Processed Kinematic. GNSS correction applied after collection, useful where real-time data unavailable.
Electronic Distance Measurement. Technology in total stations measuring distances with laser pulses.
Building Information Modeling. Digital building representation used in architecture and construction.
Making measurements from photographs. Used in drone surveys for 3D models, orthophotos and DEMs.
Ground Control Point. Surveyed point used to georeference aerial or satellite imagery.
Standard for streaming GNSS corrections over internet to RTK receivers.
Digital Elevation Model. 3D terrain representation from survey data, photogrammetry or LiDAR.
Series of measured lines and angles connecting control points across a survey area.
Surveying mark of known position used as reference for measurements.
Assigning real-world coordinates to spatial data for correct alignment.