Jessi-Joe,
re: the origin of my name geodeticman.
Note: quick answer marked with an " * " asterisk. Its about the third paragraph below starting with *
Thank you for asking Jessi-Joe.
Last time I answered this in depth, and its a deep subject, an old room member happened to enter after apparently an extended absence right after I posted a long-winded response clouded by still rough writing from a head-injury I recover from these days, and it upset him so much he, to my knowledge, left the forum, muttering "techo-babble b.s."... grouse grouse.. LOL. SO,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
If anyone is bored by or not interested in a viable answer to Jessi-Joe's question, simply skip the rest of this post, after the one-line definition coming up. I understand. Its a geeky subject. Its rare that people ask us about it.... (as I push my glasses up my nose) LOL
* Geodetic Surveying and or Geodesy (The study of) definition:
Is simply the study and measurement of the size, shape (of the whole earth, and local topography), and gravity variations of large portions of the earth's surface.
There !
If more is of interest, read on, my friend !
On the other hand, a rather interested current member who is quite sharp asked as to the obvious word that comes to mind - "geodesic (dome,other,etc.)", as in Buckminster Fuller's chained trilaterals and quadrilalerals that are still in principle used as one model for geodetic survey network structures over large portions of the earth's surface. The actual geodesic structures et al he showed very interesting pictures of were fascinating. While the words are intrinsically related, the applications are very differerent.
In short, the subject of Geodesy is defined loosely as the study of the size, shape, and gravitational variations of the earth. And, a "geodesist" is one who historically made ultra-long distance surveying observations of 30 - 40 miles per set-up, to targets often at night, and had to allow for earth curvature, atmospheric refraction, clean/dirty-air optical constants, gravimetric measurements and a local, continental, or worldwide gravity model to adjust to etc., and use the information to adjust into control networks for establishing map-making postitional frameworks.
I used to do this "geodetic surveying" hence "geodeticman" and then moved into the mapping end of aerial and satellite imagery as a basis for mapmaking, or "cartography". The modern usage of Geodesy is almost exclusiveley using GPS units (the professional $20,000 - $50,000 units) and available to hikers at an amateur level, i.e. the $100 - $400 handheld units( you know, hand-held coordinate readers tying in to satellites). The pro-models real work begins after simple readings, and rigorous math network adjustment models are excuted.
Gravity and math intensive network adjustments are still done for ultra-high precision geodetic control marked by monuments such as brass markers, benchmarks, other types, etc.. We rarely make measurements from continent to continent using older VLBI - very long based interferometry. This is to measure continental drift.
Newer satellite networks now caled glonass allow for better coverage with GPS e.g. "more bars" and hilarious manufacturer claims of hand-held units and resultant map displays on screen being accurate to +/- 1 meter or less, and in fact to achieve these values, one must apply numerous network adjustments in three dimensions, including gravimetric models.
Interesting to note up there in Canada where you are Jessi-Joe, the role of Surveyor is one who has passed (post-university) a rigorous examination and is then licenced as being a "Royally Chartered Surveyor" historically by the Queen's commisions...now a common Government regulatory commission, and is frequently referred to as a Chartered "Geodesique" in French-Canadian parlance.
In rigorous schooling required to be licensed in your country, University programs you have up there in "Geomatics" and combinations of geodetic surveying and map-making, and GIS - map information systems bring all these subjects together. From map projections math, to field surveying, to GPS, to cartography.
In the US, our universities are still catching up to your lauded integrated educational model of all the mapping sciences, including geographers, - the generalists. I hope that helps J-Joe. And I am sorry indeed if this tongue-wagging was too much for the general discussion forum - really.
but... you asked !
LOL
Oh ! one more thing, - it was Royally-Chartered Geodesiques (surveyors) that guided the precise alignment of the Canadian Railroad, e.g. CRT. And our comrade Borderstone may not realize that in New England in particular, cut stones were used to bury and mark above ground for posterity the location of (one hopes) professionally -aurveyed boundaries.
Also, in the 13 original colonies, as farmers cleared stones from their fields, they would build low stone walls demarcating one hopes their actual boundary of their property. Lot of history in this stuff.
The height of this subject reached a Renaissance of sorts in America in the 1920's when under Roosevelt Sr.'s admin., licensed surveyors were empowered as "court de jour" and settled legal boundary conflicts, water and mineral rights, etc. on the ground, on the spot, as court. OK OK I better sign off for now. Thanks for asking J-Joe.
- geo steve
:D 
