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What is Geodesy?

Before starting to read about what Geodesy is, first watch this video from NASA:

Geodesy derived from the Greek, Geo (γη) = earth and daisia ​​/ daiein (δαιω) = to divide, the word geodaisia ​​or geodeien means to divide the earth. According to IAG (International Association Of Geodesy, 1979), Geodesy is a discipline that studies the measurement and representation of the Earth and other celestial bodies, including their respective gravitational fields, in three-dimensional space that changes with time. Since ancient times, Geodesy has been used by humans for navigational purposes. Earth mapping activities as a field of geodesy have been started since the flood of the Nile River (2000 BC) by the ancient Egyptian empire. Geodesy developments are even more significant when humans study the shape of the earth & the size of the earth is deeper by the Greek figure, Erastotenes who is known as the father of Geodesy. Currently, due to advances in information technology, the scope of geodetic science is getting wider.

At present, the fields of geodetic science that can be studied by students can be divided into terrestrial surveys and mapping, hydrographic surveys and mapping, geoinformatics or geographic information systems, land and property administration, border area management. and also the fields of photogrammetry and remote sensing. Therefore, Geodesy has become synonymous with measurement activities and the process of making maps so that students are required to understand and master methods ranging from data acquisition, processing, presentation, analysis to decision-making processes to be applied in daily work. To support all these curricula, a geodesy student must have the ability, among others, to like calculations and analysis, to enjoy processing data using computer software, and to like working in the field.

Considering the scope of geodetic science and its increasingly widespread application in many fields of work, the need for Human Resources (HR) in the field of surveying and mapping, especially Geodesy student graduates for various government and private agencies, becomes very large. A Geodetic Engineering graduate is a pioneer in investigative surveys of projects/civil works, both large and small scale, for example the opening of oil and gas mining on land/forest or in the oceans, road infrastructure, irrigation, buildings, railway networks, airports and others. other. In general, every simple civil work (large/small scale) involves the earth’s surface, both in depth (excavation) and height (pile) involving this field or a team of geodetic surveyors. Broadly speaking, Geodetic Engineering graduates can work in various fields, namely:

  1. Government Agencies (National Land Agency; Geospatial Information Agency; State Intelligence Agency; Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency; National Nuclear Energy Agency; National Aeronautics and Space Agency; Bappeda and Bappenas; Ministry of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration; Ministry of Environment and Forestry; Ministry of Education and Culture; Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources; Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing; Ministry of Transportation, TNI and Dishidros TNI-AL; Ministry of ATR/BPN, Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, and others other)
  2. Academics and Research (Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Lecturers, etc.)
  3. Private Industry (Indonesian Surveyors, PT Aneka Tambang, PT Timah, Freeport, Pertamina, Caltex, Total Indonesia, Slhumberger, PT KAI, PT ASI Pudjiastuti and others)
  4. Building Contractors (WiKa, Technical Consultants, etc.).
  5. Road and Bridge Construction (PT Waskita Karya, PT Adhi Karya, etc.)
  6. Creative industries (GoJEK, Grab, HERE Maps)