Computation of a new gravimetric geoid in Brunei was carried out using terrestrial, airborne and altimetric gravity data and the EGM08 geopotential model by the collocation method. The computations were carried out by the „ remove-restore ” technique. In order to have better insight in the quality of input data the estimation of accuracy of the gravity data and geoid undulations from GPS/levelling data was carried out using EGM08 geopotential model. It shows a poor quality of GPS/levelling data. Result of the computation is the gravimetric geoid for the territory of Brunei computed by collocation method with an accuracy estimated below of ±0.3 m.

The main theme of this paper is to study two important aspects of precise geoid determination using Helrnerts second method of condensation. This work illustrates via numerical investigations the importance of using actual density information of topographical bulk and the effects that different gravimetric reductions have on gravity interpolation in Helmert geoid computational process, in addition to the commonly used Bouguer scheme. A rugged area in the Canadian Rockies bounded by latitude between 49°N and 54°N and longitude between 236°E and 246°E is selected to carry out numerical investigations. The lateral density information is used in all steps of the Helmert geoid computational process. The Bouguer and residual terrain modelling (RTM) topographic reductions, the Rudzki inversion scheme, and the topographic-isostatic reductions of Pratt-Hayford (PH) and Airy-Heiskanen (AH) are used for gravity interpolation. Results show that the density information should be applied in all steps of the Helmert geoid computational process and that the topographic-isostatic gravimetric reduction schemes like the PH or AH models or the RTM reduction, should be applied for smooth gravity interpolation instead of the commonly used Bouguer reduction scheme for precise Helmert geoid determination.

This paper investigates the terrain-aliasing effects on geoid determination using different gravimetric reduction schemes. The high resolution of digital terrain model (DTM), if available, should be used for every gravimetric reduction scheme since it can precisely map the details of the terrain. The reduction methods used in this study are the Rudzki inversion method, Helmert's second method of condensation, the residual terrain model (RTM) method, and the Pratt-Hayford (PH) topographic-isostatic reduction technique. The effect of using different DTM grid resolutions of 6", 15", 30", 45", I' and 2' on gravity anomalies and absolute geoid undulations is studied for each of these reduction schemes. A rugged area in the Canadian Rockies bounded by latitude between 49°N and 54°N and longitude between 236°E and 246°E is selected to conduct numerical tests. Our results suggest that a DTM grid resolution of 6" or higher is required for precise geoid determination with an accuracy of a decimetre or higher for any gravimetric reduction method chosen to treat the topographical masses above the geoid in rugged areas. The most precise geoid models obtained in this test are the ones obtained using Rudzki, Helmert, and RTM methods with 6" DTM resolution.

In this paper, two techniques for calculating the geoid-to-quasigeoid separation are employed. One of them is GPS/Levelling customary method as a criterion where the geoid undulation and height anomaly are computed by subtracting the ellipsoid height attained via GPS from the orthometric height and normal height, respectively. Another approach is Sjöberg’s equation. We have used of the ICGEM website for definition of the variables of the Sjöberg’s equation, as the applied reference model is the EGM2008 global geopotential model and WGS84 reference ellipsoid. The investigations are performed over the stations of the GPS/Leveling network related to three selected areas in desert, mountain and flatland namely the Lout, Zagros and Khuzestan in Iran and afterward the correlation coefficient between the geoid-to-quasigeoid separation calculated using the satellite data in Sjöberg’s equation and GPS/Levelling method is estimated. The results indicate a straight correlation between the estimated separations from the two methods as its value for the Lout is 0.754, for the Zagros is 0.497 and for the Khuzestan is 0.659. consequently, using the satellite data in Sjöberg’s equation for the regions where there are not the GPS/Levelling and land gravity data, specially for the even areas, yield a satisfactory response of the geoidto-quasigeoid separation.

The paper presents an attempt to assess how random errors and systematic errors in gravity data affect the quality of the geoid model when it is computed using the FFf technique. Three groups of numerical tests were conducted with the use of gravity anomalies for Poland on 2' x 2' and 5' x 5' grid and with simulating random and systematic errors. In the first test, the effect of random errors on calculated geoid undulations was investigated, in the second one - the effect of systematic errors, and in the last one - the combined effect of both random and systematic errors. The effect of density of data set on the propagated error in geoid height was also examined. The results of numerical tests made possible to evaluate the effect of random errors as well as systematic errors on the accuracy of computed geoid undulation. They were also useful in evaluating the quality of the gravimetric quasigeoid model for Poland.

Marine geoid modelling in the Atlantic coastal region of Argentina is problematic. Firstly, because of the insufficient amount of available shipborne gravity data, which renders a purely gravimetric solution not feasible. Secondly, because of the very strong ocean currents, that affect the quality of satellite altimetry data, so that a purely altimetrie model is too noisy, even after low-pass filtering the Sea Surface Heights (SSHs) to remove (part of) the influence of the oceanographic signals. Thus, the recommended solution is to employ a combination method and the use of all the available gravity and altimetry data together. This is a suitable solution since (i) combination methods such as least squares collocation and Input Output System Theory (!OST) inherently low-pass filter and weigh the data, and (ii) will make use of the altimetrie heights to fill the gaps of the shipborne gravity data. Following this idea, purely altimetrie, gravimetric and combined (using the !OST method) marine geoid models have been estimated for Argentina, employing all available shipborne gravity data, satellite altimetry SSHs and the latest Earth Gravity Models (EGMs) developed from CHAMP and GRACE missions. The new EGMs are especially useful to assess the quality of the new geoid models, especially against EGM96, which was used in an older ERSl-only solution for the same area. From the comparison of the estimated geoid models with respect to stacked TOPEX/Poseidon SSHs, the authors found that the altimetrie model provides the best agreement while the combined one improves the accuracy (I a) of the gravimetric solution.

In this study, several variants create and choose of a local quasi-geoid model in Poland have been considered. All propositions have a source in European Gravimetric Geoid models – EGG2008 and EGG2015, which are purely gravimetric models of reference surface. In the course of this work, each model has been analyzed in various ways: without any corrections, by parallel shifting of residuals, by the 7-parameter conformal transformation and by fitting residuals by 4- and 5-parameter trigonometric polynomials. Eventual corrections were based on points of national GNSS/levelling networks (EUVN, EUVN_DA, POLREF, EUREF and ASG-EUPOS eccentric points). As a final result of this study, a comparison of the accuracy of selected models has been carried out by RMSE statistics and maps showing spatial distribution of residuals and histograms. Validation has shown that the maximum achievable accuracy of the EGG models is approximately 2 cm for the ETRF2000 reference system and approximately 8 cm for ETRF89. In turn, fitting with the use of different mathematical methods results in an improvement of the standard deviation of residues to the level of 1.3–1.4 cm. The conclusions include an evaluation of considerations for and against the use of models based only on EGG realizations and, on the other hand, fitted to the points of Polish vertical network. Its usefulness is strictly connected with needs of the definition of up to date quasi-geoid model for the new realization of heights system in Poland, based on EVRF2007 frame.

Activities of the Polish research gSDroups concerning gravity field modelling and gravimetry in a period of 2015–2018 are reviewed and summarised in this paper. The summary contains the results of research on the evaluation of GOCE-based global geopotential models (GGMs) in Poland and geoid modelling. Extensive research activities are observed in the field of absolute gravity surveys, in particular for the maintenance of national gravity control in Poland, Sweden, Denmark, the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland as well as for geodynamics with special emphasis on metrological aspects in absolute gravimetry. Long term gravity variations were monitored in two gravimetric laboratories: the Borowa Gora Geodetic-Geophysical Observatory, and Jozefoslaw Astrogeodetic Observatory with the use of quasi-regular absolute gravity measurements as well as tidal gravimeter records. Gravity series obtained were analysed considering both local and global hydrology effects. Temporal variations of the gravity field were investigated using data from GRACE satellite mission as well as SLR data. Estimated variations of physical heights indicate the need for kinematic realization of reference surface for heights. Also seasonal variability of the atmospheric and water budgets in Poland was a subject of investigation in terms of total water storage using the GLDAS data. The use of repeatable absolute gravity data for calibration/validation of temporal mass variations derived from satellite gravity missions was discussed. Contribution of gravimetric records to seismic studies was investigated. The bibliography of the related works is given in references.

The summary of research activities concerning gravity field modelling and gravimetric works performed in Poland in the period of 2011–2014 is presented. It contains the results of research on geoid modelling in Poland and other countries, evaluation of global geopotential models, determination of temporal variations of the gravity field with the use of data from satellite gravity space missions, absolute gravity surveys for the maintenance and modernization of the gravity control in Poland and overseas, metrological aspects in gravimetry, maintenance of gravimetric calibration baselines, and investigations of the non- tidal gravity changes. The bibliography of the related works is given in references.

A method of the improvement of the total station observations 3D adjustment by using precise geoid model is presented. The novel concept of using the plumb line direction obtained from the precise geoid model in combined GPS/total station data adjustment is applied. It is concluded that results of the adjustment can be improved if data on plumb line direction is used. Theoretical background shown in the paper was proved with an experiment based on the total station and GPS measurements referred to GRS80 geocentric reference system and with the use of GUGIK2001 geoid model for Poland.