Hellmut Schmid
Encyclopedia
Hellmut H. Schmid was Professor of geodesy
and photogrammetry
on the ETH Zürich
(Switzerland), where he emerited in 1985. In the 1950s, he worked on research projects of space exploration
in the USA. Between 1968 and 1974, he promoted the first intercontinental
network of satellite geodesy.
Geodesy
Geodesy , also named geodetics, a branch of earth sciences, is the scientific discipline that deals with the measurement and representation of the Earth, including its gravitational field, in a three-dimensional time-varying space. Geodesists also study geodynamical phenomena such as crustal...
and photogrammetry
Photogrammetry
Photogrammetry is the practice of determining the geometric properties of objects from photographic images. Photogrammetry is as old as modern photography and can be dated to the mid-nineteenth century....
on the ETH Zürich
ETH Zurich
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich or ETH Zürich is an engineering, science, technology, mathematics and management university in the City of Zurich, Switzerland....
(Switzerland), where he emerited in 1985. In the 1950s, he worked on research projects of space exploration
Space exploration
Space exploration is the use of space technology to explore outer space. Physical exploration of space is conducted both by human spaceflights and by robotic spacecraft....
in the USA. Between 1968 and 1974, he promoted the first intercontinental
Intercontinental
Intercontinental may refer to:* anything spanning several continents* Intercontinental ballistic missile* the InterContinental hotel chain* InterContinental Hotels Group* Intercontinental Cup * Intercontinental Championship...
network of satellite geodesy.
Focal points of his research in Europa
- Geodetic measurement methods at the V2V-2 rocketThe V-2 rocket , technical name Aggregat-4 , was a ballistic missile that was developed at the beginning of the Second World War in Germany, specifically targeted at London and later Antwerp. The liquid-propellant rocket was the world's first long-range combat-ballistic missile and first known...
projekt in PeenemündePeenemündeThe Peenemünde Army Research Center was founded in 1937 as one of five military proving grounds under the Army Weapons Office ....
(~1942) - Bbeginnings of satellite geodesySatellite geodesySatellite geodesy is the measurement of the form and dimensions of the Earth, the location of objects on its surface and the figure of the Earth's gravity field by means of artificial satellite techniques—geodesy by means of artificial satellites...
1959 - Theory of analytical photogrammetry and matrixMatrix (mathematics)In mathematics, a matrix is a rectangular array of numbers, symbols, or expressions. The individual items in a matrix are called its elements or entries. An example of a matrix with six elements isMatrices of the same size can be added or subtracted element by element...
/ITInformation technologyInformation technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
developments (1950s, USA; see also Finsterwalder) - High precision evaluation of photogramPhotogramA photogram is a photographic image made without a camera by placing objects directly onto the surface of a photo-sensitive material such as photographic paper and then exposing it to light. The result is a negative shadow image varying in tone, depending on the transparency of the objects used...
(ca. 1965-1978) - Worldwide Satellite Triangulation Network (1969-1973 (publ. 1974): first regular intercontinental network, 46 stations (3000–5000 km apart), pioneering accuracy (±3m)
- Contributions to the method of least squares, network optimization, Block triangulation
- Optimization of coordinate transformations (~1975)
- Development of 3DThree-dimensional spaceThree-dimensional space is a geometric 3-parameters model of the physical universe in which we live. These three dimensions are commonly called length, width, and depth , although any three directions can be chosen, provided that they do not lie in the same plane.In physics and mathematics, a...
intersectionLine-plane intersectionIn analytic geometry, the intersection of a line and a plane can be the empty set,a point, ora line. Distinguishing these cases, and determining equations for the point and line in the latter cases have use, for example, in computer graphics, motion planning, and collision detection.-Parametric...
methods in analytical photogrammetry
See also
- PAGEOSPAGEOSPAGEOS was a balloon satellite which was launched by the NASA in June 1966. Pageos had a diameter of exactly , consisted of a thick mylar plastic film coated with vapour deposited aluminium enclosing a volume of and was used for the Weltnetz der Satellitentriangulation -- a global cooperation...
, balloon satelliteBalloon satelliteA balloon satellite is a satellite that is inflated with gas after it has been put into orbit.-List of Balloon Satellites:...
s, stellar triangulationStellar triangulationStellar triangulation is a method of geodesy which uses cosmic instead of terrestrial targets. It was first done by the Finnish geodesist Väisälä in 1959, who made astrometric photographs of the sky at two stations together with a balloon probe between them.... - Global reference ellipsoidReference ellipsoidIn geodesy, a reference ellipsoid is a mathematically-defined surface that approximates the geoid, the truer figure of the Earth, or other planetary body....
, "Earth polyhedronPolyhedronIn elementary geometry a polyhedron is a geometric solid in three dimensions with flat faces and straight edges...
", geodetic systemGeodetic systemGeodetic systems or geodetic data are used in geodesy, navigation, surveying by cartographers and satellite navigation systems to translate positions indicated on their products to their real position on earth....
, WGS84 - ETH ZürichETH ZurichThe Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich or ETH Zürich is an engineering, science, technology, mathematics and management university in the City of Zurich, Switzerland....
, Ohio State UniversityOhio State UniversityThe Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, Friedrich HopfnerFriedrich HopfnerFriedrich Hopfner was an Austrian geodesist, geophysicist and planetary scientist.As an officer of the Austro-Hungarian Empire he began his scientific work at the Bureau of Meteorology...
Literature
- K.LederstegerKarl LederstegerKarl Ledersteger was an important geodesist and geophysicist.After studies of astronomy, mathematics and geodesy he worked in Germany and later in the National Survey of Austria. Later he set up the scientific department of the Federal Office for Metrology and Survey , Vienna...
: "'Astronomische und Physikalische Geodäsie (Erdmessung)", JEK Vol.V (870 S., espec. §§ 2, 5, 13), J.B.Metzler, Stuttgart 1968 - H.H. Schmid: "Das Weltnetz der Satellitentriangulation". Wiss. Mitteilungen ETH ZürichETH ZurichThe Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich or ETH Zürich is an engineering, science, technology, mathematics and management university in the City of Zurich, Switzerland....
and Journal of Geophysical Research, 1974. - Klaus Schnädelbach et al.: Western European Satellite Triangulation Programme (WEST), 2nd Experimental Computation. Mitteilungen Geodät.Inst. Graz 11/1, Graz 1972
- Nothnagel, Schlüter, Seeger: Die Geschichte der geodätischen VLBI in Deutschland, Bonn 2000
- ZfV 1998: Hellmut H. Schmid † (obituary).