Plain English Meaning

Math that figures out distances and directions across the Earth while taking into account that the Earth is round and slightly squashed, not flat.

Full Definition

Mathematical computations that determine distances, bearings, and positions on the curved surface of the Earth, accounting for the Earth's actual shape (an ellipsoid) rather than treating it as flat. In airborne navigation databases, geodetic calculations are used to define and resolve waypoint positions, route legs, and great-circle paths between points specified by latitude and longitude.

Context Anchor

Seen in discussions of airborne navigation databases, GPS-based navigation, and how stored procedure data is built and checked.

Derivation

From Greek 'geo' (earth) and 'daiein' (to divide). Geodesy is the science of measuring the Earth's shape and size. Calling these calculations 'geodetic' signals that they treat the Earth as a real, curved rather than a flat map.