TERMIUM Plus®
The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.
GEODETIC HEIGHT [5 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2021-03-29
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Mathematical Geography
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- vertical datum
1, record 1, English, vertical%20datum
correct
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
- vertical control datum 2, record 1, English, vertical%20control%20datum
correct
- vertical geodetic datum 3, record 1, English, vertical%20geodetic%20datum
correct
- height datum 2, record 1, English, height%20datum
correct
- altimetric datum 2, record 1, English, altimetric%20datum
correct
- altitude datum 4, record 1, English, altitude%20datum
correct, NATO, standardized
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
The arbitrary level from which vertical displacement is measured. The datum for height measurement is the terrain directly below the aircraft or some specified datum; for pressure altitude, the level at which the atmospheric pressure is 29.92 inches of mercury (1013.2 m.bs); and for true altitude, mean sea level. 4, record 1, English, - vertical%20datum
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
A vertical datum is a surface of zero elevation to which heights of various points are referenced. Traditionally, vertical datums have used classical survey methods to measure height differences(i. e. geodetic levelling) to best fit the surface of the earth. 5, record 1, English, - vertical%20datum
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
altitude datum: term and definition standardized by NATO. 6, record 1, English, - vertical%20datum
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Géographie mathématique
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- système de référence altimétrique
1, record 1, French, syst%C3%A8me%20de%20r%C3%A9f%C3%A9rence%20altim%C3%A9trique
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
- référentiel altimétrique 1, record 1, French, r%C3%A9f%C3%A9rentiel%20altim%C3%A9trique
correct, masculine noun
- système de référence géodésique vertical 2, record 1, French, syst%C3%A8me%20de%20r%C3%A9f%C3%A9rence%20g%C3%A9od%C3%A9sique%20vertical
correct, masculine noun
- référentiel géodésique vertical 3, record 1, French, r%C3%A9f%C3%A9rentiel%20g%C3%A9od%C3%A9sique%20vertical
correct, masculine noun
- référence d'altitude 4, record 1, French, r%C3%A9f%C3%A9rence%20d%27altitude
correct, feminine noun, NATO, standardized
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Niveau arbitraire à partir duquel les distances verticales sont mesurées. Le plan de référence pour les mesures de hauteur est soit le sol ou la mer immédiatement à la verticale de l'aéronef, soit un plan horizontal quelconque. Pour les altitudes-pressions, c'est le niveau qui correspond à la pression atmosphérique de 1013,2 mb (29,92 pouces de mercure). Pour l'altitude vraie, c'est le niveau moyen des mers. 4, record 1, French, - syst%C3%A8me%20de%20r%C3%A9f%C3%A9rence%20altim%C3%A9trique
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
référence d'altitude : terme et définition normalisés par l'OTAN. 5, record 1, French, - syst%C3%A8me%20de%20r%C3%A9f%C3%A9rence%20altim%C3%A9trique
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Geografía matemática
Record 1, Main entry term, Spanish
- referencias de altitud
1, record 1, Spanish, referencias%20de%20altitud
correct, feminine noun, plural
Record 1, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 1, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Nivel elegido arbitrariamente a partir del cual se miden las distancias verticales. El nivel de referencia para las medidas de altura es el terreno que está en la vertical de la aeronave u otro plano de referencia específico. Para las medidas de altitud, en función de la presión es el nivel para el cual la presión atmosférica es de 29,92 pulgadas de mercurio (76 cm de mercurio ó 1.013,2 mbs) y para la altura el nivel medio del mar. 1, record 1, Spanish, - referencias%20de%20altitud
Record 2 - internal organization data 2018-01-23
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Remote Sensing
- Cartography
- Mathematical Geography
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- ellipsoidal height
1, record 2, English, ellipsoidal%20height
correct
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
- geodetic height 2, record 2, English, geodetic%20height
correct
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
The elevation of a point above the reference ellipsoid. 2, record 2, English, - ellipsoidal%20height
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Télédétection
- Cartographie
- Géographie mathématique
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- altitude ellipsoïdale
1, record 2, French, altitude%20ellipso%C3%AFdale
correct, feminine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
- altitude géodésique 2, record 2, French, altitude%20g%C3%A9od%C3%A9sique
correct, feminine noun
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Élévation d'un point au-dessus de l'ellipsoïde de référence. 1, record 2, French, - altitude%20ellipso%C3%AFdale
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Teledetección
- Cartografía
- Geografía matemática
Record 2, Main entry term, Spanish
- altura elipsoidal
1, record 2, Spanish, altura%20elipsoidal
correct, feminine noun, officially approved
Record 2, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 2, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Altura relativa al elipsoide de referencia, medida a lo largo de la normal elipsoidal exterior por el punto en cuestión. 1, record 2, Spanish, - altura%20elipsoidal
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Altura geodésica. 1, record 2, Spanish, - altura%20elipsoidal
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 OBS
altura elipsoidal : término y definición aceptados oficialmente por la Organización de Aviación Civil Internacional (OACI). 2, record 2, Spanish, - altura%20elipsoidal
Record 3 - internal organization data 2016-08-01
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Remote Sensing
- Surveying
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- vertical control point
1, record 3, English, vertical%20control%20point
correct
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A point whose elevation or geodetic height is known accurately enough that it can be assumed known in further surveys. 1, record 3, English, - vertical%20control%20point
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Télédétection
- Arpentage
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- point de contrôle vertical
1, record 3, French, point%20de%20contr%C3%B4le%20vertical
correct, masculine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
[...] le nombre de points de contrôle nécessaire peut être ajusté par rapport à la réalité du terrain [...] Pour la basse résolution, la disposition des points de contrôle doit respecter la densité suivante [...] Un point de contrôle vertical tous les deux modèles et un point de contrôle horizontal tous les six modèles. 2, record 3, French, - point%20de%20contr%C3%B4le%20vertical
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Record 4 - internal organization data 2005-01-26
Record 4, English
Record 4, Subject field(s)
- Mathematical Geography
- Remote Sensing
Record 4, Main entry term, English
- geodetic reference system
1, record 4, English, geodetic%20reference%20system
correct
Record 4, Abbreviations, English
Record 4, Synonyms, English
Record 4, Textual support, English
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A mathematical model designed to best fit part or all of the geoid. 2, record 4, English, - geodetic%20reference%20system
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 OBS
It is defined by an ellipsoid and the relationship between the ellipsoid and a point on the topographic surface established as the origin of datum. This relationship can be defined by six quantities, generally(but not necessarily) : the geodetic latitude, longitude, and the height of the origin, the two components of the deflection of the vertical at the origin, and the geodetic azimuth of a line from the origin to some other point. 2, record 4, English, - geodetic%20reference%20system
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 2 OBS
geodetic reference system: term and definition provided by the Canadian Hydrographic Service. 2, record 4, English, - geodetic%20reference%20system
Record 4, French
Record 4, Domaine(s)
- Géographie mathématique
- Télédétection
Record 4, Main entry term, French
- système de référence géodésique
1, record 4, French, syst%C3%A8me%20de%20r%C3%A9f%C3%A9rence%20g%C3%A9od%C3%A9sique
correct, masculine noun
Record 4, Abbreviations, French
Record 4, Synonyms, French
Record 4, Textual support, French
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Modèle mathématique conçu de manière à correspondre au mieux à une partie ou à la totalité du géoïde. 1, record 4, French, - syst%C3%A8me%20de%20r%C3%A9f%C3%A9rence%20g%C3%A9od%C3%A9sique
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Il est défini par un ellipsoïde et par la relation entre l'ellipsoïde et un point de la surface topographique retenu comme origine du système de référence. Cette relation peut généralement (mais non nécessairement) être déterminée au moyen de six quantités : la latitude géodésique, la longitude géodésique et la hauteur de l'origine; les deux composantes de l'angle de déviation de la verticale à l'origine et l'azimut géodésique d'une ligne entre l'origine et un autre point quelconque. 1, record 4, French, - syst%C3%A8me%20de%20r%C3%A9f%C3%A9rence%20g%C3%A9od%C3%A9sique
Record 4, Spanish
Record 4, Textual support, Spanish
Record 5 - internal organization data 2005-01-05
Record 5, English
Record 5, Subject field(s)
- Mathematical Geography
Record 5, Main entry term, English
- geodetic height determination
1, record 5, English, geodetic%20height%20determination
correct
Record 5, Abbreviations, English
Record 5, Synonyms, English
Record 5, French
Record 5, Domaine(s)
- Géographie mathématique
Record 5, Main entry term, French
- détermination des hauteurs géodésiques
1, record 5, French, d%C3%A9termination%20des%20hauteurs%20g%C3%A9od%C3%A9siques
correct, feminine noun
Record 5, Abbreviations, French
Record 5, Synonyms, French
Record 5, Textual support, French
Record 5, Spanish
Record 5, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2025
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
Language Portal of Canada

Access a collection of Canadian resources on all aspects of English and French, including quizzes.
Writing tools

The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies

Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified: