28 REPORTS ON THE STATE OP SCIENCE. — 1919. 



3. Report of Geodetic Committee, February 1918. 



1. The Geodetic Committee, having been desired to reconsider their 

 proposals for a Geodetic Institute in the hght of tlie needs of Tidal Pheno- 

 mena, Seismology, and Terrestrial Magnetism, as well as Geodesy, have 

 reviewed the whole question. 



2. Evidence has been laid before the Committee of the present posi- 

 tion in the Empire of each of these branches of Geophysical Science, of 

 the provision for dealing with them, and of the shortcomings of existing 

 aiTangements. 



Careful consideration of the evidence submitted has shown that the 

 needs of Geodesy are to a large extent similar to those of the other sub- 

 jects, and that the following general summary is applicable to Geodesy, 

 Tidal Phenomena, Seismology, and Terrestrial Magnetism. 



General Summary. 



(a) There is no provision for the collection and critical discussion 

 of the work which is being done within the Empire or for its comparison 

 with that which is being done in other countries. 



(b) The various State Departments and local authorities have no 

 British institution to which they can refer for the latest and most accurate 

 technical data, for the methods which have been found most effective 

 in various circumstances in the Dominions, Colonies, Protectorates, or 

 foreign countries, or the improvements that have been made in instru- 

 ments, or for the latest advances in the theoretical fields of these sub- 

 jects, except imperfectly in the case of Terrestrial Magnetism. 



(c) There is no institution where those who have devoted themselves 

 to these geophysical sciences can still further improve then- knowledge 

 of them, investigate the problems that arise, and have at their disposal 

 all the necessary material and instrumental equipment to carry out 

 research work. 



Geodesy. 



3. The position of Geodesy and its special needs may be stated as 

 follows : — 



Besides providing the data from which the true form and dimensions 

 of the earth may be determined — from Avhich, also, can be derived 

 information as to its local irregularities and attractions, its crustal sta- 

 bility and structure — triangulation and levelling, of the degree of pre- 

 cision which geodetic investigations require, piT)vide the most economical 

 basis of work wherever large areas of country have to be surveyed and 

 the boundaries of property defined. They not only provide a reliable 

 control for all other surveying, but also materially raise the standard of 

 accuracy of such work; and, even where second-order surveys are at 

 first employed, work of a geodetic standard must sooner or later be 

 introduced. 



Geodetic trianoulation and precise levelling are, or have been, in 

 progress in the United Kmgdom, India, Egypt, and in Australia, New 

 Zealand, Canada, and South Africa; while work of a similar character 

 will become necessary to a gi-eater or less extent in most of the Crown 

 Colonies and Protectorates as their development proceeds. 



