Geocentric Datum of Australia 2020: the first Australian datum developed from a rigorous continental-scale adjustment

Abstract

We present the Geocentric Datum of Australia 2020, the latest update to the Australian national datum. This update results in a more accurate and precise datum that is better suited to modern positioning needs. Improvements include the removal of the distortions present in the previous national datum, a reduction in the offset to the current International Terrestrial Reference Frame, and the provision of rigorous uncertainties. We also describe the input data and the methods used to perform a rigorous, all-station, continental-scale least-squares adjustment of the national geodetic network, consisting of more than 2.4 million measurements to more than 330,000 survey control marks.