Quantum Physical Geodesy Lab

The Quantum Physical Geodesy Lab is part of the Department of Geomatics Engineering at the University of Calgary. Our work sits at the meeting point of a centuries-old science and a set of emerging technologies by connecting classical (physical) geodesy with the next generation of quantum sensing. 

Everything we do begins with gravity. By measuring the Earth's gravity field with precision, from the ground, from the air, and from space, we determine the geoid and realize the height systems that tell us, quite literally, which way is down and how high is high. It is science with a practical edge that lets nations modernize their height systems, gives engineers and hydrologists a consistent vertical reference for everything from infrastructure to flood mapping, and turns gravity into a window on the Earth itself: the density of the rock beneath us, the rise of the sea, and the slow rebound of a continent still recovering from its last ice age.

Where quantum belongs? Gravity is not the same everywhere. Every place on Earth has its own gravitational signature, and quantum sensors can now read that signature with high sensitivity. This turns a familiar idea into a new kind of compass: by measuring local gravity(or its gradient, i.e., how gravity changes from one direction to the next) and matching it against a reference map, we can determine position without any satellite signal at all. As the satellite signals, e.g., GNSS, we all rely on for positioning are vulnerable to jamming/spoofing and loss, we are exploring how quantum gravimeters and gradiometers could help us find our way where GNSS falls silent: underground, underwater, and in the most remote corners of the Earth, such as high latitudes.

Throughout, we keep one foot firmly in the real world, working hand in hand with government and industry partners to turn geodetic science into tools people can actually use, and training the next generation of geodesists to carry the field forward.

We thank the sponsors and partners whose support makes our research possible, and whose confidence helps carry its impact beyond the lab.