From Pendulum Measurements to the GRACE-Mission : on the history of geodesy on Telegrafenberg Hill in Potsdam ; retrospection on performed works and scientific results of the\nGeodetic Institute of Potsdam ; booklet for the exhibition

Topic 1: History of the InstituteBaeyer's idea of a joint arc measurement In 1857, Lieutenant--General Johann Jakob Baeyer (1794 - 1885) retired from active service as Head of the Trigonometric Department of the Prussian General Staff at the age of 63.Having been put at the disposal (in service) of the Prussian King Friedrich Wilhelm IV (1795--1861) with his previous salary, he dedicated himself to scientific matters.In 1831 to 1834, J.J. Baeyer had already performed arc measurement activities in East Prussia with Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel (1784--1846), Professor of Astronomy and Director of the observatory in Königsberg.Additional surveys in which he participated as a General Staff Officer were: 1837--1842 Baltic Sea coastal survey, 1835 trigonometric astrogeodetic levelling between Swinoujscie and Berlin, 1846/1847 baseline measurements near Berlin and Bonn, 1849 trigonometric astrogeodetic levelling between Berlin--Brocken--Inselsberg.In order to precisely determine the size and shape of the Earth, he submitted his plan to the Prussian Defence Ministry in the memorandum, "Draft on a Central European Arc Measurement", in April 1861.Already on 20 Jun 1861, the King of Prussia Wilhelm I (1797--1888) issued a cabinet order to realise Baeyer's plan "to establish a Central European arc measurement by linking the geodetic measurements in those countries which lie between the same meridians as Germany".Still in the same year, J.J. Baeyer published his detailed, scientifically justified paper "Über die Größe und Figur der Erde.Eine Denkschrift zur Begründung einer mitteleuropäischen Gradmessung" [About the size and shape of the Earth.A memorandum on the justification for a Central European arc measurement], in which he analysed the status at that time in the field of arc measurement and presented the possibilities for continuing the activities.The aim of this was to homogenise and link the national triangulations, compare these results with geodetic--astronomical gravity measurements and investigate the structures of the geoid in this manner.Formation of the joint arc measurement and the institute From 24 to 26 April 1862, the founding conference on the Central European arc measurement was held in Berlin.As the Commissioner of the Royal Prussian government, J.J. Baeyer received the government representatives from Austria and Saxony, in order to conduct preliminary discussions on the introduction to the activities for a Central European arc measurement.The goal was consciously pursued of integrating additional countries as soon as possible.At the first General Conference of the Central European Arc Measurement from 15 to 22 October 1864 in Berlin, authorised representatives from 13 countries participated.As the implementing body, a resolution was passed on a central bureau and J.J. Bayer Lieutenant--General in service was elected as President of the central bureau.After funds were provided by the Prussian government in 1866, the central bureau, which was also responsible for contributing the share of activities related to Prussia, was established.In 1867, the second General Conference was held in Berlin with 3 additional European countries, as a conference on the European arc measurement.Due to the high workload in the central bureau with the growing number of participant countries, J.J. Baeyer already applied to the Prussian government for the founding of a scientific institute during this time.This was approved in 1869.With effect from 1 January 1870, the founding of the Royal Prussian Geodetic Institute was completed with its domicile in Berlin and J.J. Baeyer was appointed as its President.The institute was originally housed in private buildings in Lützowstraße 42 and from October 1886, in Genthiner Straße 34.Due to the limited space in the premises, the construction of a dedicated laboratory was already planned from 1875, but this failed due to a lack of suitable building space in Berlin.The Scientific Advisory Board of the institute (Ch. A. F. Peters, F. R. Helmert, A. Auwers, L. Kronecker, W. Siemens and H. Bruns) therefore made the suggestion in 1878 to build a new institute building on land on the Telegrafenberg near Potsdam, where the main building of the Potsdam Astrophysical Observatory was under construction.But J.J. Baeyer rejected this, "as the institute would enter into scientific isolation at this site far away from

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