geodesic
Curved surface shortcut
Geodesic describes the shortest path between two points on a curved surface—a straight line generalized to non-flat geometry.
On a sphere, geodesics are arcs of great circles; airplane routes follow geodesic paths.
In architecture, a geodesic dome uses a network of triangles to approximate a sphere, distributing stress efficiently: Buckminster Fuller popularized the geodesic dome.
Globe-like in form
- non-EuclideanGeometry without parallel postulate
- ellipticOval in form
- hyperbolicExaggerated beyond reason
- manifoldMany and various
curvature · differential · metric · great circle · shortest path · surface · topology · coordinate
Maximum spherical circumference
- shortest routeMinimum-distance trajectory
- flight pathPlanned aerial trajectory
- bearingPosture or orientation
- waypointNavigation reference location
latitude · longitude · Mercator · distance · Earth · globe · course · trajectory
Underlying support system
- latticeOpenwork of crossed strips
- trussLoad-bearing beam arrangement
- spaceframeRigid three-dimensional framework
- triangulatedLocated via angular measurement
rigid · stable · load-bearing · compression · tension · joint · beam · chord
Structure balanced by pull
- spaceframeRigid three-dimensional framework
- triangulationLocation via three points
- icosahedronTwenty-faced regular solid
- Spaceship EarthEarth as shared vehicle
Epcot · radome · biosphere · Montreal · lightweight · modular · prefabricated · strut
Location via three points
- baselineStandard for comparison
- theodolitePrecision angle-measuring instrument
- benchmarkStandard for comparison
- datumSingle unit of information
control point · measurement · land survey · mapping · cartography · elevation · terrain · GPS
spherical
Globe-like in form
- non-EuclideanGeometry without parallel postulate
- ellipticOval in form
- hyperbolicExaggerated beyond reason
manifold · curvature · differential · metric · great circle · shortest path · surface · topology · coordinate · arc
great circle
Maximum spherical circumference
- shortest routeMinimum-distance trajectory
- flight pathPlanned aerial trajectory
- bearingPosture or orientation
waypoint · latitude · longitude · Mercator · distance · Earth · globe · course · trajectory
framework
Underlying support system
- latticeOpenwork of crossed strips
- trussLoad-bearing beam arrangement
- spaceframeRigid three-dimensional framework
triangulated · rigid · stable · load-bearing · compression · tension · joint · beam · chord · cantilever
tensegrity
Structure balanced by pull
- spaceframeRigid three-dimensional framework
- triangulationLocation via three points
- icosahedronTwenty-faced regular solid
Spaceship Earth · Epcot · radome · biosphere · Montreal · lightweight · modular · prefabricated · strut · node
triangulation
Location via three points
- baselineStandard for comparison
- theodolitePrecision angle-measuring instrument
- benchmarkStandard for comparison
datum · control point · measurement · land survey · mapping · cartography · elevation · terrain · GPS · reference frame
- gravitygravity, graviton, gravity well, gravitational pull, gravity wave
- 3D shapescube, sphere, cone, cylinder, pyramid
- linesstraight line, line, dotted line, dashed line, solid line
- Soft G Wordsgel, gem, gene, genie, genius
- roofsgable, hip, flat, mansard, gambrel
- structural supportsbeams, posts, columns, scaffold, girders
geodesicroundabout
Circular junction for traffic
indirect · circuitous · detour · meandering · meandering path
geodesicstraight line
Undeviated continuous path
rectilinear · planar · Euclidean · Cartesian · linear
geodesicconventional
Following accepted practices
traditional · rectilinear · post-and-beam · orthogonal · box frame
- geodesic domeTriangular-lattice spherical structure