Scope of activities

In the foundation document of the Geodetic and Geophysical Research Institute (GGRI) the main activities of the Institute are prescribed as:
- Basic research in geodesy and geophysics including theory, field- and laboratory work and processing needed for the topics, publication of scientific results and of measured data;
- running and development of geophysical observatories for seismology, geomagnetism, ionosphere and geodynamics, and regular publication of the data observed.
- Development of scientific methods and instruments;
- providing assistance and support for various institutions in solving their geodetic and geophysical problems of basic research character;
- participating in the work of international geodetic and geophysical organizations and carrying out the tasks arriving at the Institute in consequence of the membership of Hungary in international organizations.

In the field of geophysics: the application of seismology and electromagnetic induction in the study of the Earth's structure, further the study of certain fields of solar-terrestrial physics, such as upper atmosphere, lower ionosphere, magnetospheric physics, geomagnetic variation field.

In the field of geodesy: the development of research work in mathematical geodesy, measuring methods and instruments, further studies in geodynamics (earthtides and gravimetry, recent crustal movements, rotation of the Earth etc.).

The complex application of geodetic and geophysical investigation methods opens new and up-to-date research themes for the Institute by means of the cooperation between physical geodesy and seismology. Geodynamic stations can be used as long-period seismological observatories; moreover pre- and post-seismic phenomena can be investigated by the geodetic study of movements. A new research field with international cooperation is the study of the connections between the time-varying processes of the space around the Earth and of the Earth itself. The science of the environment utilizes more and more geophysical and geodetic methods. In this respect, an important task of the Institute is to develop theoretical and experimental methodologies.