UN DESAFÍO GEODÉSICO Y SU IMPACTO EN LA INVESTIGACIÓN CIENTÍFICA EN ECUADOR

Abstract

To explain the historical, scientific, technical and technolog- ical value of the Second Geodetic Mission to Ecuador at the begin- ning of the 20th century (1901-1906) with the purpose of verifying the measurements made a century and a half before (1736-1744) by the First Mission to determine the longitude of an arc of the terres- trial meridian of Quito, we summarize the essential characteristics of three scenarios with which this mission has been related. This essay will focus as the first scenario, the subtopic: From Newton to the first Mission; the second scenario is called towards a proposed solution and is broken down into several subtopics such as: the cir- cumstances of the Mission; the Academy report; the geodetic chal- lenge and geopolitical strategies. As a third scenario, the following are reviewed: the legacy and the obligation; then the influence of Henry Poncaire; the way to the future; worldview and epistemology; Furthermore,the question, can we find points shared by worldviews? Finally a focus on the theory of systems and complexity in Poncaire’s thought; and, conclusions.