What is the process of determining a location in relation to three other points of reference called?

The process of determining a location in relation to three other points of reference is called trilateration. This method relies on measuring distances from at least three known locations to pinpoint an unknown location. When three points are utilized, they create a defined area within which the unknown point exists, allowing for its precise calculation based on the distances measured.

In trilateration, the distances are typically calculated using geometric principles. For example, in a two-dimensional scenario, circles are drawn with the known reference points as centers and their respective distances as radii. The intersection of these circles reveals the position of the unknown point. It's important to note that, although trilateration is sometimes confused with triangulation, the two concepts are distinct; triangulation uses angles instead of distances to find a location.

3D trilateration may refer to expanding this concept into three dimensions, utilizing known points that have altitude as well as horizontal coordinates, but trilateration itself is the foundational method that addresses the question. Multilateration involves additional complexity in terms of the measurement process, often using time of flight for signal analysis, which is not directly applicable here. Geolocation is a broader term that encompasses various methods to determine geographic locations, rather than specifically focusing on the relative positioning