The DGFI research program for the period 2011-2014 has been compiled in alignment with the general objectives of the Centre for Geodetic Earth System Research (CGE) and was reviewed in November 2010 by a Scientific Advisory Board.

As a member of CGE, DGFI contributes by this research program to geodetic Earth system research. This research addresses surveying and modeling of those Earth system components whose properties and processes are sensed by geodetic observation techniques. This implies e.g. the time variable gravity field, rotation of the Earth, ocean and solid Earth tides, the deformation of the Earth body, the global water cycle, mass distribution and mass transport, as well as processes in ionosphere and troposphere. Nearly all series of measurement are affected by these processes. The high precision and redundancy of geodetic observations allows to draw conclusion on these processes, to describe them more precisely and to elaborate the metrological foundation for long and consistent climate-relevant time-series.

According to these objectives the research program is organized into the following research areas:

1. Geometric Techniques
2. Gravity field
3. Earth system modeling
4. Methodical basics
5. New Technologies

Each of these research areas is further subdivided into themes, which in turn may contain tasks or externally funded projects. Currently the research area New Technologies is exclusively treated by CGE partners.