In 2015, the International Association of Geodesy defined the International Height Reference System (IHRS) as the conventional gravity field-related global height system. The IHRS is a geopotential reference system co-rotating with the Earth. Coordinates of points or objects close to or on the Earth’s surface are given by geopotential numbers C(P) referring to an equipotential surface defined by the conventional value W₀ = 62,636,853.4 m² s⁻², and geocentric Cartesian coordinates X referring to the International Terrestrial Reference System (ITRS). Current efforts concentrate on an accurate, consistent, and well-defined realisation of the IHRS to provide an international standard for the precise determination of physical coordinates worldwide. Accordingly, this study focuses on the strategy for the realisation of the IHRS; i.e. the establishment of the International Height Reference Frame (IHRF). Four main aspects are considered: (1) methods for the determination of IHRF physical coordinates; (2) standards and conventions needed to ensure consistency between the definition and the realisation of the reference system; (3) criteria for the IHRF reference network design and station selection; and (4) operational infrastructure to guarantee a reliable and long-term sustainability of the IHRF. A highlight of this work is the evaluation of different approaches for the determination and accuracy assessment of IHRF coordinates based on the existing resources, namely (1) global gravity models of high resolution, (2) precise regional gravity field modelling, and (3) vertical datum unification of the local height systems into the IHRF. After a detailed discussion of the advantages, current limitations, and possibilities of improvement in the coordinate determination using these options, we define a strategy for the establishment of the IHRF including data requirements, a set of minimum standards/conventions for the determination of potential coordinates, a first IHRF reference network configuration, and a proposal to create a component of the International Gravity Field Service (IGFS) dedicated to the maintenance and servicing of the IHRS/IHRF.

2015年，国际大地测量学协会将国际高度参考系统（IHRS）定义为与重力场相关的常规全球高度系统。IHRS是与地球共同旋转的地势参考系统。接近或位于地球表面的点或物体的坐标由参考常规值W ₀  = 62,636,853.4 m ²  s ^-2和地心笛卡尔坐标X定义的等势面的地势数C（P）给出参考国际地面参考系统（ITRS）。当前的工作集中在《国际卫生条例》的准确，一致和定义明确的实现上，以为精确确定全世界的物理坐标提供国际标准。因此，本研究侧重于实现《国际卫生条例》的战略；即建立国际高度参考框架（IHRF）。考虑了四个主要方面：（1）确定IHRF物理坐标的方法；（2）确保参考系统的定义与实现之间的一致性所需的标准和惯例；（3）IHRF参考网络设计和站点选择的标准；（4）运营基础设施，以确保IHRF的可靠和长期可持续性。这项工作的重点是根据现有资源评估IHRF坐标确定和精度评估的不同方法，即（1）高分辨率的全球重力模型，（2）精确的区域重力场建模和（3）将局部高度系统的垂直基准统一到IHRF中。在详细讨论了使用这些选项进行坐标确定的优势，当前局限性以及改进的可能性之后，我们定义了建立IHRF的策略，包括数据要求，确定潜在坐标的一组最低标准/惯例，第一个IHRF参考网络配置，