Distance measurements are crucial to everyday life. The most practical example may be driving distance between two locations. If you are a professional driver or if you simply drive often, you probably need to know how far you are from a certain point and how long it will take you to get there, along with a mileage calculation.
There are several ways to measure distance between two addresses and it’s crucial to understand which method is best for your application. Read on to learn the various distance measuring methods so you can determine which to choose.
This straightforward method measures the straight-line distance from one point to another. To find the distance, imagine your starting point and end point mapped out on a flat surface. Use a ruler or similar device to measure the distance between the two points. Then, translate this measurement to feet, miles, centimeters, etc., as needed.
Online tools will help you find an accurate distance based on the earth’s curvature. They use Haversine distance to calculate ”great circle” distance.
Euclidean Distance also calculates the distance between two points, but it is not the most accurate technique for driving purposes. It does not account for routes to take to the freeway, navigating around busy streets, detours, and other factors. You must use a driving distance measurement to determine the distance between two cities.
Several GPS apps provide the driving distance from one destination to another. They will account for factors like traffic jams, detours, and construction sites to offer an estimation of your total travel and arrival time.
Chebysev distance focuses on the theory of restricted movement and takes it to the next level. It is based on the concept of a chess game, which only allows certain pieces to move a square at a time. It considers the minimum amount of moves that will get you from one point to another based on the largest single movement you can make horizontally or vertically. This distance measurement is commonly used in robotics and game development.
Different distance measurement tools serve different needs, Google Maps distances between places