Quote:
The equation for linear distance between two points in 3-d space is:

d = sqrt(deltax^2 + deltay^2 + deltaz^2)

you would calculate deltax as the difference in latitude between points, deltay as the difference in longitude, and deltaz as the difference in elevation.

That would be the linear approach (assuming you walked in a straight between successive points). I could develop an algorithm the plots a smooth curve over all the data points and then calculates distance traveled from their. I'd have to think about that a bit more. In 2-d space it would be called a cubic spline.


Ooh, pick me!


d = Integral[dt sqrt((dx/dt)^2 + (dy/dt)^2 + (dz/dt)^2)]

where dx/dt is your speed in the latitudinal direction, etc.

I used to get in fights with my boyfriend when his GPS distance didn't match the distance I estimated from the map. Nice to have some backup on why.