Most free GIS programs have a measuring tool that lets you determine the distance between two or more points. But this distance is usually a flat, straight-line distance, and doesn’t take into account the additional distance you would travel if the terrain weren’t flat. If the terrain is steep or hilly, your 3D distance traveled is longer than that flat, straight-line distance.
MicroDEM has the capability to determine both the straight-line distance and distance over terrain for an arbitrary path. After loading in a digital elevation model (DEM), click on the Distance (stream selection) in the window’s toolbar:
Then draw the path on your DEM:
And MicroDEM brings up a window with the flat distance, and 3D distance over terrain:
If you have a map whose area is covered by the DEM, you can draw the path directly on the map:
MicroDEM links the map with the DEM, and will calculate the straight-line and 3D distances:
Related posts:
- Elevation Profile In Google Maps
- Determining Terrain Effects On GPS Accuracy
- DEM Terrain Depiction Using 3DEM
- Google Maps Line Tool Now Supports Distance Measurement
- Determining Google Earth Path Lengths
- Advanced And Animated Viewsheds With MicroDEM
- Drawing Lines Between Points In Google Maps, Straight And Great Circle
- Varying-Angle Terrain Views With Terrain Bender
- Elevation And Contour Line Display In MicroDEM – Make Your Own Simple Topo Maps
- Selecting Areas Based On Terrain Categories And Values: Slope, Elevation, Aspect And Relief
