The distance problem solved!
Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 2:36 pm
We all know that Micras is supposed to be a sphere. But a problem of this is that we cannot use the regular distance formula for a flat map, because the amount of the distance will vary according to the location of the points in question. Well, that's no longer a problem. I have found the formula that's needed in order to convert from merely the pixel coordinates of two points to the shortest distance between them in kilometers! I tried deriving it myself and failed, but then I found a wikipedia article. <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :P --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/tongue.gif ALT=":P"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> As Micras is a perfect sphere, this should be an exact formula. Where I got the formula was at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spherical_distance<br>
<br>
I have created an excel document that will calculate the great circle (shortest distance between two points of a sphere, akin to a line) between two coordinates in the MCS map. It will convert the angular measurement to kilometers.<br>
<br>
The program:<br>
<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>http://bill3000.hypermart.net/Archives/ ... <!--EZCODE BOLD END--><br>
<br>
Instructions on how to use this program:<br>
<br>
1) Open up paint. Find the (X,Y) coordinates of the two points you want to calculate the distance to. This will be in pixels, of course. Remember that the map itself is 3600 x 1800, so those are the maximum values.<br>
<br>
2) Insert the two points into the program where it says Initial X Coordinate, Final X Coordinate, Initial Y Coordinate, and Final Y Coordinate. It will calculate the distance and the distance in KM will be shown near the bottom under "Shortest Distance."<br>
<br>
3) Below that, there is "Left to Right Distance." This is the distance that you would take if you do not go from the right side to the left side of the map - this means that it may not be the shortest distance, but will show the distance from the left side to the right side of the map.
<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmicronationaln ... ill3000</A> at: 9/12/05 19:50<br></i>
<br>
I have created an excel document that will calculate the great circle (shortest distance between two points of a sphere, akin to a line) between two coordinates in the MCS map. It will convert the angular measurement to kilometers.<br>
<br>
The program:<br>
<!--EZCODE BOLD START--><strong>http://bill3000.hypermart.net/Archives/ ... <!--EZCODE BOLD END--><br>
<br>
Instructions on how to use this program:<br>
<br>
1) Open up paint. Find the (X,Y) coordinates of the two points you want to calculate the distance to. This will be in pixels, of course. Remember that the map itself is 3600 x 1800, so those are the maximum values.<br>
<br>
2) Insert the two points into the program where it says Initial X Coordinate, Final X Coordinate, Initial Y Coordinate, and Final Y Coordinate. It will calculate the distance and the distance in KM will be shown near the bottom under "Shortest Distance."<br>
<br>
3) Below that, there is "Left to Right Distance." This is the distance that you would take if you do not go from the right side to the left side of the map - this means that it may not be the shortest distance, but will show the distance from the left side to the right side of the map.
<p></p><i>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p100.ezboard.com/bmicronationaln ... ill3000</A> at: 9/12/05 19:50<br></i>