How can I quickly estimate the distance between two (latitude, longitude) points?
latitude-longitude, mapping, maps, math, python
Solution
The answers to Haversine Formula in Python (Bearing and Distance between two GPS points) provide Python implementations that answer your question.
Using the implementation below I performed 100,000 iterations in less than 1 second on an older laptop. I think for your purposes this should be sufficient. However, you should profile anything before you optimize for performance. `
from math import radians, cos, sin, asin, sqrt
def haversine(lon1, lat1, lon2, lat2):
"""
Calculate the great circle distance between two points
on the earth (specified in decimal degrees)
"""
# convert decimal degrees to radians
lon1, lat1, lon2, lat2 = map(radians, [lon1, lat1, lon2, lat2])
# haversine formula
dlon = lon2 - lon1
dlat = lat2 - lat1
a = sin(dlat/2)**2 + cos(lat1) * cos(lat2) * sin(dlon/2)**2
c = 2 * asin(sqrt(a))
# Radius of earth in kilometers is 6371
km = 6371* c
return km
`
To underestimate `haversine(lat1, long1, lat2, long2) * 0.90` or whatever factor you want. I don't see how introducing error to your underestimation is useful.
Problem
I want to be able to get a estimate of the distance between two (latitude, longitude) points. I want to undershoot, as this will be for A* graph search and I want it to be fast. The points will be at most 800 km apart.