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Yes, the Earth is curved. Assuming it is flat is incompatible with having a robust and accurate geospatial search. You must use sines and cosines if you want to
by anonytrary 6y ago
Yes, the Earth is curved. Assuming it is flat is incompatible with having a robust and accurate geospatial search. You must use sines and cosines if you want to do geospatial indexing correctly!
- techbio 6y agoSines, cosines, and the Haversine formula only get you so far (or approximately close). The Earth is neither flat, nor perfectly spherical, but an oblate spheroid. The coordinate systems referenced in TFA are defined to adapt for this, but in different ways depending on the geospatial application, source data collection, map projection, and other factors. A reusable coordinate dataset will include not just latitude and longitude, but also the reference ellipsoid to which it approximates the Earth's surface, and the direction of North used at the location to calibrate sufficient dimensions to pinpoint relative location. Not in a word, ideal, and thus, TFA.
- bigiain 6y agoMt Everest and The Marianas Trench would like a word with you about The Earth being an oblate spheroid... Everything is an approximation.
- techbio 6y agoTrue the Earth is not flat in many different ways, and also, the parts are moving. Edit: if you can put either of those extraordinary places in touch with me, that's fine also.