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Rob, you can actually download a lite version of VisualStudio if your interested and no one else beats you to it first.
Joe
Programmer wanted...
I wanted a utility the other day, and couldn't find it...
I'd like to be able to load a rectangular map (equirectangular, or not) image, and specify the latitude and longitude of the four edges (in the case of a full world equirectangular mapping, that would be +90, -90 (north to south) and +180, -180 (east to west)) and the planet radius/diameter in "units".
Now let the user pick zoom in/out and pick any two points, to calculate and display the great circle distance
If I had a programming environment more recent than VB3.0, I'd try putting this together my self'cause I don't think it is too complicated.
-Rob A>
My tutorials: Using GIMP to Create an Artistic Regional Map ~ All My Tutorials
My GIMP Scripts: Rotating Brush ~ Gradient from Image ~ Mosaic Tile Helper ~ Random Density Map ~ Subterranean Map Prettier ~ Tapered Stroke Path ~ Random Rotate Floating Layer ~ Batch Image to Pattern ~ Better Seamless Tiles ~ Tile Shuffle ~ Scale Pattern ~ Grid of Guides ~ Fractalize path ~ Label Points
My Maps: Finished Maps ~ Challenge Entries ~ My Portfolio: www.cartocopia.com
Rob, you can actually download a lite version of VisualStudio if your interested and no one else beats you to it first.
Joe
My Finished Maps
Works in Progress(or abandoned tests)
My Tutorials:
Explanation of Layer Masks in GIMP
How to create ISO Mountains in GIMP/PS using the Smudge tool
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Unless otherwise stated by me in the post, all work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.
FT will do what you're asking, I think.
1) Load the map as an image overlay (equirectangular only, but ReprojectImage at http://www.ridgenet.net/~jslayton/ReprojectImage.zip will convert the projections)
2) Zoom and pan to get the desired area(s).
3) Use the ruler tool to measure distances (it does great circle distances).
If you don't have a retail copy of FT then you can download the demo from ProFantasy. It won't export things at high resolution or save things past the initial demo period but it will still measure things even after it's expired.
As an aside, I like the Aviation Formulary for general great-circle computations. http://williams.best.vwh.net/avform.htm gives the forumulae that you'll want ot know for general navigation on a spherical earth. It's quite similar to navigation on an ellipsoidal earth, but the 1 part in 300 deviation isn't usually that important unless you're trying to enter a harbor or not fly into a mountain or suchlike.
If java works for you, I should be able to put something like that together for you. Hopefully the deadline isn't too short...
Astrographer - My blog.
Klarr
-How to Fit a Map to a Globe
-Regina, Jewel of the Spinward Main(uvmapping to apply icosahedral projection worldmaps to 3d globes)
-Building a Ridge Heightmap in PS
-Faking Morphological Dilate and Contract with PS
-Editing Noise Into Terrain the Burpwallow Way
-Wilbur is Waldronate's. I'm just a fan.
No rush at all. I currently work around using google earth, but then have to multiply the displayed distance by the ratio of the new world to earth (diameters).
-Rob A>
My GIMP Scripts: Rotating Brush ~ Gradient from Image ~ Mosaic Tile Helper ~ Random Density Map ~ Subterranean Map Prettier ~ Tapered Stroke Path ~ Random Rotate Floating Layer ~ Batch Image to Pattern ~ Better Seamless Tiles ~ Tile Shuffle ~ Scale Pattern ~ Grid of Guides ~ Fractalize path ~ Label Points
My Maps: Finished Maps ~ Challenge Entries ~ My Portfolio: www.cartocopia.com
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