tools/software/calculators for measuring distance (not driving mi les)

From: Warren, Nancy (nwarren@fredlaw.com)
Date: Mon Apr 03 2006 - 15:33:16 PDT


I greatly appreciate the information that is shared on law-lib and hope that
you can help with this request.
 
What tools, software or calculators are you using to:

* convert street addresses to longitude and latitude (degrees,
minutes, seconds)
* measure the distance between coordinates in statute miles (air
miles, not driving miles)
        
* measure the distance between coordinates in radians not miles

The problem I have encountered is that different tools produce different
results, with a range of results too wide to be useful in determining issues
related to a non-compete agreement or franchise location. For example, when
converting a street address to longitude and latitude, I came up with
different coordinates for each calculator used. This problem was compounded
when I had to calculate then distance between the coordinates, with each
calculator returning a different answer, even when I used a consistent set
of coordinates.
 
I will post a summary of answers, if there is interest.
 
Thank you in advance for your help.

Nancy Warren
Access Services/Systems Librarian
Library & Research Services
Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
200 South Sixth Street, Suite 4000
Minneapolis, MN 55402-1425
Phone: 612-492-7852
Fax: 612-492-7077
Email: nwarren@fredlaw.com
 



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