WGS84 Geodesic Calc

WGS84 Ellipsoid Formulas

The source code of the formulas this calculator uses is now open source with the Apache License, Version 2.0.

More details and links can be found at my blog Wired2Code on WordPress and the official source code repository GeoFormulas on GitHub.

About the Ellipsoid Calculator

In preparation for some future projects I implemented the formulas and test cases outlined in appendix 2 of FAA Order 8260.54A. The next progression was to add a GUI interface and make a geodesic calculator. Below is a Win32 alpha release of the calculator. Please report bugs and wish list items for future versions.

Download

Download version 0.0.0.8 for Windows here (2.3 MB)
License agreement available here
This version is still in early development and should not be used on real work. It is distributed for the purpose of getting feedback and bug reports. Periodic updates will be made as progress continues.

At this time source code is not available.

Support

Send enhancement requests and bug reports to me at pkohut@pkautomation.com. If reporting a bug please include OS Version, is the bug reproducible, and steps to reproduce the bug.

At this time documentation is practically non-existent. Hopefully the program is easy enough to use for those that understand latitudes and longitudes. As time and recourses permit I'll be updating the docs.

Calculation Descriptions

All calculations are performed on a WGS84 ellipsoid. The input and output is done in the following units -

Latitudes and Longitudes - HDMS: N23 12 06.3227, N23.12.06.3227, 23 12 06.3227N, 23.12.06.3227N, are all examples of the same input value. After input validation the input is transformed and stored internally as a double. Outputs are shown in HDD MM SS.ss
Distances: Input units are Meters, Nautical Miles, and Feet. Internally the input is converted and stored in meters. Output units can be meters, NM, or feet.
Bearings, angles, and azimuths: Inputs are in DD.ddd decimal degrees. Internally the input is converted and stored as radians. Output is always decimal degrees.

Inverse (Vincenty)

Input:
Pt1, Pt2

Output:
Crs12, Dist12

Direct (Vincenty)

Input:
Pt1, Crs12, and Dist12

Output:
Pt2

Is Point on Geodesic

Input:
Geodesic defined by Pt1 and Pt2
Test Pt3

Output:
True if Pt3 is on geodesic, false otherwise.

Is Point on Arc

Input:
Test Pt1
Pt2 - Center of arc
Start azimuth
End azimuth
Arc radius
Arc direction

Output:
True if Pt1 is on arc, false otherwise.

Arc Length

Input:
Test Pt1 - Center of Arc
Start azimuth
End azimuth
Arc radius
Arc direction Number of Segments (1 - 32)

Output:
Computed direct arc length Computed discretized arc length

Bearing - Bearing Intercept

Input:
Pt1
Crs13
Pt2
Crs23

Output:
Pt3
Dist13, Az31
Dist23, Az32

Distance - Distance Intercept (Arc Intercept)

Input:
Pt1 - Center pt of arc 1
Arc 1 radius
Pt2 - Center pt of arc 2
Arc 2 radius

Output:
Pt3 - Intersection 1
Pt4 - Intersection 2

Geodesic - Arc Intercept

Input:
Pt1
Bearing (azimuth)
Pt2 - Center pt of arc 1
Arc 2 radius

Output:
Pt3 - Intercept 1
Pt4 - Intercept 2

Tangent Fixed Radius Arc

Input:
Pt1
Bearing (azimuth 12)
Pt3
Bearing (azimuth 32)
Arc radius

Output:
Pt4 - Arc center
Pt5 - Tangent start point
Pt6 - Tangent end point

Perpendicular Intercept

Input:
Pt1
Bearing (azimuth)
Pt2

Output:
Pt3 - Intercept point
Dist13
Az13
Dist23
Az23

Point to Arc Tangents

Input:
Pt1
Pt2 - Arc center point
Arc radius

Output:
Pt3 - Tangent point 1
Pt4 - Tangent point 2

Perpendicular Tangent Points

Input:
Pt1
Azimuth
Pt2 - Arc center point
Arc radius

Output:
Pt3 - Tangent point 1
Pt4 - Tangent point 2
Pt5 - Intercept point 1
Pt6 - Intercept point 2

Is Point on Locus

Input:
Pt5 - Test point
Locus definition
Pt1 - Geodesic start point
Pt2 - Geodesic end point
Start point offset - locus start point Pt3
End point offset - locus end point Pt4

Output:
True if Pt5 is on locus between Pt3 and Pt4, false otherwise.

Locus Course at Point

Input:
Pt1 - Geodesic start point
Pt2 - Geodesic end point
Pt5 - Point on locus (geodesic offset point)
Bearing - Locus bearing

Output:
Pt3 - Locus start point
Pt4 - Locus end point
Dist13
Dist24
Pt6 - Pt5 projected perpendicular onto geodesic

Geodesic - Locus Intersect

Input:
Pt1 - Geodesic start point
Pt2 - Geodesic end point
Locus definition
Pt3 - Geodesic start point
Pt4 - Geodesic end point
Start point offset - locus start point Pt5
End point offset - locus end point Pt6

Output:
Pt5 - Locus start point
Pt6 - Locus end point
Dist35
Dist46
Pt7 - Intercept point on locus

Locus - Arc Intersect

Input:
Pt1 - Center point of arc
Arc radius
Locus definition
Pt2 - Geodesic start point
Pt3 - Geodesic end point
Dist24 - locus start point Pt4
Dist35 - locus end point Pt5

Output:
Pt4 - Locus start point
Pt5 - Locus end point
Pt6 - Arc intercept point 1 on locus
Pt7 - Arc intercept point 2 on locus

Locus - Locus Intersect

Input:
Locus 1 definition
Pt1 - Geodesic start point
Pt2 - Geodesic end point
Dist13
dist 24
Locus 2 definition
Pt5 - Geodesic start point
Pt6 - Geodesic end point
Dist57
Dist68

Output:
Locus 1
Pt3 - Locus start point
Pt4 - Locus end point
Locus 2
Pt7 - Locus start point
Pt8 - Locus end point
Pt9 - Intercept of locus 1 and locus 2

Locus Tangent Fixed Radius Arc

Input:
Arc Radius Locus 1 definition
Pt1 - Geodesic start point
Pt2 - Geodesic end point
Dist13
dist 24
Locus 2 definition
Pt5 - Geodesic start point
Pt6 - Geodesic end point
Dist57
Dist68