Ok, so I started using this handle long before this question came to my mind, but it is appropriate today.
My question is about using satellite imagery to measure distances when running up steep hills.
First if we consider the surface of the hill as the hypotenuse of a right angle triangle then it would seem an overhead image of the hill would not take into account changes in elevation and instead simply measure the distance between two points on a horizontal plane. In essence the overhead image would give us a measurement of the second longest side of the right angle triangle (2nd longest if we assume its not an insanely steep hill).
Now i realize given the usual angle of incline the difference between the hypotenuse and the second longest side would not be too significant, but still I want to know if this observation is correct. Or does the satellite imagery somehow take into account the changes in elevation?
Of course this is not something you have to worry about when you are measursing the distance with a wheel because you are actually covering the hypotenuse' distance. It is only a problem when you taking a 2D overhead picture.
Please someone enlighten me.