Caskbill
<font color="blue">DVC-Operations<br>DVC-Planning<
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2000
- Messages
- 7,189
In the past there's been a lot of fun between members comparing the different DVC resorts. One item that has often been referenced is the length of the hallways at BWV. So, in order to offer some actual data for this topic, and from a couple of requests from other DVC members that this would be fun to know, I designed a method to get as fairly accurate, yet keep it simple, method to measure the longest distance for the BWV hallway.
Answer: From just outside the door of room 2136 at the far southwest corner of the building (end closest to MGM) to the lobby exit door which leads to the balcony, located just past the lobby check-in counter, I have calculated the distance at <b> 818 feet.</b> <i>(Margin of error calculates to approximately 2% (minimum) - 5% (maximum))</i>
For those of you who guessed at the distance on the poll I posted last week, congratulations if you got it right. It is interesting to note that in the poll many selected the answer that the distance was greater than 1200 feet. I guess after a long day at the park it really seems longer, but at 818 feet (273 yards) it's not exactly short, being about the length of 2-3/4 football fields.
So, I offer this just for fun.
Bill
<u>Next the technical stuff. Continue reading only if you're really interested.</u>
In the past I've used my GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) receiver (model Garmin GPS III) to measure the length of different pathways around WDW. Based on those postings, and lively discussions about the length of hallways at BWV, several posters have posted or sent PM's suggesting I actually measure the hallways. I took this as a challenge. However, like satellite TV, the GPS receiver must have a good reception to the GPS satellites and therefore will not work indoors. The trick was to get an indoor measurement still using the GPS capabilities. Here's how we did it.
1. First I measured the absolute straight line distance (as the crow flies) from just outside the front lobby door to just outside the door at the southwest end of the building. The position on the porch outside the lobby was N: 28 degrees, 22.001 minutes, W: 81 degrees, 33.367 minutes. The position at the other end outside the SW corner of the building was N: 28 degrees, 21.886 minutes, W: 81 degrees, 33.397 minutes. This straight line distance calculated to be <b>728 feet</b>. For both measurements I was receiving 7-satellites. (A minimum of 3 satellites is required for any measurement so the GPS can triangulate a position. The more satellites being received, the more accurate the measurement). For both measurements, the EPE (Estimated Positional Error) was 18 feet. Note this means the GPS is reporting the actual position on the entire earth to an accuracy of 18 feet. However this does not affect the distance calculation for the following reason: When two positional measurements are made within a short time, the GPS receiver will still be using the same satellites and the positional error will be the same direction. For example an error of 18 feet might mean the true position is 18 feet (or less) in a Northeast direction from where I was standing. But this applies to both readings, the positional error could be 18 feet, but in the same dirction for each measurement, so the distance between the two remains accurate. (Think of putting a toothpick on a map with one end at position 'A' and the other at position 'B'. Now move the toothpick 1/4 inch in any direction. The positional error at end 'A' is now 1/4 inch, and also the error at end 'B' is 1/4 inch, but the length of the toothpick is the same.
I visually estimated the distance I was standing away from the two respective doors (North of the front entrance door and west of the far end door) and corrected the GPS calculation to get approximately <b>700 feet straight line distance.</b> This means that the length of the hallways, since they zig and zag a little, must be something greater than 700 feet.
2. Next going inside the building, DW and I both walked from outside room 2136, past the elevators, past the check-in counters, and to the doors that lead out of the lobby (at the front porch). We walked at what was a natural pace for us and counted our steps and used a stopwatch to measure the time it took to make the walk. (A step was defined as each time the right foot touched the floor). This walk took 3 minutes, 40 seconds (3:40) to complete. I took 190 steps, while DW took 194 steps. We then repeated the process, walking the hallways back to our original starting point. The time was 3:39, and we both had the same step count at 196 steps. (It amazed me that the time and step count would be that close and that the final calculation therefore might be fairly accurate).
3. We next went outside where the GPS could actually measure walking distance. (In this setting the GPS measures actual distance walked, not the straight line distance between two positional points). We selected a point and then walked for 3:40, counting our steps. We both took 199 steps and the GPS measured our distance walked as 818 feet. We then repeated the process, this time walking in the opposite direction. This time I took 197 steps while DW took 198 steps (for the same 3:40 time). The distance measured was the same 818 feet. (Note it actually measures only up to 500 feet, then switches to miles or kilometers. I set it to kilometers to get the highest resolution, and in both cases got 0.25km. Since the display only shows two decimal places, that means 0.25km was at least 0.245 km and no more than 0.254 km. These are 803 feet and 833 feet respectively, so I set the measured distance in the middle at 818 feet. Also there is a little observation playing here as I was watching the GPS readout change and approximately how many seconds between flipping numbers (kind of like watching the odometer on your car), and since we were roughly halfway between numbers (timewise) it can be deducted that the true measurement was closer to 0.25 km than it was to 0.245 km or to 0.254 km. (0.25 km = 820 feet, so the 818 feet average seems reasonable).
In both cases our walking speed average remained at 4.0 kph. (Just under 2.5 mph)
Final conclusion is that 818 feet is probably no more accurate than +/- 16 feet, but most likely highly accurate within 40 feet, and most certainly the most accurate measurement you will probably ever get here on the DIS board.
Next step, how far from the farthest buildings at OKW to the Hospitality House.
Answer: From just outside the door of room 2136 at the far southwest corner of the building (end closest to MGM) to the lobby exit door which leads to the balcony, located just past the lobby check-in counter, I have calculated the distance at <b> 818 feet.</b> <i>(Margin of error calculates to approximately 2% (minimum) - 5% (maximum))</i>
For those of you who guessed at the distance on the poll I posted last week, congratulations if you got it right. It is interesting to note that in the poll many selected the answer that the distance was greater than 1200 feet. I guess after a long day at the park it really seems longer, but at 818 feet (273 yards) it's not exactly short, being about the length of 2-3/4 football fields.
So, I offer this just for fun.
Bill
<u>Next the technical stuff. Continue reading only if you're really interested.</u>
In the past I've used my GPS (Global Positioning Satellite) receiver (model Garmin GPS III) to measure the length of different pathways around WDW. Based on those postings, and lively discussions about the length of hallways at BWV, several posters have posted or sent PM's suggesting I actually measure the hallways. I took this as a challenge. However, like satellite TV, the GPS receiver must have a good reception to the GPS satellites and therefore will not work indoors. The trick was to get an indoor measurement still using the GPS capabilities. Here's how we did it.
1. First I measured the absolute straight line distance (as the crow flies) from just outside the front lobby door to just outside the door at the southwest end of the building. The position on the porch outside the lobby was N: 28 degrees, 22.001 minutes, W: 81 degrees, 33.367 minutes. The position at the other end outside the SW corner of the building was N: 28 degrees, 21.886 minutes, W: 81 degrees, 33.397 minutes. This straight line distance calculated to be <b>728 feet</b>. For both measurements I was receiving 7-satellites. (A minimum of 3 satellites is required for any measurement so the GPS can triangulate a position. The more satellites being received, the more accurate the measurement). For both measurements, the EPE (Estimated Positional Error) was 18 feet. Note this means the GPS is reporting the actual position on the entire earth to an accuracy of 18 feet. However this does not affect the distance calculation for the following reason: When two positional measurements are made within a short time, the GPS receiver will still be using the same satellites and the positional error will be the same direction. For example an error of 18 feet might mean the true position is 18 feet (or less) in a Northeast direction from where I was standing. But this applies to both readings, the positional error could be 18 feet, but in the same dirction for each measurement, so the distance between the two remains accurate. (Think of putting a toothpick on a map with one end at position 'A' and the other at position 'B'. Now move the toothpick 1/4 inch in any direction. The positional error at end 'A' is now 1/4 inch, and also the error at end 'B' is 1/4 inch, but the length of the toothpick is the same.
I visually estimated the distance I was standing away from the two respective doors (North of the front entrance door and west of the far end door) and corrected the GPS calculation to get approximately <b>700 feet straight line distance.</b> This means that the length of the hallways, since they zig and zag a little, must be something greater than 700 feet.
2. Next going inside the building, DW and I both walked from outside room 2136, past the elevators, past the check-in counters, and to the doors that lead out of the lobby (at the front porch). We walked at what was a natural pace for us and counted our steps and used a stopwatch to measure the time it took to make the walk. (A step was defined as each time the right foot touched the floor). This walk took 3 minutes, 40 seconds (3:40) to complete. I took 190 steps, while DW took 194 steps. We then repeated the process, walking the hallways back to our original starting point. The time was 3:39, and we both had the same step count at 196 steps. (It amazed me that the time and step count would be that close and that the final calculation therefore might be fairly accurate).
3. We next went outside where the GPS could actually measure walking distance. (In this setting the GPS measures actual distance walked, not the straight line distance between two positional points). We selected a point and then walked for 3:40, counting our steps. We both took 199 steps and the GPS measured our distance walked as 818 feet. We then repeated the process, this time walking in the opposite direction. This time I took 197 steps while DW took 198 steps (for the same 3:40 time). The distance measured was the same 818 feet. (Note it actually measures only up to 500 feet, then switches to miles or kilometers. I set it to kilometers to get the highest resolution, and in both cases got 0.25km. Since the display only shows two decimal places, that means 0.25km was at least 0.245 km and no more than 0.254 km. These are 803 feet and 833 feet respectively, so I set the measured distance in the middle at 818 feet. Also there is a little observation playing here as I was watching the GPS readout change and approximately how many seconds between flipping numbers (kind of like watching the odometer on your car), and since we were roughly halfway between numbers (timewise) it can be deducted that the true measurement was closer to 0.25 km than it was to 0.245 km or to 0.254 km. (0.25 km = 820 feet, so the 818 feet average seems reasonable).
In both cases our walking speed average remained at 4.0 kph. (Just under 2.5 mph)
Final conclusion is that 818 feet is probably no more accurate than +/- 16 feet, but most likely highly accurate within 40 feet, and most certainly the most accurate measurement you will probably ever get here on the DIS board.
Next step, how far from the farthest buildings at OKW to the Hospitality House.
And the main reason that I want a handheld GPS.
