Mapping Toolbox

crossfix

Determine cross fix positions from bearings and ranges

Syntax

• [newlat,newlon] = crossfix(lat,long,az)
  [newlat,newlon] = crossfix(lat,long,az,units)
  [newlat,newlon] = crossfix(lat,long,az_range,case)
  [newlat,newlon] = crossfix(lat,long,az_range,case,units)
  [newlat,newlon] = crossfix(lat,long,az_range,case,drlat,drlong)
  [newlat,newlon] = crossfix(lat,long,az_range,drlat,drlong,units)
  [newlat,newlon] = crossfix(lat,long,az_range,case,...
                             drlat,drlong,units)
  mat = crossfix(...)
  

Description

This function calculates the points of intersection between a set of objects taken in pairs. Given great circle azimuths and/or ranges from input points, the locations of the possible intersections are returned. This is different from the navigational function navfix in that crossfix uses great circle measurement, while navfix uses rhumb line azimuths and nautical mile distances.

[newlat,newlon] = crossfix(lat,long,az) returns the intersection points of all pairs of great circles passing through the points given by the column vectors lat and long that have azimuths az at those points. The outputs are two-column matrices newlat and newlon in which each row represents the two intersections of a possible pairing of the input great circles. If there are n input objects, there will be n choose 2 pairings.

[newlat,newlon] = crossfix(lat,long,az_range,case) allows the input az_range to specify either azimuths or ranges. Where the vector case equals 1, the corresponding element of az_range is an azimuth; where case is 0, az_range is a range. The default value of case is a vector of ones (azimuths).

[newlat,newlon] = crossfix(lat,long,az_range,case,drlat,drlong) resolves the ambiguities when there is more than one intersection between two objects. The scalar valued drlat and drlong provide the location of an estimated (dead reckoned) position. The outputs newlat and newlong are column vectors in this case, returning only the intersection closest to the estimated point. When this option is employed, if any pair of objects fails to intersect, no output is returned and the warning No Fix is displayed.

[newlat,newlon] = crossfix(lat,long,az,units), [newlat,newlon] = crossfix(lat,long,az_range,case,units), [newlat,newlon] = crossfix(lat,long,az_range,drlat,drlong,units), and [newlat,newlon] = crossfix(lat,long,az_range,case,drlat,drlong,units) allow the specification of the angle units to be used for all angles and ranges, where units is any valid angle units string. The default value of units is 'degrees'.

mat = crossfix(...) returns the output in a two- or four-column matrix mat.

Examples

Where do the small circles defined as all points 8° in distance from the points (0°,0°), (5°N,5°E), and (0°,10°E)" intersect?

• [newlat,newlong] = crossfix([0 5 0]',[0 5 10]',[8 8 8]',[0 0 0]')
  newlat =
      7.5594   -2.5744
      6.2529   -6.2529
      7.5594   -2.5744
  newlong =
     -2.6260    7.5770
      5.0000    5.0000
     12.6260    2.4230
  
  Here is an illustration to show why there are six intersections:
  
  
  

If a dead reckoning position is provided, say (0°,5°E), then one from each pair is returned (the closest):

• [newlat,newlong] = crossfix([0 5 0]',[0 5 10]',...
                              [8 8 8]',[0 0 0]',0,5)
  newlat =
     -2.5744
      6.2529
     -2.5744
  newlong =
      7.5770
      5.0000
      2.4230
  

See Also

gcxgc gcxsc scxsc rhxrh polyxpoly	Other intersection functions
navfix	Mercator-based navigational fixing

country2mtx

daspectm