Ortométricas

Ortométricas is a term primarily used in surveying and geodesy to refer to the length of a curve projected onto a vertical plane. This is distinct from the geodesic distance, which is the shortest distance between two points on the surface of a curved body like the Earth. When calculating ortométricas, the curvature of the Earth is considered, but the measurement is then transformed to represent a distance along a vertical projection.

The concept is important in fields that require precise distance measurements, especially over significant geographical areas. For example, when determining the length of a road or a pipeline that follows the Earth's curvature, ortométricas can be used in conjunction with other geodetic calculations to ensure accuracy. The actual calculation involves complex mathematical formulas that account for latitude, longitude, and elevation differences.

In practice, ortométricas are often used in conjunction with orthometric heights, which are heights measured along the plumb line from a reference geoid. This allows for a consistent and accurate representation of distances and elevations in three-dimensional space, particularly in large-scale mapping and engineering projects. The term is less commonly encountered in everyday language and is primarily confined to specialized scientific and technical contexts.