AM11-3 - Least-cost (shortest) path

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Author and Citation Info: 

DiBiase, D., DeMers, M., Johnson, A., Kemp, K., Luck, A. T., Plewe, B., and Wentz, E. (2006). Least-cost (shortest) path. The Geographic Information Science & Technology Body of Knowledge. Washington, DC: Association of American Geographers. (2nd Quarter 2016, first digital).

Learning Objectives: 
  • Describe some variants of Dijkstra’s algorithm that are even more efficient
  • Discuss the difference of implementing Dijkstra’s algorithm in raster and vector modes
  • Demonstrate how K-shortest path algorithms can be implemented to find many efficient alternate paths across the network
  • Compute the optimum path between two points through a network with Dijkstra’s algorithm
  • Explain how a leading World Wide Web-based routing system works (e.g., MapQuest, Yahoo Maps, Google)