使用Google Maps API查找两个位置之间的路线和距离，并将其显示在表格中

Question

I want to use Google maps to find out available routes between two cities. Some information about these routes like distance and travel time etc.

I do not want this data to be presented in a Map. I need this to be presented to end user in textual format.

User will give me two cities and I will present him with various routes and information in a table.

Can this be done using PHP, MySQL and Google Maps? Any pointers would be very helpful.

Answer 1

If you want multiple routes between two points, use the directions service (http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/directions) and specify alternatives=true in the request. This will return alternate routes, if they're available. Then, parse the response for the desired information:

• there will be one legs array for each route
• within that legs array, there is a distance and a duration field, each containing a raw value and a textual value.

If you don't need multiple choices for the route, the Google Maps Distance Matrix service (http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/distancematrix/) provides travel distance and time between multiple origins and destinations, without all of the directions information.

A sample table is in the blog post: http://googlegeodevelopers.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-is-distance-matrix.html

Answer 2

Google Maps Direction Service can give you textual information. See the documentation here: http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/javascript/services.html#Directions Particularly the bit starting "A DirectionsRenderer not only handles display of the polyline and any associated markers, but also can handle the textual display of directions as a series of steps. To do so, simply call setPanel() on your DirectionsRenderer, passing it the in which to display this information."