Performing least cost path analysis

Calculating driving directions is the most commonly used geospatial function in the world. Typically, these algorithms calculate the shortest path between points A and B, or they may take into account the speed limit of the road, or even current traffic conditions, in order to choose a route by drive time.

But what if your job is to build a new road? Or what if you are in charge of deciding where to run power transmission lines or water lines across a remote area? In a terrain-based setting, the shortest path might cross a difficult mountain, or run through a lake. In this case, we need to account for obstacles and avoid them if possible. However, if avoiding a minor obstacle takes us too far out of our way, the cost of implementing that route may be more expensive than just going over a mountain.

This type of advanced analysis is called least cost path analysis. We search an area for the route that is the best compromise of distance versus...