The straight line distance is essential for several reasons:
1. Disease Spread: It helps in tracking how diseases spread from one location to another. For instance, during an outbreak, measuring the distance between cases can reveal patterns of transmission. 2. Access to Healthcare: It can be used to assess how far individuals must travel to access healthcare facilities, which can influence health outcomes. 3. Risk Assessment: It aids in identifying populations at risk by measuring their proximity to potential sources of infection, such as contaminated water sources or industrial pollutants.
