How Accurate Are 'average Speeds'?

[+Mearth]

I've recently been playing with the additional features on my Legend and noticed that after a recent brisk walk, my average speed was 4.4 mph. This amazed me since I'm a shortie (average pace is 2.5 feet). I did walk the level stretches rapidly, but also moseyed along for about 1/4 mile when the rocks got interesting. So...I wonder if this feature is really of any use. I also wonder if those times when satellite connections lag, then my distance-to-waypoint drops from 500 ft to 380 ft in a matter of seconds, registers as rapid movement. I guess I could assume that I walk nearly 4 1/2 mph on average, but that doesn't add up. Anybody have the skinny on this?

[+TBK]

From what I can tell, pretty dang accurate <1MPH error on my GPS 10 and 76CS.

[Eddie20]

That probalby makes a lot of sense. I know in traffic engineering planning, when timing for crosswalks, an average walking speed of 3-4 MPH is assumed.

 

During a study at my university, we compared average walking speeds through the crosswalks and found them to be closer to 5.2 for men and 5.3 for women. Granted, these are you college students, but if you are out for a brisk walk, I would say that 4.4 would be a decent estimate.

[+krisse]

I think the m/s is, yea - pretty dang accurate.

 

But you must take in to consideration any distance your device travels relative to the satellites. I don't know much about GPS sampling, but since the average speed samples rather frequent, I guess that any movement perpendicular (or some angel v|0<v<180) to the line of travel also would account for some acceleration, and hence add up to the average movement speed.

 

Correct me if im wrong.

[+user13371]

You can find out pretty easily on your own. Just time yourself walking over a known distance, and compare the result to what the GPS says.