title: Maps: Does calculating distance between 2 points factor in altitude?
body: <p>Does Postgres' Spatial plugin, or any Spatial package for that manner, factor in the altitude when calculating the distance between 2 points?</p>
  
  <p>I know the Spatial packages factor in the approximate curvature of the earth but if one location is at the top of a mountain and the other location is close to the sea - it seems like the calculated difference between those two points would greatly vary if the difference in altitude was not factored into account.</p>
  
  <p>Also keep in mind that if I have 2 points are at the same ocean altitude but a mountain exists between the 2 points - the distance package should account for this.</p>