Natural lines of drift
Encyclopedia
Natural lines of drift are those paths across terrain that are the most likely to be used when going from one place to another. These paths are paths of least resistance
: those that offer the greatest ease while taking into account obstacles (e.g. rivers, cliffs, dense unbroken woodland, etc.) and modes of transit (e.g. pedestrian, automobile, horses.). Common endpoints or fixed points may include water sources, food sources, and obstacle passages such as fords or bridges.
Local paths may be derived from game trails or artificial paths created by utility lines or political boundaries. Property ownership and land use may also be factors in determining local variation.
Improved paths may also be partially defined by the logistics necessary to build roads or railways.
Path of least resistance
The path of least resistance describes the physical or metaphorical pathway that provides the least resistance to forward motion by a given object or entity, among a set of alternative paths. The concept is often used to describe why an object or entity takes a given path.In physics, the path of...
: those that offer the greatest ease while taking into account obstacles (e.g. rivers, cliffs, dense unbroken woodland, etc.) and modes of transit (e.g. pedestrian, automobile, horses.). Common endpoints or fixed points may include water sources, food sources, and obstacle passages such as fords or bridges.
Local paths may be derived from game trails or artificial paths created by utility lines or political boundaries. Property ownership and land use may also be factors in determining local variation.
Improved paths may also be partially defined by the logistics necessary to build roads or railways.