Computationally efficient distance-based score approximations

1. A method for improving the computational efficiency of distance-based score approximation, the method comprising:

responsive to receiving a score request, identifying, by a computing entity, an observation point based on a location indicated in the score request;

retrieving, by the computing entity from a geographic database, map information corresponding to one or more geometry elements located within a predetermined maximum distance of the observation point;

defining, by the computing entity, a plurality of sections of each of the one or more geometry elements;

associating each section of the plurality of sections with one of a plurality of groups of sections based on map information corresponding to the geometry element of the one or more geometry elements that corresponds to the section;

for each of the plurality of sections, determining, by the computing entity, an impact curtain area, wherein the impact curtain area for a section is an area under an impact surface defined by values of an impact function at points along the section;

for each group of the plurality of groups of sections, aggregating, by the computing entity, the impact curtain area for each section associated with the group to define a contribution for the group;

aggregating, by the computing entity, the contribution for each group of the plurality of groups of sections to determine the distance-based score; and

providing, by the computing entity, the distance-based score for display via a display of a user computing entity.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each section of a geometry element is associated with a same group.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of groups correspond to at least one of (a) types or (b) classifications of geometry elements.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the distanced-based score is a noise score approximation.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a first geometry element of the one or more geometry elements represents a roadway.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the values of the impact function at points along the section are determined based at least in part on a classification of a geometry element corresponding to the section as indicated by map information corresponding to the geometry element.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user computing entity, responsive to user interaction with an interactive user interface, generates and provides the score request and the distance-based score is determined responsive to the computing entity receiving the score request.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the user computing entity receives a message comprising the distance-based score and, responsive thereto, causes display of the distance-based score approximation via a display of the user computing entity.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the location indicated in the score request is determined based on at least one of (a) a location determining aspect of the user computing entity, (b) a location entered by the user via the interactive user interface.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the impact curtain area for a section of a geometry element is determined by integrating the area under an impact surface along a length of the section.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein (a) the impact surface is a surface comprising a first value corresponding to a first point and a second value corresponding to a second point, (b) the first point being closer to the observation point than the second point, and (c) the first value is greater than the second value.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the impact surface is centered on the observation point.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein isolines of the impact surface are concentric circles.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein defining of the impact surface comprises considering one or more damping elements such that the isolines of the impact surface are not concentric circles.

15. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

responsive to receiving a score request, identify an observation point based on a location indicated in the score request;

retrieve, from a geographic database, map information corresponding to one or more geometry elements located within a predetermined maximum distance of the observation point;

define a plurality of sections of each of the one or more geometry elements;

associate each section of the plurality of sections with one of a plurality of groups of sections based on map information corresponding to the geometry element of the one or more geometry elements that corresponds to the section;

for each of the plurality of sections, determine an impact curtain area, wherein the impact curtain area for a section is an area under an impact surface defined by values of an impact function at points along the section;

for each group of the plurality of groups of sections, aggregate the impact curtain area for each section associated with the group to define a contribution for the group;

aggregate the contribution for each group of the plurality of groups of sections to determine the distance-based score; and

provide the distance-based score for display via a display of a user computing entity.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein each section of a geometry element is associated with a same group.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of groups correspond to at least one of (a) types or (b) classifications of geometry elements.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the values of the impact function at points along the section are determined based at least in part on a classification of a geometry element corresponding to the section as indicated by map information corresponding to the geometry element.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the user computing entity, responsive to user interaction with an interactive user interface, generates and provides the score request and the distance-based score is determined responsive to the computing entity receiving the score request.

20. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising executable portions configured, when executed by a processor of an apparatus, to cause the apparatus to:

responsive to receiving a score request, identify an observation point based on a location indicated in the score request;

retrieve, from a geographic database, map information corresponding to one or more geometry elements located within a predetermined maximum distance of the observation point;

define a plurality of sections of each of the one or more geometry elements;

associate each section of the plurality of sections with one of a plurality of groups of sections based on map information corresponding to the geometry element of the one or more geometry elements that corresponds to the section;

for each of the plurality of sections, define an impact curtain area, wherein the impact curtain area for a section is an area under an impact surface defined by values of an impact function at points along the section;

for each group of the plurality of groups of sections, aggregate the impact curtain area for each section associated with the group to define a contribution for the group;

aggregate the contribution for each group of the plurality of groups of sections to determine the distance-based score; and

provide the distance-based score for display via a display of a user computing entity.