question: protected final static int rhumbStep ( Point2D pt1 , Point2D pt2 ) { int step = ( int ) DrawUtil . distance ( pt1 . getX ( ) , pt1 . getY ( ) , pt2 . getX ( ) , pt2 . getY ( ) ) ; if ( step > 8192 ) { step = 512 ; } else { step >>= 3 ; } return ( step == 0 ) ? 1 : step ; }
target:  Computes the best stepping factor for a rhumbline. <p> Computes the best stepping factor between two x,y points in order to interpolate points on a rhumb line. (We calculate rhumb lines by forward projecting the line in the Mercator projection, and then calculating segments along the straight line between them.)