static public double parse(String distance) {
        var parser = new DistanceParser(distance, false);
        return parser.degrees;
    }
Parse a distance in some kind of units, converting to geographical degrees.
Note that the number and the unit should be separated by a single space only,
or not separated at all.
Supported units are "m", "km", "miles", and "deg",
the last one meaning degrees with no conversion.
For brevity "mi" = "miles" and "d" = "deg".
vespajlib/src/main/java/com/yahoo/geo/DistanceParser.java