This function computes the distance between two trajectory objects based on the longest common sub-sequence (LCSS) algorithm.

Syntax

float8 ST_lcsDistance(trajectory traj1, trajectory traj2, float8 dist, distanceUnit unit default 'M');
float8 ST_lcsDistance(trajectory traj1, trajectory traj2, float8 dist, interval lag, distanceUnit unit default 'M');

Parameters

Parameter Description
traj1 The trajectory object 1.
traj2 The trajectory object 2.
dist The distance tolerance between two trajectory points. Unit: meters.
lag The time tolerance between two trajectory points.
unit The unit of the distance. Valid values:
  • 'M': meters.
  • 'KM': kilometers.
  • 'D': degrees. This value is valid only when the spatial reference system identifier (SRID) of a trajectory object is WGS84 (4326 by default).

Description

The LCSS algorithm is used to compute the maximum similarity between two trajectory objects. The consistency between two trajectory points is determined based on their distance in space and time.

This function computes the distance between two trajectory objects by using the following formula: 1 - (LCSS)/min(leafcount(traj1), leafcount(traj2)).

Distance calculation algorithm

As shown in the preceding figure, trajectory points 1, 3, and 6 meet the conditions of consistency. In this case, the value of LCSS is 3, and 1 - 3/5 = 0.4. This function returns 0.4.

Generally, a trajectory object has a valid SRID. If not specified, the SRID is 4326 by default.

Examples

With traj AS (
    Select ST_makeTrajectory('STPOINT', 'LINESTRINGZ(114.000528 33.588163 54.87, 114.000535 33.588235 54.85, 114.000447 33.588272 54.69, 114.000348 33.588287 54.73, 114.000245 33.588305 55.26, 114.000153 33.588305 55.3)'::geometry,
                             ARRAY['2010-01-01 11:30'::timestamp, '2010-01-01 11:31', '2010-01-01 11:32', '2010-01-01 11:33','2010-01-01 11:34','2010-01-01 11:35'], NULL) a,
           ST_makeTrajectory('STPOINT', 'LINESTRINGZ(114.000529 33.588163 54.87, 114.000535 33.578235 54.85, 114.000447 33.578272 54.69, 114.000348 33.578287 54.73, 114.000245 33.578305 55.26, 114.000163 33.588305 55.3)'::geometry,
                             ARRAY['2010-01-01 11:29:58'::timestamp, '2010-01-01 11:31:02', '2010-01-01 11:33', '2010-01-01 11:33:09','2010-01-01 11:34','2010-01-01 11:34:30'], NULL) b)
Select st_LCSDistance(a, b, 100) from traj;
  st_lcsdistance    
-------------------
 0.666666666666667
 (1 row)

 With traj AS (
    Select ST_makeTrajectory('STPOINT', 'LINESTRINGZ(114.000528 33.588163 54.87, 114.000535 33.588235 54.85, 114.000447 33.588272 54.69, 114.000348 33.588287 54.73, 114.000245 33.588305 55.26, 114.000153 33.588305 55.3)'::geometry,
                             ARRAY['2010-01-01 11:30'::timestamp, '2010-01-01 11:31', '2010-01-01 11:32', '2010-01-01 11:33','2010-01-01 11:34','2010-01-01 11:35'], NULL) a,
           ST_makeTrajectory('STPOINT', 'LINESTRINGZ(114.000529 33.588163 54.87, 114.000535 33.578235 54.85, 114.000447 33.578272 54.69, 114.000348 33.578287 54.73, 114.000245 33.578305 55.26, 114.000163 33.588305 55.3)'::geometry,
                             ARRAY['2010-01-01 11:29:58'::timestamp, '2010-01-01 11:31:02', '2010-01-01 11:33', '2010-01-01 11:34:15','2010-01-01 11:34:50','2010-01-01 11:34:30'], NULL) b)
Select st_LCSDistance(a, b, 100, interval '30 seconds') from traj;
 st_lcsdistance   
-------------------
0.666666666666667 
(1 row)

With traj AS (
    Select ST_makeTrajectory('STPOINT', 'LINESTRINGZ(114.000528 33.588163 54.87, 114.000535 33.588235 54.85, 114.000447 33.588272 54.69, 114.000348 33.588287 54.73, 114.000245 33.588305 55.26, 114.000153 33.588305 55.3)'::geometry,
                             ARRAY['2010-01-01 11:30'::timestamp, '2010-01-01 11:31', '2010-01-01 11:32', '2010-01-01 11:33','2010-01-01 11:34','2010-01-01 11:35'], NULL) a,
           ST_makeTrajectory('STPOINT', 'LINESTRINGZ(114.000529 33.588163 54.87, 114.000535 33.578235 54.85, 114.000447 33.578272 54.69, 114.000348 33.578287 54.73, 114.000245 33.578305 55.26, 114.000163 33.588305 55.3)'::geometry,
                             ARRAY['2010-01-01 11:29:58'::timestamp, '2010-01-01 11:31:02', '2010-01-01 11:33', '2010-01-01 11:34:15','2010-01-01 11:34:50','2010-01-01 11:34:30'], NULL) b)
Select st_LCSDistance(a, b, 100, interval '30 seconds', 'M') from traj;
 st_lcsdistance   
-------------------
0.666666666666667 
(1 row)