This topic describes the ST_DistanceSpheroid function. This function calculates the minimum distance between two geometry objects that are represented by latitudes and longitudes on an ellipsoid. The minimum distance is measured in meters.

Syntax

float  ST_DistanceSpheroid(geometry  geomlonlatA , geometry  geomlonlatB , spheroid  measurementSpheroid);

Parameters

Parameter Description
geomlonlatA The first geometry object that you want to specify.
geomlonlatB The second geometry object that you want to specify.
measurementSpheroid The ellipsoid that you want to define.

Description

This function does not check the spatial reference identifier (SRID) of a geometry object. This function always assumes that a geometry object is represented in the coordinates of the ellipsoid that you define.

Examples

Calculate the minimum distance between two geometry objects by using the default parameter settings.
SELECT ST_DistanceSpheroid(ST_GeomFromText('POINT (120 36)',4326), ST_GeomFromText('POINT (116 40)',4326), 'SPHEROID["WGS 84",6378137,298.257223563]');
 st_distancespheroid
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    566034.793071762
(1 row)