---
title: Compute distance between geospatial points
description: Calculate distances between geospatial coordinates using fixed points, objects, or columns.
category: Data Transformation
tags: [geolocation, distance, spatial analysis, coordinates, mapping]
---

# Compute distance between geospatial points

## Description

The **Compute Distance Between Geospatial Points** activity calculates the distance between geospatial locations in your dataset using user-defined comparison methods. The comparison can be done against a fixed point, a fixed geospatial object, or another geospatial column in the same row.

This activity is useful for spatial analysis, proximity-based filtering, logistics planning, and mapping applications.

Use this activity to:

- Compute distance from a known reference point (e.g., a warehouse or city).
- Measure distances between points in two different columns.
- Evaluate proximity to predefined geospatial shapes or objects.

> **Use case**: Determine how far customer addresses are from a delivery hub by comparing latitude/longitude columns with a fixed reference point.

## Input

| Input Type | Required | Description                                                                             |
| ---------- | -------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Data**   | Required | Tabular data with geospatial coordinates (latitude and longitude) or geospatial columns |

## Output

| Output Type | Format | Description                              |
| ----------- | ------ | ---------------------------------------- |
| **Data**    | JSON   | Transformed dataset with distance column |

## Configuration Fields

| Field Name                            | Description                                                                                                                                       |
| ------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Compare Type**                      | Type of comparison to perform. Options: <ul><li>`Fixed Geo Point`</li><li>`Fixed Geospatial Object`</li><li>`Another Geospatial Column`</li></ul> |
| **Fixed Geopoint**                    | Used when compare type is `Fixed Geo Point`. Latitude and longitude values are taken from the next two fields.                                    |
| **Latitude Column**                   | Column in your data containing latitude values (used with `Fixed Geo Point`).                                                                     |
| **Longitude Column**                  | Column in your data containing longitude values (used with `Fixed Geo Point`).                                                                    |
| **Latitude Value For FixedGeopoint**  | Latitude of the fixed point (e.g., `12.9716`).                                                                                                    |
| **Longitude Value For FixedGeopoint** | Longitude of the fixed point (e.g., `77.5946`).                                                                                                   |
| **Geo Column**                        | Column containing geospatial objects (used with `Fixed Geospatial Object`).                                                                       |
| **Column For Comparison**             | Another geospatial column to compare with (used with `Another Geospatial Column`).                                                                |
| **Distance Column Name**              | Name of the new column that will store the calculated distances.                                                                                  |

## Sample Input

| ID  | Latitude | Longitude |
| --- | -------- | --------- |
| 1   | 28.7041  | 77.1025   |
| 2   | 34.0522  | -118.2437 |
| 3   | 48.8566  | 2.3522    |
| 4   | 51.5074  | -0.1278   |
| 5   | 40.7128  | -74.0060  |

## Sample Configuration

| Field                               | Value                   |
| ----------------------------------- | ----------------------- |
| `Compare Type`                      | `Fixed Geo Point`       |
| `Latitude Column`                   | `Latitude`              |
| `Longitude Column`                  | `Longitude`             |
| `Latitude Value For FixedGeopoint`  | `12.9716`               |
| `Longitude Value For FixedGeopoint` | `77.5946`               |
| `Distance Column Name`              | `DistanceFromBangalore` |

<!-- ![Compute Distance Between Geospatial Points](compute-distance-between-geospatial-img.png) -->

## Sample Output

| ID  | Latitude | Longitude | DistanceFromBangalore |
| --- | -------- | --------- | --------------------- |
| 1   | 28.7041  | 77.1025   | 1756.4                |
| 2   | 34.0522  | -118.2437 | 14572.1               |
| 3   | 48.8566  | 2.3522    | 8023.5                |
| 4   | 51.5074  | -0.1278   | 8276.3                |
| 5   | 40.7128  | -74.0060  | 13386.7               |