[postgis-users] distance_sphere() with polygons

[Paul Ramsey]

No trick, it's only implemented for points.  We're waiting for  
someone mathematically talented to come along and solve the general  
case, which involves projected distances on the surface of a spher(oid).

On Jan 13, 2006, at 7:48 AM, Daniel Ricard wrote:

> Hello all,
> Is there a trick to using distance_sphere() or distance_spheroid()  
> when one
> wants the distance between a point and the boundary of a polygon?
>
> I've been using:
>
> SELECT distance(i.the_geom, boundary(j.the_geom))
>
> and would now like to obtain distance in meters instead of degrees.
>
> The documentation say that distance_sphere() and others only work  
> for points
> but there must be a way to do this. Help greatly appreciated.
> Cheers,
>
> Dan
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