Providing software solutions since 1976

• Log in
• Create profile
• Welcome
  [Log out]
• Edit profile

• Print  |
• Feedback  |
• Share

  • E-mail

  
  
  

  E-mail This Page

  Your Name:*
  Your E-mail:*
  Recipient E-mail:*
  Send a copy to me
  Personal Message:
  
  

  * indicates a required field

In SAS 9.2, the new GEODIST function returns the geodetic distance in kilometers or miles between two latitude and longitude coordinates. Kilometers is the default, but you can obtain the distance in miles by selecting the 'M' option as documented.

The default input values are degrees, but the 'R' option can be used to indicate that the input values are in radians rather than degrees.

Below is a link to the documentation for the function.

The GEODIST Function

The sample code on the Full Code tab illustrates the use of the GEODIST function.

There is also a function called ZIPCITYDISTANCE that is new in SAS 9.2. Information on that function can be obtained by scrolling down the Contents listing that can be found to the left of the documentation on the GEODIST function available from the link above.

Below is a link to the SAS note explaining how to calculate the distance prior to SAS 9.2.

Click to go to SAS Note 5325

Operating System and Release Information

GEODIST(latitude-1, longitude-1, latitude-2, longitude-2, );

Example 1: Calculating the Geodetic Distance in Kilometers

data _null_;
  distance=geodist(30.68, -88.25, 35.43, -82.55);
  put 'Distance= ' distance 'kilometers';
run;

SAS writes the following output to the log: 

Distance= 748.6529147 kilometers

Example 2: Calculating the Geodetic Distance in Miles

data _null_;
  distance=geodist(30.68, -88.25, 35.43, -82.55, 'M');
  put 'Distance = ' distance 'miles';
run;

SAS writes the following output to the log: 

Distance = 465.29081088 miles

Example 3: Calculating the Geodetic Distance with Input Measured 
in Degrees

data _null_; 
  input lat1 long1 lat2 long2; 
  Distance = geodist(lat1,long1,lat2,long2,'DM'); 
  put 'Distance = ' Distance 'miles';
  datalines; 
35.2 -78.1 37.6 -79.8    
;  
run; 

SAS writes the following output to the log: 

Distance = 190.72474282 miles

Example 4: Calculating the Geodetic Distance with Input Measured in 
Radians

data _null_; 
  input lat1 long1 lat2 long2; 
  pi = constant('pi'); 
  lat1 = (pi*lat1)/180;
  long1 = (pi*long1)/180;
  lat2 = (pi*lat2)/180;
  long2 = (pi*long2)/180;
  Distance = geodist(lat1,long1,lat2,long2,'RM'); 
  put 'Distance= ' Distance 'miles';
  datalines; 
35.2 -78.1 37.6 -79.8    
;  
run; 

SAS writes the following output to the log: 

Distance= 190.72474282 miles