ShortestLineTo (geography Data Type)
Returns a LineString instance with two points that represent the shortest distance between the two geography instances. The length of the LineString instance returned is the distance between the two geography instances.
Syntax
.ShortestLineTo ( geography_other )
Arguments
- geography_other
Specifies the second geography instance that the calling geography instance is trying to determine the shortest distance to.
Return Types
SQL Server return type: geography
CLR return type: SqlGeography
Remarks
The method returns a LineString instance with endpoints lying on the borders of the two non-intersecting geography instances being compared. The length of the LineString returned equals the shortest distance between the two geography instances. An empty LineString instance is returned when the two geography instances intersect each other.
Examples
A. Calling ShortestLineTo() on non-intersecting instances
This example finds the shortest distance between a CircularString instance and a LineString instance and returns the LineString instance connecting the two points:
DECLARE @g1 geography = 'CIRCULARSTRING(-122.358 47.653, -122.348 47.649, -122.348 47.658, -122.358 47.658, -122.358 47.653)';
DECLARE @g2 geography = 'LINESTRING(-119.119263 46.183634, -119.273071 47.107523, -120.640869 47.569114, -122.200928 47.454094)';
SELECT @g1.ShortestLineTo(@g2).ToString();
B. Calling ShortestLineTo() on intersecting instances
This example returns an empty LineString instance because the LineString instance intersects the CircularString instance:
DECLARE @g1 geography = 'CIRCULARSTRING(-122.358 47.653, -122.348 47.649, -122.348 47.658, -122.358 47.658, -122.358 47.653)';
DECLARE @g2 geography = 'LINESTRING(-119.119263 46.183634, -119.273071 47.107523, -120.640869 47.569114, -122.348 47.649, -122.681 47.655)';
SELECT @g1.ShortestLineTo(@g2).ToString();