Calculate Distance Between Two Points Using Latitude and Longitude

In this post, we show the formula to calculate the shortest distance between two points using Latitude and Longitude.

This calculation can be useful when trying to determine the distance for logistical purposes (ie delivery service, flights, distance between customers, etc).

Example

The file will need to be set up using the following columns Start_place, Start_latitude, Start_longitude, End_place, End_Latitude, End_Longitude. The calculation will need to be done in the ElastiCube using a custom field(s). Replace the Lat_start, Lat_end, Long_start, and Long_end with the relevant fields.

Note:

The radius of Earth in Miles is 3963 (part of the calculation)

The radius of Earth in Kilometers is 6378 (part of the calculation)

The Calculation in Miles:

ACOS(SIN(PI()*[Lat_start]/180.0)*SIN(PI()*[Lat_end]/180.0)+COS(PI()*[Lat_start]/180.0)*COS(PI()*[Lat_end]/180.0)*COS(PI()*[Long_start]/180.0-PI()*[Long_end]/180.0))*3963

The Calculation in Kilometers

ACOS(SIN(PI()*[Lat_start]/180.0)*SIN(PI()*[Lat_end]/180.0)+COS(PI()*[Lat_start]/180.0)*COS(PI()*[Lat_end]/180.0)*COS(PI()*[Long_start]/180.0-PI()*[Long_end]/180.0))*6378