ST_Azimuth
Name
ST_Azimuth — Returns the north-based azimuth as the angle in radians measured clockwise from the vertical on pointA to pointB.
Synopsis
float
ST_Azimuth
(
geometry
pointA
, geometry
pointB
)
;
float
ST_Azimuth
(
geography
pointA
, geography
pointB
)
;
Description
Returns the azimuth in radians of the segment defined by the given point geometries, or NULL if the two points are coincident. The azimuth is angle is referenced from north, and is positive clockwise: North = 0; Northeast = π/4; East = π/2; Southeast = 3π/4; South = π; Southwest 5π/4; West = 3π/2; Northwest = 7π/4.
For the geography type, the forward azimuth is solved as part of the inverse geodesic problem.
The azimuth is mathematical concept defined as the angle between a reference plane and a point, with angular units in radians. Units can be converted to degrees using a built-in PostgreSQL function degrees(), as shown in the example.
Availability: 1.1.0
Enhanced: 2.0.0 support for geography was introduced.
Enhanced: 2.2.0 measurement on spheroid performed with GeographicLib for improved accuracy and robustness. Requires Proj >= 4.9.0 to take advantage of the new feature.
Azimuth is especially useful in conjunction with ST_Translate for shifting an object along its perpendicular axis. See upgis_lineshift Plpgsqlfunctions PostGIS wiki section for example of this.
Examples
Geometry Azimuth in degrees
SELECT degrees(ST_Azimuth(ST_Point(25, 45), ST_Point(75, 100))) AS degA_B,
degrees(ST_Azimuth(ST_Point(75, 100), ST_Point(25, 45))) AS degB_A;
dega_b | degb_a
------------------+------------------
42.2736890060937 | 222.273689006094
Green: the start Point(25,45) with its vertical. Yellow: degA_B as the path to travel (azimuth).
|
Green: the start Point(75,100) with its vertical. Yellow: degB_A as the path to travel (azimuth).
|