Calculate Minimum Distance
Overview
The Calculate Minimum Distance tool is used for quantitative spatial proximity analysis. It iterates through each object in the current features, searches the target features for the nearest geometry, and calculates the minimum geometric distance between them. The result is saved as a new field in the output dataset.
Use Cases
- Public facility accessibility: Calculate the Euclidean distance from each residential community point to the nearest medical center point or polygon.
- Environmental risk analysis: Calculate the minimum distance from factory points to the nearest river line or nature reserve boundary.
- Planning redline checks: Calculate the distance from new building footprints to the nearest road centerline to verify setback requirements.
Parameters
| Parameter | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Current features | The source dataset for which distance will be calculated. | The result field is appended to this data. |
| Target features | The target dataset used as the reference. | Used to search for the nearest neighbor. |
| Distance field name | The field name used to store the result. | Default: min_distance. |
| Output feature dataset | The calculated result dataset. | Supports common vector formats. |
Steps
- Start the tool: Open the Geoprocessing Toolbox, go to Vector tools > Feature calculation, and open the Calculate Minimum Distance tool pane.
- Set the inputs: Specify the Current features as the source and the Target features as the reference.
- Configure parameters: Set the Distance field name, such as
dist_to_road. - Configure the output: Set the output path and file name.
- Run the tool: Click Run and review the result.
Notes
- The unit of the distance calculation result is consistent with the coordinate system of the input data.
- If the input data uses a geographic coordinate system in degrees, the result may be difficult to interpret. iXGIS recommends reprojecting both datasets to the same projected coordinate system, such as UTM, before running this operation.
- Invalid geometries in the target dataset may cause distance calculation to fail for those records. It is recommended to run Check Geometry beforehand.