djangogeospatialgeodjango

GeoDjango, difference between dwithin and distance_lt?


Using geoDjango, what is the difference between

myObj.objects.filter(point__dwithin(...etc.))   

and

myObj.objects.filter(point__distance_lt(...etc.))  

?
Are they the same thing, or are they doing subtly different things?


Solution

  • Ok, I did some research but I don't know if the results are of any use ;)

    I have already a geo application using a PostgreSQL databse. When I perform this query with __distance_lt:

    Place.objects.filter(location__distance_lt=(p.location, D(km=1))).query.as_sql()
    

    I get this generated SQL:

    SELECT (some_fields_here)
    FROM "places_place" 
    WHERE ST_distance_sphere("places_place"."location", %s) < 1000.0
    

    When I try to use do to the same with __dwithin, I get an error:

    Place.objects.filter(location__dwithin=(p.location, D(km=1))).query.as_sql()
    
    TypeError: Only numeric values of degree units are allowed on geographic DWithin queries.
    

    So I had to change the query to no use a D object:

    Place.objects.filter(location__dwithin=(p.location, 1)).query.as_sql()
    

    which results in

    SELECT (some fields here) 
    FROM "places_place" 
    WHERE ST_DWithin("places_place"."location", %s, 1)
    

    Summary:

    __dwithin
    - takes degree values as distance parameter.
    - uses ST_DWithin SQL function.

    __distance_lt
    - can take other distance values ;).
    - uses ST_distance_sphere SQL function.

    Btw, I get different results with both queries but I guess this is mostly due the fact that I don't know which "degree" value to use.