Example

Distance objects may be instantiated using a keyword argument indicating the context of the units. In the example below, two different distance objects are instantiated in units of kilometers (km) and miles (mi):

>>> from django.contrib.gis.measure import D, Distance
>>> d1 = Distance(km=5)
>>> print(d1)
5.0 km
>>> d2 = D(mi=5)  # `D` is an alias for `Distance`
>>> print(d2)
5.0 mi

For conversions, access the preferred unit attribute to get a converted distance quantity:

>>> print(d1.mi)  # Converting 5 kilometers to miles
3.10685596119
>>> print(d2.km)  # Converting 5 miles to kilometers
8.04672

Moreover, arithmetic operations may be performed between the distance objects:

>>> print(d1 + d2)  # Adding 5 miles to 5 kilometers
13.04672 km
>>> print(d2 - d1)  # Subtracting 5 kilometers from 5 miles
1.89314403881 mi

Two Distance objects multiplied together will yield an Area object, which uses squared units of measure:

>>> a = d1 * d2  # Returns an Area object.
>>> print(a)
40.2336 sq_km

To determine what the attribute abbreviation of a unit is, the unit_attname class method may be used:

>>> print(Distance.unit_attname("US Survey Foot"))
survey_ft
>>> print(Distance.unit_attname("centimeter"))
cm

Supported units

In addition to unit with the sq_ prefix, the following units are also supported on Area:

Measurement API