Explain the Spatial Function ' Distance ' in Tableau with Example?

The 'Distance' spatial function in Tableau is used to calculate the distance between two spatial objects, such as points, lines, or polygons. It measures the spatial separation between the objects and returns the distance as a numeric output. Here's an explanation of the 'Distance' function with an example:

Example: Suppose you have a dataset of customer locations represented as points on a map and a dataset of store locations also represented as points. You want to calculate the distance between each customer location and the nearest store to analyze the proximity of customers to stores.

To use the 'Distance' function in Tableau, you would follow these steps:

1. 1.Prepare your data: Ensure that your datasets contain the spatial fields representing the customer locations and store locations, such as latitude and longitude coordinates or any other geographic coordinates.

2. 2.Create a calculated field: In Tableau, go to the data source tab, right-click on the data source, and select "Create Calculated Field".

3. 3.Define the calculated field: Give your calculated field a name, such as 'Distance to Nearest Store', and enter the following formula:

   DISTANCE([Customer Location], MIN([Store Location]))
   

• [Customer Location]: This represents the field that contains the spatial data for the customer locations.
• [Store Location]: This represents the field that contains the spatial data for the store locations.

1. The 'MIN' function is used to find the nearest store location to each customer location.

2. 4.Apply the calculated field: Drag and drop the calculated field 'Distance to Nearest Store' onto the Tableau canvas or incorporate it into your analysis. It will calculate the distance between each customer location and the nearest store.

3. 5.Customize the visualization: You can further customize the visualization by using the calculated field to create visual representations, such as maps, scatter plots, or charts, to display the distances between customer locations and stores.

By using the 'Distance' function in Tableau, you can analyze the spatial relationships and proximity between different objects. In the given example, calculating the distance between customer locations and the nearest store helps you understand the geographic distribution of customers and their accessibility to stores. It enables you to make informed decisions related to store placement, customer targeting, or optimizing logistics and delivery routes