Geolocation Distance Filter
Purpose
Filter a list of items based on the geographic distance of their locations from a specified reference point. This is essential for location-based queries like finding jobs, properties, or services within a certain radius.
Core Workflow
- •Identify Reference Point: Determine the central location (e.g., "UCLA", "downtown office") and the maximum allowed distance (e.g., "within 500 km").
- •Geocode Reference: Convert the reference point's address into latitude/longitude coordinates using the
google_map-maps_geocodetool. - •Extract Target Items: Obtain the list of items to filter (e.g., from a database query). Each item must have a location field.
- •Geocode & Calculate: For each candidate item:
- •Geocode its location address.
- •Calculate the distance from the reference coordinates using the Haversine formula (see
scripts/distance_calculator.py).
- •Apply Filter: Retain only items where the calculated distance is less than or equal to the specified maximum radius.
- •Return Results: Output the filtered list and the calculated distances for context.
Key Instructions
- •Precision: Always use the
google_map-maps_geocodetool for reliable coordinate conversion. Do not assume distances. - •Unit Consistency: Ensure the maximum distance threshold and the calculated distances are in the same units (kilometers by default). Convert if necessary (1 mile = 1.60934 km).
- •Error Handling: If geocoding fails for an item, log it and exclude it from the filtered results, noting the issue.
- •Integration: This filter is typically one step in a larger workflow (e.g., filter jobs, then apply other criteria like salary).
Common Triggers
- •"Find [items] within [X] km/miles of [location]"
- •"Which [items] are closest to [reference point]?"
- •"Filter these results by distance from [address]"
- •"Show only [items] in the [area] area"
- •Implied need when location is a critical constraint (e.g., "commutable jobs", "nearby stores").
Bundled Resources
- •
scripts/distance_calculator.py: Contains thecalculate_distancefunction for accurate distance computation. - •
references/haversine_formula.md: Explanation of the distance calculation method.