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Show geodesic path between two points

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Calculate a geodesic path between two points and measure its distance.

Image of show geodesic path between two points sample

Use case

A geodesic distance provides an accurate, real-world distance between two points. Visualizing flight paths between cities is a common example of a geodesic operation since the flight path between two airports takes into account the curvature of the earth, rather than following the planar path between those points, which appears as a straight line on a projected map.

How to use the sample

Click anywhere on the map. A line graphic will display the geodesic line between the two points. In addition, text that indicates the geodesic distance between the two points will be updated. Click elsewhere and a new line will be created.

How it works

  1. Create a Point and display it as a Graphic when the MapView is tapped.
  2. Obtain a new point when another tap occurs on the MapView and add this point as a graphic.
  3. Create a Polyline from the two points.
  4. Execute GeometryEngine.geodeticDensify(_:maxSegmentLength:lengthUnit:curveType:) by passing in the created polyline then create a graphic from the returned Geometry.
  5. Execute GeometryEngine.geodeticDistance(from:to:distanceUnit:azimuthUnit:curveType:) by passing in the two points and display the returned length on the screen.

Relevant API

  • GeometryEngine.geodeticDensify(_:maxSegmentLength:lengthUnit:curveType:)
  • GeometryEngine.geodeticDistance(from:to:distanceUnit:azimuthUnit:curveType:)
  • MapView.onSingleTapGesture(perform:)

About the data

The Imagery basemap provides the global context for the displayed geodesic line.

Tags

densify, distance, geodesic, geodetic

Sample Code

ShowGeodesicPathBetweenTwoPointsView.swift
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// Copyright 2025 Esri
//
// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
// You may obtain a copy of the License at
//
//   https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
//
// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
// limitations under the License.

import ArcGIS
import SwiftUI

struct ShowGeodesicPathBetweenTwoPointsView: View {
    /// The map that will be displayed in the map view.
    @State private var map = Map(basemapStyle: .arcGISImageryStandard)

    /// The graphics overlay that will be displayed on the map view.
    /// This will hold the graphics that show the start point, end point,
    /// and geodesic path.
    @State private var overlay = GraphicsOverlay()

    /// The current measurement state.
    @State private var state: MeasurementState = .notStarted

    /// The symbology for point graphics.
    private let pointSymbol: Symbol = SimpleMarkerSymbol(style: .cross, color: .blue, size: 20)

    /// The symbology for the line graphic.
    private let lineSymbol: Symbol = SimpleLineSymbol(style: .dash, color: .yellow, width: 2)

    var body: some View {
        MapView(map: map, graphicsOverlays: [overlay])
            .onSingleTapGesture { _, mapPoint in
                state = switch state {
                case .notStarted, .complete:
                    // If the state is empty or complete, then start a new
                    // path, adding the tap point as the first graphic.
                    .startOnly(start: mapPoint)
                case .startOnly(let start):
                    // If the state was started, then add the end point
                    // to complete it.
                    .complete(start: start, end: mapPoint)
                }
            }
            .overlay(alignment: .top) {
                Group {
                    switch state {
                    case .notStarted, .startOnly:
                        Text("Tap on the map to show a geodesic path")
                    case .complete(_, _, _, let length):
                        Text(length, format: .measurement(width: .abbreviated))
                    }
                }
                .padding()
                .frame(maxWidth: .infinity)
                .background(.ultraThinMaterial)
            }
            .onChange(of: state) { updateGraphicsOverlay() }
            .animation(.default, value: state)
    }

    /// Update the graphics overlay for the current state.
    private func updateGraphicsOverlay() {
        overlay.removeAllGraphics()

        switch state {
        case .notStarted:
            break
        case .startOnly(let start):
            overlay.addGraphic(Graphic(geometry: start, symbol: pointSymbol))
        case .complete(let start, let end, let line, _):
            overlay.addGraphic(Graphic(geometry: start, symbol: pointSymbol))
            overlay.addGraphic(Graphic(geometry: end, symbol: pointSymbol))
            overlay.addGraphic(Graphic(geometry: line, symbol: lineSymbol))
        }
    }
}

extension ShowGeodesicPathBetweenTwoPointsView {
    /// A value that represents the measurement state of the view.
    enum MeasurementState: Equatable {
        /// No measurement started.
        case notStarted
        /// Only have a starting point.
        case startOnly(start: Point)
        /// Completed measurement.
        case complete(start: Point, end: Point, line: Polyline, distance: Measurement<UnitLength>)

        /// Creates a `complete` measurement state with a start and end point,
        /// calculating the line and length.
        static func complete(start: Point, end: Point) -> Self {
            // Create a geodesic line from the start, end points.
            let geodesicLine = GeometryEngine.geodeticDensify(
                Polyline(points: [start, end]),
                maxSegmentLength: 1,
                lengthUnit: .kilometers,
                curveType: .geodesic
            ) as! Polyline

            // Calculate the geodesic distance between the two points.
            let geodesicDistance = GeometryEngine.geodeticDistance(
                from: start,
                to: end,
                distanceUnit: .meters,
                azimuthUnit: .degrees,
                curveType: .geodesic
            )!

            return complete(
                start: start,
                end: end,
                line: geodesicLine,
                distance: geodesicDistance.distance
            )
        }
    }
}

#Preview {
    ShowGeodesicPathBetweenTwoPointsView()
}

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