topic Re: Challenge #67: Calculate Spatial Angles in Weekly Challenges

Challenge #67: Calculate Spatial Angles

JoeM — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 19:12:50 GMT

The solution to last week's challenge can be found HERE.

This week, we get back to spatial! A wireless carrier wants to geolocate or triangulate the location of a device/user based on the location of nearby cell towers and the device/user by determining the azimuth. As a result, they would like to calculate the angle (in degrees) between two points where a line is drawn from the lower point directly horizontally towards the other point.

Bonus: Try solving one way with the spatial tools, and another using no spatial tools!

Re: Challenge #67: Calculate Spatial Angles

NicoleJohnson — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 20:05:50 GMT

My solution, two ways - one with spatial tools, one without! :)

PS. Holy trigonometry, I had to dig deep for that one. My high school self is very disappointed with me right now for apparently forgetting everything I once knew about calculating angles...

Re: Challenge #67: Calculate Spatial Angles

alex — Mon, 24 Apr 2017 21:30:45 GMT

I used a couple more tools than @NicoleJohnson to calculate all the distances and angles, but came away with the solution in both formats. Another Masonic image transposed onto the DC landscape :>

Re: Challenge #67: Calculate Spatial Angles

MarqueeCrew — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 11:51:24 GMT

I got to the same answer as @NicoleJohnson, but stopped after getting the right result. I get no dessert.

Cheers,

Mark

Re: Challenge #67: Calculate Spatial Angles

MinaGO — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 22:44:33 GMT

Oh gosh my way is super hackish and I didnt know how to do the bonus. I've had a look and there are definitely a lot of spatial features I am not familiar with, especially the functions, nice to learn from other's answers.

Re: Challenge #67: Calculate Spatial Angles

SeanAdams — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 04:11:11 GMT

So - full credit goes to this site which explained the full math of the great circle distance; provided pseudo code in Java / excel formulas; etc. http://www.movable-type.co.uk/scripts/latlong.html

I fully admit I don't understand the derivation of these formulae, but at least a little smarter now on how to use some of the trig & distance functions in Alteryx

This solution contains both spatial & basic trig version, and the non-spatial calculates both distance and angle fully using trig.

To @NicoleJohnson 's point - who would have ever thought that a subject like "Math" would come in useful one day...

Possibly one-day, I may find a good use for some of the other subjects we did in school like accounting; computer science; Inglish Wrting; etc. :-)

Re: Challenge #67: Calculate Spatial Angles

Natasha — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 23:06:55 GMT

Hopefully, my spatial solution will count as spatial since I used only one spatial tool.

I also have to admit a trigonometry defeat as I am sure 16 formulas were unnecessary and the answer I got was anyway smaller by ~1,5 degrees. That being sad, my spacial answer is also a bit off but I guess it can be a rounding error.

Re: Challenge #67: Calculate Spatial Angles

JoeM — Mon, 01 May 2017 18:10:36 GMT

The solution for Challenge #67 is posted! I'm sorry if is exacerbated any negative feelings around having to recall some highschool trig for that bonus. :)

Re: Challenge #67: Calculate Spatial Angles

Natasha — Thu, 04 May 2017 18:35:44 GMT

Thanks, JoeM

I see many people use Spatial info before cross tab and distance calculation. Is there any reason for that, as I had the same results without this step?

Re: Challenge #67: Calculate Spatial Angles

estherb47 — Wed, 17 May 2017 03:17:09 GMT

Haven't solved it without the spatial tools yet. Here's my solution with the spatial tools. Nothing very creative.

Re: Challenge #67: Calculate Spatial Angles

jacob — Tue, 30 May 2017 12:04:46 GMT

I got both ways and pushed me to do only the angle calculation in a formula tool in my spatial solution

Re: Challenge #67: Calculate Spatial Angles

NaiLo — Wed, 31 May 2017 09:09:38 GMT

I managed to get the same result, but I didn't want to post because I couldn't figure out why I was calculating angle due East instead of North. The solution clarified it, definitely need to brush up on my trig!

Re: Challenge #67: Calculate Spatial Angles

LordNeilLord — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 15:29:09 GMT

I was using the calculations from here: http://www.edwilliams.org/avform.htm but I got stuck on the "angle" luckily the solution provided by @NaiLo held the answer :)

Re: Challenge #67: Calculate Spatial Angles

patrick_digan — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 11:46:56 GMT

I didn't know the distance tool could output the degrees!

Re: Challenge #67: Calculate Spatial Angles

EmanueleE — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 21:22:05 GMT

I know.... I'm late!!!

Re: Challenge #67: Calculate Spatial Angles

ggruccio — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 02:02:55 GMT

Simple spatial exercise

Re: Challenge #67: Calculate Spatial Angles

samN — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 02:04:37 GMT

phew, spatial tools saving me from remembering my trig.

Re: Challenge #67: Calculate Spatial Angles

LandonG — Thu, 14 Dec 2017 13:14:57 GMT

Solution attached.

Re: Challenge #67: Calculate Spatial Angles

philipmannering — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 12:32:09 GMT

Solution attached.

Easy with the spatial tools. No need for your maths.

Re: Challenge #67: Calculate Spatial Angles

jamielaird — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 00:19:42 GMT

Solution using spatial tools attached.