Name

ST_LineCrossingDirection — Returns a number indicating the crossing behavior of two LineStrings

Synopsis

integer ST_LineCrossingDirection(geometry linestringA, geometry linestringB);

Description

Given two linestrings returns an integer between -3 and 3 indicating what kind of crossing behavior exists between them. 0 indicates no crossing. This is only supported for LINESTRINGs.

The crossing number has the following meaning:

  • 0: LINE NO CROSS

  • -1: LINE CROSS LEFT

  • 1: LINE CROSS RIGHT

  • -2: LINE MULTICROSS END LEFT

  • 2: LINE MULTICROSS END RIGHT

  • -3: LINE MULTICROSS END SAME FIRST LEFT

  • 3: LINE MULTICROSS END SAME FIRST RIGHT

Availability: 1.4

Examples

Example: LINE CROSS LEFT and LINE CROSS RIGHT

Code
SELECT ST_LineCrossingDirection(lineA, lineB) As A_cross_B,
       ST_LineCrossingDirection(lineB, lineA) As B_cross_A
FROM (SELECT
  'LINESTRING(25 169,89 114,40 70,86 43)'::geometry As lineA,
  'LINESTRING (20 140,71 74,161 53)'::geometry As lineB
  ) As foo;
Output
 A_cross_B | B_cross_A
-----------+-----------
        -1 |         1
Figure
Geometry figure for visual-st-linecrossingdirection-01

Example: LINE MULTICROSS END SAME FIRST LEFT and LINE MULTICROSS END SAME FIRST RIGHT

Code
SELECT ST_LineCrossingDirection(lineA, lineB) As A_cross_B,
       ST_LineCrossingDirection(lineB, lineA) As B_cross_A
FROM (SELECT
 'LINESTRING(25 169,89 114,40 70,86 43)'::geometry As lineA,
 'LINESTRING(171 154,20 140,71 74,161 53)'::geometry As lineB
  ) As foo;
Output
 A_cross_B | B_cross_A
-----------+-----------
         3 |        -3
Figure
Geometry figure for visual-st-linecrossingdirection-02

Example: LINE MULTICROSS END LEFT and LINE MULTICROSS END RIGHT

Code
SELECT ST_LineCrossingDirection(lineA, lineB) As A_cross_B,
       ST_LineCrossingDirection(lineB, lineA) As B_cross_A
FROM (SELECT
  'LINESTRING(25 169,89 114,40 70,86 43)'::geometry As lineA,
  'LINESTRING(5 90,71 74,20 140,171 154)'::geometry As lineB
  ) As foo;
Output
 A_cross_B | B_cross_A
-----------+-----------
        -2 |         2
Figure
Geometry figure for visual-st-linecrossingdirection-03

Example: Finds all streets that cross

Code

SELECT s1.gid, s2.gid, ST_LineCrossingDirection(s1.geom, s2.geom)
  FROM streets s1 CROSS JOIN streets s2
         ON (s1.gid != s2.gid AND s1.geom && s2.geom )
WHERE ST_LineCrossingDirection(s1.geom, s2.geom) > 0;

See Also

ST_Crosses