# Difference of distance calculation between ES version 1.7.4 and 6.3.2 (distanceInkm in 1.7.4 vs arcDistance in 6.3.2)

**URL:** <https://discuss.elastic.co/t/difference-of-distance-calculation-between-es-version-1-7-4-and-6-3-2-distanceinkm-in-1-7-4-vs-arcdistance-in-6-3-2/162512>\
**Category:** Elasticsearch\
**Created:** [December 31, 2018, 11:29am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/difference-of-distance-calculation-between-es-version-1-7-4-and-6-3-2-distanceinkm-in-1-7-4-vs-arcdistance-in-6-3-2/162512 "2018-12-31T11:29:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Jeeson\_Jacob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Jeeson\_Jacob](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Jeeson_Jacob)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 11:29am UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/difference-of-distance-calculation-between-es-version-1-7-4-and-6-3-2-distanceinkm-in-1-7-4-vs-arcdistance-in-6-3-2/162512/1 "2018-12-31T11:29:08Z")

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Hi,

I have recently upgraded ES from 1.7.4 to 6.3.2. After upgrading the distance calculation between the given point and geopoints in ES are showing different results.  
For example, in 1.7.4, distance between 2 geo points were say 2.1kms  
However, in 6.3.2, it is showing 1.9kms

The 1.7.4 query script is as follows:  
"script": "doc['distributer.geolocation'].distanceInkm(lat,lon)"

in 6.3.2, the script used is:  
"source": "doc['distributer.geolocation'].arcDistance(params.lat,params.lon) \* .001"  
(.001 is to convert meter to km)

Regards,  
Jees

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**Author:** ![Christian\_Dahlqvist](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/user_avatar/discuss.elastic.co/christian_dahlqvist/32/4617_2.png) [@Christian\_Dahlqvist](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/Christian_Dahlqvist)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2018, 2:56pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/difference-of-distance-calculation-between-es-version-1-7-4-and-6-3-2-distanceinkm-in-1-7-4-vs-arcdistance-in-6-3-2/162512/2 "2018-12-31T14:56:36Z")

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Based on [these docs](https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/elasticsearch/reference/1.7/modules-scripting.html) it seems `distanceInKm` calculated a plane distance while you are comparing it to an `arcDistance`.

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/elastic/original/3X/1/a/1ac57faf039f6b580b3f104ef42a2a89e41014de.png) [@system](https://discuss.elastic.co/u/system)\
**Post date:** [January 28, 2019, 2:56pm UTC](https://discuss.elastic.co/t/difference-of-distance-calculation-between-es-version-1-7-4-and-6-3-2-distanceinkm-in-1-7-4-vs-arcdistance-in-6-3-2/162512/3 "2019-01-28T14:56:49Z")

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