Feature Proximity Analyzers in EarthRanger monitor the distance between tracked subjects and specific geographic features (points, lines, or polygons). When a subject enters a defined proximity radius of a feature, the system generates an Event.

This functionality is essential for:

• Alerting when wildlife nears human settlements
• Monitoring vehicle proximity to sensitive areas
• Tracking patrol units approaching key infrastructure

Each analyzer is configured with:

• A Subject Group (e.g., elephants, patrol vehicles)
• A Feature Group (e.g., villages, rivers)
• A Proximity Distance (e.g., 500 meters)

When a subject comes within the specified distance of any feature in the group, EarthRanger generates a proximity Event.

How to Configure a Feature Proximity Analyzer

1. Prepare Your Groups

Before configuring the analyzer:

Make sure the Subject Group for your monitored subjects is set up.

Ensure the Feature Group includes the relevant map features (points, lines, or polygons).

You can hide Subject Groups from map layers by unchecking the Visible checkbox in the Subject Group settings. 

2. Create the Feature Proximity Analyzer

Go to:
Home > Analyzers > Feature Proximity Analyzers, then click Add Feature Proximity Analyzer

Configure the analyzer:

• Name: Enter a descriptive title (e.g., Elephant-Village Proximity Alert)
• Subject Group: Select your Subject Group
• Feature Group: Select your Feature Group
• Proximity Distance: Define the distance (in meters) at which an Event should be triggered

Want to monitor multiple subject types? You can create separate analyzers per group or build an umbrella Subject Group combining multiple subject types.

Additional Setup Tips

• Event Types: Make sure your EarthRanger instance includes an appropriate Event Type for classifying proximity alerts.
• Alert Rules: Use alert rules to trigger user notifications when proximity events are generated.
• Deactivation: If an analyzer is no longer needed, deactivate it instead of deleting it. This preserves configuration for future use

Example Use Case

You’re monitoring a herd of elephants near several villages:

• Subject Group: Elephants
• Feature Group: Villages
• Proximity Distance: 2,000 meters

When an elephant comes within 2 km of any village, EarthRanger generates a proximity Event, allowing field teams to take preventative action.


Need a Visual Walkthrough?
Check out the Proximity Analyzer - Guided Demo. 

Next in this series:  Connect External Systems to EarthRanger