[R-sig-Geo] shortest distance from points to polylines

[Alex Mandel]

Pilar Tugores Ferra wrote:
> Hi list!
> I need computing shortest distance from points to a polyline layer (coast line).
> I've been searching all the morning a function in R that can do this but couldn't find anything! 
> Is there any R function that do this? Or can anybody give me some hint about how it could be done?
> Kind regards!
> Pilar
> 
> 
> Mª Pilar Tugores Ferrà

This is more straightforward if you use GRASS.
v.distance

I seem to recall a library to allow you to connect and run GRASS
commands from R, but maybe google or someone can elaborate.
http://grass.osgeo.org/

Alex