fix(db-postgres): near query can give incorrect results

packages/drizzle/src/queries/parseParams.ts

@@ -349,13 +349,13 @@ export function parseParams({
 
                       if (typeof maxDistance === 'number' && !Number.isNaN(maxDistance)) {
                         geoConstraints.push(
-                          sql`ST_DWithin(ST_Transform(${table[columnName]}, 3857), ST_Transform(ST_SetSRID(ST_MakePoint(${lng}, ${lat}), 4326), 3857), ${maxDistance})`,
+                          sql`ST_DWithin(${table[columnName]}::geography, ST_SetSRID(ST_MakePoint(${lng}, ${lat}), 4326)::geography, ${maxDistance})`,
                         )
                       }
 
                       if (typeof minDistance === 'number' && !Number.isNaN(minDistance)) {
                         geoConstraints.push(
-                          sql`ST_Distance(ST_Transform(${table[columnName]}, 3857), ST_Transform(ST_SetSRID(ST_MakePoint(${lng}, ${lat}), 4326), 3857)) >= ${minDistance}`,
+                          sql`ST_Distance(${table[columnName]}::geography, ST_SetSRID(ST_MakePoint(${lng}, ${lat}), 4326)::geography) >= ${minDistance}`,
                         )
                       }
                       if (geoConstraints.length) {

test/collections-rest/int.spec.ts

@@ -1225,6 +1225,49 @@ describe('collections-rest', () => {
           expect(result.docs).toHaveLength(0)
         })
 
+        // https://github.com/payloadcms/payload/issues/14471 - ensure geospatial queries use true geodetic meters, not the distorted meters of EPSG:3857
+        it('should use true geodetic meters at high latitudes', async () => {
+          if (payload.db.name === 'sqlite') {
+            return
+          }
+
+          // A point ~10 km north of NYC: lat += 10000/111320 ≈ 0.0898°
+          const queryLng = -74.0059
+          const queryLat = 40.7128
+          const pointLat = queryLat + 0.0898 // ~10 km north
+          let createdId: number | string | undefined
+
+          try {
+            const created = await payload.create({
+              collection: pointSlug,
+              data: { point: [queryLng, pointLat] },
+            })
+
+            createdId = created.id
+
+            // Query with 12 km radius — the point at ~10 km should be within range.
+            // With the old EPSG:3857 approach, the effective radius at this latitude was
+            // only ~9 km, causing the point to be missed.
+            const response = await restClient.GET(`/${pointSlug}`, {
+              query: {
+                where: {
+                  point: {
+                    near: `${queryLng}, ${queryLat}, 12000`,
+                  },
+                },
+              },
+            })
+            const result: any = await response.json()
+
+            expect(response.status).toEqual(200)
+            expect(result.docs.map((d: { id: number | string }) => d.id)).toContain(createdId)
+          } finally {
+            if (createdId !== undefined) {
+              await payload.delete({ collection: pointSlug, id: createdId })
+            }
+          }
+        })
+
         it('should not return a point far away', async () => {
           if (payload.db.name === 'sqlite') {
             return