Help

Create Contours

Summary

Esri Defense Mapping cartographic production tool that creates and smooths contours from an input raster.

This tool uses the following process to generate contours:

  1. Create contours by executing the Spatial Analyst Contour tool.
  2. Smooth contours by applying a Defense Mapping-specific algorithm.
  3. Calculate contour fields that pertain to Defense Mapping data models.

Usage

  • Set the Map Scale parameter to the scale at which your cartographic products will be printed. The tool uses this parameter to improve contour display in output products.

  • This tool requires specific fields within Out Contour Features. Out Contour Features should be a Defense Mapping data model feature class.

Syntax

CreateContours_defense (Input_Raster, Map_Scale, Base_Contour, Contour_Interval, Index_Interval, Include_Zero_Contour, Out_Contour_Features, Contour_Subtype, {Input_Area_of_Interest}, {Raster_Elevation_Units}, {Contour_Elevation_Units})
ParameterExplanationData Type
Input_Raster
[Input_Raster,...]

A list of rasters from which contours will be created.

Raster Layer
Map_Scale

The scale at which the cartographic product is going to be printed. The tool optimizes cartographic display by setting a minimum feature length based on this scale.

  • 1:5000 —Contour printing is optimized for scale 1:5,000.
  • 1:7500 —Contour printing is optimized for scale 1:7,500.
  • 1:12500 —Contour printing is optimized for scale 1:12,500.
  • 1:25000 —Contour printing is optimized for scale 1:25,000.
  • 1:50000 —Contour printing is optimized for scale 1:50,000. This is the default.
  • 1:100000 —Contour printing is optimized for scale 1:100,000.
  • 1:250000 —Contour printing is optimized for scale 1:250,000.
  • 1:500000 —Contour printing is optimized for scale 1:500,000.
  • 1:1000000 —Contour printing is optimized for scale 1:1,000,000.
String
Base_Contour

Base contour value. Contours are generated above and below this value to cover the entire value range of the input raster. Setting this value to 5 and the contour interval to 10 will produce contour lines at 5, 15, 25, -5, -15, and so on. The default is zero.

Double
Contour_Interval

The interval, or distance, between contour lines. This can be any positive number.

Double
Index_Interval

Indicates the index contour interval.

Double
Include_Zero_Contour

Indicates if the tool will create a zero contour. A zero contour represents sea level. Zero contours, when generated along a coastline, may be created inside a water body. Specify ZERO_CONTOUR if you will generate contours on land areas that are at or below sea level.

  • NO_INCLUDE_ZERO_CONTOUR —Do not include a zero contour. This is the default.
  • INCLUDE_ZERO_CONTOUR —Include a zero contour.
Boolean
Out_Contour_Features

A feature layer from an existing Defense Mapping feature class. This tool appends contours to this feature class and returns a feature layer.

Feature Layer
Contour_Subtype

A subtype in Out_Contour_Features to which contours will be written.

String
Input_Area_of_Interest
(Optional)

An area of interest (AOI) that is contained in a raster and is used to clip the raster before creating contours. A buffer is created before clipping the raster and results in larger output contours that extend beyond the selected AOI.

Feature Layer
Raster_Elevation_Units
[Raster_Elevation_Units,...]
(Optional)

The measurement units for elevation values in the Input Raster parameter.

  • Meters —Raster elevation units are meters.
  • Feet —Raster elevation units are feet.
String
Contour_Elevation_Units
[Contour_Elevation_Units,...]
(Optional)

Contour elevation units will be created with the same elevation units as raster values unless specified to use different units, such as feet instead of meters.

  • Meters —Contour elevation units are meters.
  • Feet —Contour elevation units are feet.
String

Code sample

CreateContours example (Python window)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the CreateContours tool.

# set gp environment
arcpy.env.workspace="C:/data"

# variables for tool
rasters="elevation.tif"
mapScale="1:12500"
baseContour=0
contourInterval=10
indexInterval="ZERO_CONTOUR"

# output feature class must exist
outContours="mgcp.gdb/mgcp/contours"
contourSubtype="FCSubtype"

# execute the tool
arcpy.CreateContours_defense(rasters,mapScale,baseContour,contourInterval,indexInterval,outContours,contourSubtype)

Environments

Licensing information

  • ArcGIS Desktop Basic: No
  • ArcGIS Desktop Standard: No
  • ArcGIS Desktop Advanced: Requires Defense Mapping and Spatial Analyst

Related topics