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Create TLM Elevation Guide Bands from Features

Summary

Creates banding features that can be used to generate the Elevation Guide Box element for a Topographic Line Map (TLM).

Usage

  • It is recommended that you use contour lines that have been collected using meters.

  • The feature layers specified for the Contour Features and Additional Elevation Features parameters must all contain the field listed in the Elevation Field Name parameter.

  • The Elevation Units parameter value applies to all the feature layers specified for the Contour Features and Additional Elevation Features parameters.

  • The inclusion of additional elevation features allows the tool to fine-tune the output bands beyond what it can accomplish using contour lines alone.

  • When using exclusion feature classes, ensure that the exclusion feature class includes the proper elevation field and an elevation value of zero for each exclusion feature.

  • The tool may generate holes around the corners of AOI Feature Class features. Set a high AOI Buffer value to correct this. Do not use a negative value for this parameter.

Syntax

CreateTLMElevationGuideBands_defense (AOI_Feature_Class, AOI_Field, AOI_Buffer, Contour_Features, Contour_Interval, Elevation_Field_Name, Elevation_Units, Choose_Number_of_Bands, {Number_of_Bands}, Output_Feature_Class, {Additional_Elevation_Features}, {Exclusion_Features})
ParameterExplanationData Type
AOI_Feature_Class

The area of interest for the TLM. This feature is typically stored in an index feature class.

Feature Layer
AOI_Field

A field that contains a unique identifier for each area of interest.

Field
AOI_Buffer

A buffer to apply to input area of interest features. The buffer expands the AOI Feature Class geometry to include features in the Contour Feature Class that lie beyond the boundary of an AOI. This can improve the accuracy of the banding calculation that is used to generate polygons.

Linear unit
Contour_Features

The feature layer that contains the contours. The information for the output bands will be derived from these features. This must be a polyline feature class.

Feature Layer
Contour_Interval

The range in elevation (distance) between contour features. This must be 10, 20, 40, or 80. The default value is 20.

Long
Elevation_Field_Name

The field within the contour feature layer from which the elevation values will be derived. The default value for this is ZV2.

Field
Elevation_Units

The unit of measurement that has been used to collect the contours and additional elevation features.

  • METERS —The contours and additional elevation features have been collected using meters. This is the default.
  • FEET —The contours and additional elevation features have been collected using feet.
String
Choose_Number_of_Bands

Allows you to choose the number of guide bands to generate.

  • CHOOSE_BANDS —Allows you to input a number of bands to generate in the Number_of_Bands parameter.
  • NO_CHOOSE_BANDS —Does not allow you to input a number of bands to generate in the Number_of_Bands parameter.
Boolean
Number_of_Bands
(Optional)

Indicates the number of guide bands generated by the tool.

Double
Output_Feature_Class

The feature class that will contain the banding features.

Feature Class
Additional_Elevation_Features
[Additional_Elevation_Features,...]
(Optional)

Feature layers that contain additional elevation information that can be used during band creation.

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

Feature layers that define areas for processing exclusion. Excluded areas will not be taken into account when calculating the percent area ratio for the output bands. When excluding open water areas for coastal sheets, it is necessary to include these features as additional elevation features as well.

Feature Layer

Code sample

CreateTLMElevationGuideBands example (stand-alone script)

The following stand-alone script demonstrates how to use the CreateTLMElevationGuideBands tool. 

# Name: CreateTLMElevationGuideBands_Example.py
# Description: Create banding features from a single TLM feature
# Requirements: Esri Defense Mapping solution

# Import arcpy module
import arcpy

# Check out a DefenseMapping extension license
arcpy.CheckOutExtension("foundation")
arcpy.CheckOutExtension("defense")

# set the gp environment
arcpy.env.workspace = "c:\\data\\MapIndex.gdb"
arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = "true"

# Variables for the tool
aoiField = "NRN"
aoiBuffer = "100 meters"
contourElevField = "zv2"
outputFeatureClass = "TLMElevationGuideBands"
aoiFeatureLyr="aoiFeatures"
contourFeatureLyr="contourFeatures"
chooseBands="CHOOSE_BANDS"

# create a feature layer for the AOI_Feature_Class parameter
aoiPath = "MapIndex\\JOG_Index"
arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(aoiPath,aoiFeatureLyr)

# create a feature layer for the Contour_Feature_Class parameter
contoursPath = "ContourL"
arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(contoursPath,contourFeatureLyr)

# create a where clause for select by layer
whereClause = "NRN='1501ANI1105'"

# select a single AOI feature from JOG
arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management(aoiFeatureLyr,"NEW_SELECTION",whereClause)

# execute the tool - output will be written to the gp workspace
arcpy.CreateTLMElevationGuideBands_defense(aoiFeatureLyr, aoiField, aoiBuffer, contourFeatureLyr, 20, contourElevField, "METERS", chooseBands, 3, outputFeatureClass)

# Check in the extensions
arcpy.CheckInExtension("foundation")
arcpy.CheckInExtension("defense")

Environments

Licensing information

  • ArcGIS Desktop Basic: No
  • ArcGIS Desktop Standard: No
  • ArcGIS Desktop Advanced: Requires Defense Mapping

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