ArcMap

Union

Summary

Computes a geometric union of the input features. All features and their attributes will be written to the output feature class.

Learn more about how Union works

Illustration

Union illustration

Usage

  • All input feature classes and feature layers must have polygon geometry.

  • The Allow Gaps parameter can be used with the All attributes or Only feature IDs settings on the JoinAttributes parameter. This allows for identification of resulting areas that are completely enclosed by the resulting polygons. The FID attributes for these gap features will all be -1.

  • The output feature class will contain a FID_<name> attribute for each of the input feature classes. For example, if one of the input feature classes is named Soils, there will be a FID_Soils attribute on the output feature class. FID_<name> values will be -1 for any input feature (or any part of an input feature) that does not intersect another input feature. Attribute values for the other feature classes in the union where no intersection is detected will not be transferred to the output feature in this case.

  • Attribute values from the input feature classes will be copied to the output feature class. However, if the input is a layer or layers created by the Make Feature Layer tool and a field's Use Ratio Policy is checked, then a ratio of the input attribute value is calculated for the output attribute value. When Use Ratio Policy is enabled, whenever a feature in an overlay operation is split, the attributes of the resulting features are a ratio of the attribute value of the input feature. The output value is based on the ratio in which the input feature geometry was divided. For example, If the input geometry was divided equally, each new feature's attribute value is assigned one-half of the value of the input feature's attribute value. Use Ratio Policy only applies to numeric field types.

  • This tool will use a tiling process to handle very large datasets for better performance and scalability. For more details, see Geoprocessing with large datasets.

  • This tool may generate multipart features in the output even if all inputs were single part. If multipart features are not desired, use the Multipart to Singlepart tool on the output feature class.

Syntax

Union_analysis (in_features, out_feature_class, {join_attributes}, {cluster_tolerance}, {gaps})
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_features
[[in_features, {Rank}],...]

A list of the input feature classes or layers. When the distance between features is less than the cluster tolerance, the features with the lower rank will snap to the feature with the higher rank. The highest rank is one. All of the input features must be polygons.

Value Table
out_feature_class

The feature class that will contain the results.

Feature Class
join_attributes
(Optional)

Determines which attributes from the input features will be transferred to the output feature class.

  • ALL —All the attributes from the input features will be transferred to the output feature class. This is the default.
  • NO_FID —All the attributes except the FID from the input features will be transferred to the output feature class.
  • ONLY_FID —Only the FID field from the input features will be transferred to the output feature class.
String
cluster_tolerance
(Optional)

The minimum distance separating all feature coordinates (nodes and vertices) as well as the distance a coordinate can move in X or Y (or both).

Linear unit
gaps
(Optional)

Gaps are areas in the output feature class that are completely enclosed by other polygons. This is not invalid, but it may be desirable to identify these for analysis. To find the gaps in the output, set this option to NO_GAPS, and a feature will be created in these areas. To select these features, query the output feature class based on all the input feature's FID values being equal to -1.

  • GAPS —No feature will be created for areas in the output that are completely enclosed by polygons. This is the default.
  • NO_GAPS —A feature will be created for the areas in the output that are completely enclosed by polygons. This feature will have blank attributes and its FID values will be -1.
Boolean

Code sample

Union Example (Python Window)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the Union function in immediate mode.

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/data/data/gdb"
arcpy.Union_analysis (["well_buff50", "stream_buff200", "waterbody_buff500"], "water_buffers", "NO_FID", 0.0003)
arcpy.Union_analysis ([["counties", 2],["parcels", 1],["state", 2]], "state_landinfo")
Union Example 2 (Stand-alone Script)

The following stand-alone script shows two ways to apply the Union function in scripting.

# unions.py
# Purpose: union 3 feature classes

# Import the system modules
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
 
# Set the current workspace 
# (to avoid having to specify the full path to the feature classes each time)
env.workspace = "c:/data/data.gdb"
 

# Union 3 feature classes but only carry the FID attributes to the output
inFeatures = ["well_buff50", "stream_buff200", "waterbody_buff500"]
outFeatures = "water_buffers"
clusterTol = 0.0003
arcpy.Union_analysis (inFeatures, outFeatures, "ONLY_FID", clusterTol)

# Union 3 other feature classes, but specify some ranks for each 
# since parcels has better spatial accuracy
inFeatures = [["counties", 2],["parcels", 1],["state", 2]]
outFeatures = "state_landinfo" 
arcpy.Union_analysis (inFeatures, outFeatures)

Environments

Licensing information

  • ArcGIS Desktop Basic: Limited
  • ArcGIS Desktop Standard: Limited
  • ArcGIS Desktop Advanced: Yes

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