ArcMap

Create Smooth TLM Elevation Guide Bands From Raster

Summary

Creates smooth band features for an Elevation Guide Box surround element. This element is frequently used on defense map products such as Topographic Line Maps (TLMs). Band features refer to elevation bands derived from a raster.

Usage

  • This tool uses the following three-step process to create smooth band features:

    1. Create elevation band features from an input raster.
    2. Merge smaller band features with larger band features. The tool selects smaller features using the minimum feature area parameter.
    3. Smooth the resulting features to improve their cartographic quality.

  • The default values in this model are optimized for an output dataset for a TLM 50, with the standard area of interest (AOI) size and with a geographic spatial reference (for example, WGS84).

  • If the AOI is spread across multiple raster dataset cells, you will have to specify all the cells.

  • The AOI field parameter must be the map sheet name or a unique identifier for each map sheet.

  • The Input Hydro Exclusion Features parameter is used for large water bodies and coastal areas that would significantly alter the area of the elevation bands.

Syntax

CreateSmoothTLMBandsfromRaster(Input_Raster, Output_Feature_Class, Minimum_Feature_Area, Smoothing_Tolerance, Input_Area_of_Interest, {Input_Hydro_Exclusion_Features}, {Number_of_Bands}, {Contour_Interval})
ParameterExplanationData Type
Input_Raster

The input raster layer.

Raster Layer
Output_Feature_Class

The output elevation guide band feature class.

Feature Class
Minimum_Feature_Area

Sets a minimum area for output polygons. Features smaller than this value will be removed. The default value is 0.00016 square decimal degrees.

If you are creating an output dataset with a projected coordinate system, this value should reflect the square units of that coordinate system (for example, square meters for a UTM dataset). Otherwise, the default value might result in an empty output dataset.

String
Smoothing_Tolerance

Sets a tolerance used by the Smooth Polygon tool. The larger the value, the more generalized the output band features.

Linear unit
Input_Area_of_Interest

The features that will define the area to process.

Feature Layer
Input_Hydro_Exclusion_Features
(Optional)

Feature layers or classes that define large water body areas to exclude from the elevation band area calculations.

Feature Layer
Number_of_Bands
(Optional)

Indicates the number of guide bands generated by the tool.

  • 1 —1 guide band will be generated. This is the default.
  • 3 —3 guide bands will be generated.
  • 4 —4 guide bands will be generated.
String
Contour_Interval
(Optional)

Indicates the contour interval used to determine the closest contour available when calculating the band area. Bands are created with their limits aligned to the set contour interval, except for low and high values which will represent their actual calculated values.

  • 10 —A contour interval of 10.
  • 20 —A contour interval of 20. This is the default.
  • 40 —A contour interval of 40.
  • 80 —A contour interval of 80.
String

Code sample

CreateSmoothTLMBandsfromRaster example (Python window)

This Python code sample creates a raster layer from production mapping sample data. The script runs the CreateSmoothTLMBandsfromRaster function against the raster layer and writes the output to a file geodatabase in the c:\data folder. You need to have the ArcGIS Spatial Analyst extension and Production Mapping extensions enabled.

# import modules
import arcpy

# the raster is part of the production mapping sample data
terrain = "C:\\data\\dted\\w117\\n32.dt0"
raster_layer = "raster_layer"

# an output workspace
smoothTLMbands = "C:\\data\\work.gdb\\smoothTLMbands"

# Make a Raster Layer from the dted
arcpy.MakeRasterLayer_management(terrain, raster_layer, "", "-117.004166666667 31.9958333333333 -115.995833333333 33.0041666666667", "")

# Execute Create Generalized Bands - this will generate the smoothTLMbands output
arcpy.CreateSmoothTLMBandsfromRaster_defense(raster_layer, smoothTLMbands, "0.00016", "0.02 DecimalDegrees", "", "", 3, 20)

Environments

Licensing information

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

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