ArcMap

Stream to Feature

Available with Spatial Analyst license.

Summary

Converts a raster representing a linear network to features representing the linear network.

Learn more about how Stream to Feature works

Usage

  • The input stream raster linear network should be represented as values greater than or equal to one on a background of NoData.

  • The results of the Flow Accumulation tool can be used to create a raster stream network by applying a threshold value to select cells with a high accumulated flow. For example, cells that have more than 100 cells flowing into them are used to define the stream network. Use the Con or Set Null tool to create a stream network raster where flow accumulation values of 100 or greater go to one and the remainder are put to the background (NoData). The resulting stream network can be used in Stream Link and Stream to Feature.

  • There should be contiguous features with the same value, such as the results of the Stream Order or Stream Link tool. Stream to Feature should not be used on a raster in which there are few adjacent cells of the same value.

  • The direction of the output features will point downstream.

  • See Analysis environments and Spatial Analyst for additional details on the geoprocessing environments that apply to this tool.

Syntax

StreamToFeature (in_stream_raster, in_flow_direction_raster, out_polyline_features, {simplify})
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_stream_raster

An input raster that represents a linear stream network.

Raster Layer
in_flow_direction_raster

The input raster that shows the direction of flow out of each cell.

The flow direction raster can be created using the Flow Direction tool.

Raster Layer
out_polyline_features

Output feature class that will hold the converted streams.

Feature Class
simplify
(Optional)

Specifies whether weeding is used.

  • SIMPLIFY — The feature is weeded to reduce the number of vertices. The Douglas-Puecker algorithm for line generalization is used with a tolerance of sqrt(0.5) * cell size.
  • NO_SIMPLIFY — No weeding is applied.

By default, weeding is applied.

Boolean

Code sample

StreamToFeature example 1 (Python window)

This example converts a raster representing a linear network to features.

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
from arcpy.sa import *
env.workspace = "C:/sapyexamples/data"
StreamToFeature("stream", "flowdir", "c:/sapyexamples/output/outstrm01.shp", 
                "NO_SIMPLIFY")
StreamToFeature example 2 (stand-alone script)

This example converts a raster representing a linear network to features.

# Name: StreamToFeature_Ex_02.py
# Description: 
# Requirements: Spatial Analyst Extension

# Import system modules
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
from arcpy.sa import *

# Set environment settings
env.workspace = "C:/sapyexamples/data"

# Set local variables
inStreamRaster = "stream"
inFlowDir = "flowdir"
outStreamFeats = "c:/sapyexamples/output.gdb/outstrm02"


# Check out the ArcGIS Spatial Analyst extension license
arcpy.CheckOutExtension("Spatial")

# Execute 
StreamToFeature(inStreamRaster, inFlowDir, outStreamFeats,
                 "NO_SIMPLIFY")

Environments

Licensing information

  • ArcGIS Desktop Basic: Requires Spatial Analyst
  • ArcGIS Desktop Standard: Requires Spatial Analyst
  • ArcGIS Desktop Advanced: Requires Spatial Analyst

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