Available with Spatial Analyst license.
Available with 3D Analyst license.
Summary
Slices or reclassifies the range of values of the input cells into zones of equal interval, equal area, or by natural breaks.
Usage
Slice works best on data that is normally distributed. When using input raster data that is skewed, the output result may not contain all of the classes that you had expected or specified.
When using the EQUAL_AREA method, sometimes not all of the output zones (classes) will have an equal, or even similar, number of cells. This may be an inherent result based on the nature of the input values and the specified number of zones. If the results are deemed undesirable, you can try using a fewer number of zones or applying a statistics transformation (for example, logarithm or square root) to the input dataset.
Syntax
Slice(in_raster, out_raster, number_zones, {slice_type}, {base_output_zone})
Parameter | Explanation | Data Type |
in_raster | The input raster to be reclassified. | Raster Layer |
out_raster | The output reclassified raster. The output will always be of integer type. | Raster Dataset |
number_zones | The number of zones to reclassify the input raster into. When the slice method is EQUAL_AREA, the output raster will have the defined number of zones, with a similar number of cells in each. When EQUAL_INTERVAL is used, the output raster will have the defined number of zones, each containing equal value ranges on the output raster. When NATURAL_BREAKS is used, the output raster will have the defined number of zones, with the number of cells in each determined by the class breaks. | Long |
slice_type (Optional) | The manner in which to slice the values in the input raster.
| String |
base_output_zone (Optional) | Defines the lowest zone value on the output raster dataset. The default value is 1. | Long |
Code sample
Slice example 1 (Python window)
Reclassify the input raster into five classes based on natural groupings inherent in the data.
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
env.workspace = "C:/data"
arcpy.Slice_3d("elevation", "c:/output/elevslice", 5, "NATURAL_BREAKS")
Slice example 2 (stand-alone script)
Reclassify the input raster into ten classes based on natural groupings inherent in the data.
# Name: Slice_3d_Ex_02.py
# Description: Slices a range of values of the input cells of a raster by
# zones of equal interval or equal area.
# Requirements: 3D Analyst Extension
# Import system modules
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
# Set environment settings
env.workspace = "C:/data"
# Set local variables
inRaster = "elevation"
outRaster = "C:/output/outslice"
numberZones = 10
baseOutputZone = 5
# Check out the ArcGIS 3D Analyst extension license
arcpy.CheckOutExtension("3D")
# Execute Slice
arcpy.Slice_3d(inRaster, outRaster, numberZones, "NATURAL_BREAKS",
baseOutputZone)
Environments
Licensing information
- Basic: Requires 3D Analyst or Spatial Analyst
- Standard: Requires 3D Analyst or Spatial Analyst
- Advanced: Requires 3D Analyst or Spatial Analyst