ArcMap

Production Centerline

Available with Production Mapping license.

Summary

Creates centerlines from polygon features. This tool is useful for creating centerlines from hydrographic polygons for use at smaller scales.

Illustration

Before and after illustration of the production centerline process
Before and after using the Production Centerline tool

Usage

  • This tool creates one line for each input polygon. This may result in complex multipart geometries. The Feature to Line tool can be run on the output centerlines to split the centerlines at any junctions.

  • This tool is optimized for spatial relationships and junctions typically found in a hydrographic network. Examples of these would be long, thin polygons such as rivers or canals. This tool is also optimized for junctions that occur on the same elevation, such as when rivers converge. However, the tool does not handle junctions that occur on different levels, such as when highway overpasses cross over one another.

  • For best results, consider running the Dissolve tool to dissolve all touching polygon features before running the Production Centerline tool. Dissolving features helps to ensure better connections and junctions in the resulting centerlines. If one polygon touches the edge of another polygon, it is unlikely that the centerlines created by the tool will touch.

  • The integrity of the results of this tool relies on the topological integrity of the inputs. Take note of the following input data requirements and suggestions:

    • Empty or null geometry—The input features must consist of valid geometries. If necessary, use the Repair Bad Geometry tool to repair these features.
    • Vertices—Not enough vertices on a polygon may compromise the quality of the results. It is recommended that the Densify tool be run before running this tool if the polygon features have a small number of vertices.
    • Nonlinear segments—Bézier curve, circular arc, and elliptic arc segments may compromise the quality of the results. It is recommended that the Densify tool be run before running this tool if the polygon features have nonlinear segments as this will add vertices along the curves.

  • The output centerlines will not contain any geographic attributes from the input polygon features. A column called FID will be added to the output feature class. This field is populated with the ObjectID of the polygon from which the centerline was created, which can be used to join the centerlines to the input polygons. If processes such as Dissolve or Eliminate Polygon Part were run on the original polygons to prepare the data before running Production Centerline, the FID will link to the prepared polygons not the original polygons. The Identity tool can be run using the original polygons to split the centerlines and identify which original polygon contains the centerline.

  • For best results, consider running the Eliminate Polygon Part tool to remove small holes in the polygon features before running Production Centerline. For example, removing holes from the middle of river polygons where island polygons exist. The centerlines created by the tool will be contained within the polygons. If a hole exists in the polygon, the centerline will branch around the hole, potentially creating two short centerline segments. Filling small holes before running Production Centerline will create a single centerline through the section where a hole previously existed.

Syntax

arcpy.production.ProductionCenterline(input_features, output_features)
ParameterExplanationData Type
input_features

The polygon features used to create the centerline.

Feature Layer
output_features

The output feature class for the centerlines.

Feature Class

Code sample

ProductionCenterline example (stand-alone script)

The following stand-alone sample script demonstrates how to use the ProductionCenterline tool to create a centerline from a polygon feature.

# Name: ProductionCenterline_Example.py
# Description: Select the rivers and produce centerlines

# Import system modules
import arcpy

# Check out extension
arcpy.CheckOutExtension("Foundation")

# Define variables
input_features = r"C:\data\CTM.gdb\HydrographySrf"
output_location = r"C:\data\CTM.gdb\HydrographyCrv"

#Select only the Rivers subtype
arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management(input_features, 'NEW_SELECTION', 'FCSubtype =  100314')
inputLyr = arcpyy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(input_features, "inputLyr")

# Execute Production Centerline
arcpy.ProductionCenterline_production(inputLyr, output_location)

# Check in Production Mapping license
arcpy.CheckInExtension("Foundation")

Environments

Licensing information

  • Basic: No
  • Standard: Requires Production Mapping
  • Advanced: Requires Production Mapping

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