ArcMap

Validate Spot Heights

Summary

Validates spot heights against contour tops in ArcGIS Defense Mapping data models. This tool validates two conditions: a spot height is higher than or equal to the contour top that contains it and the contour top is not missing a contour line (based on contour interval) between it and the spot height. The tool creates a selection set of spot heights that fail this validation.

Usage

  • The tool selects features in the Spot Features feature layer that do not pass validation. Review values in the Point Height Field of the selected features.

  • Contour tops refer to an elevation completely surrounded by lower elevation contour lines. Contour tops must be polylines that start and end at the same vertex.

  • This tool selects no features if no Spot Features lie within contour tops.

  • Contour Interval is used to determine if there is a missing contour line between the contour top and spot height. For example, if Contour Interval is set to 20 and the elevation difference between the spot height and contour top is 40, the spot height would fail validation and be selected.

Syntax

arcpy.defense.ValidateSpotHeights(in_contour_features, contour_height_field, contour_interval, in_spot_features, point_height_field)
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_contour_features

The input contour features against which spot heights will be validated.

Feature Layer
contour_height_field

Field in input contours that contains elevation values. Field type must be numeric.

Field
contour_interval

The interval, or distance, between contour lines. This can be any positive number.

Long
in_spot_features

An existing Defense Mapping point feature layer that contains spot heights to validate.

Layer
point_height_field

Field that contains spot height elevation values.

Field

Code sample

ValidateSpotHeights example (Python window)

The following example demonstrates how to use the ValidateSpotHeights tool.

# set GP environment
arcpy.env.workspace="c:/data"
arcpy.env.addOutputsToMap=True

# script variables
contourFeatures="Contour.gdb/MGCP/ContourL50K"
contourLayer="contours"
contourHeightField="ZVH"
contourInterval=20
spotFeatures="CARTO.gdb/CARTO/EGB_SPOTS_P"
spotLayer="spotHeights"
spotHeightField="ZVH"

# make two feature layers
arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(spotFeatures,spotLayer)
arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(contourFeatures,contourLayer)

# execute ValidateSpotHeights
arcpy.ValidateSpotHeights_defense(contourLayer,contourHeightField,contourInterval,spotLayer,spotHeightField)

# check for a selected set of features
desc=arcpy.Describe(spotLayer)
selectedFeatures=desc.FIDSet.split(";")
if len(selectedFeatures) > 0:
    print "Found %s features that failed validation." % str(len(selectedFeatures))
else:
    print "All features passed validation"

Environments

Licensing information

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

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