A vertical line segment is a portion of a line that is entirely vertical; that is, both vertices that make up the segment's endpoints have the same x- and y-coordinates but different z-coordinates. Vertical line segments may be individual features, or they may be contained in features that have other segments that are nonvertical, composing a hybrid polyline.
In the graphic above, the orange feature on the left represents an individual polyline feature that is composed of a vertical segment. The black dot beneath the feature shows how this vertical polyline would be represented in 2D (remember that the x- and y-coordinates for both segment endpoints are the same, so in 2D, the vertical line only appears as a point). In the graphic above, the orange feature on the right represents a hybrid polyline feature where one segment of the line is vertical but other line segments are horizontal or sloping (nonvertical). The black line beneath this feature shows how this hybrid polyline would be represented in 2D.
Some geoprocessing tools support vertical line segments and preserve these segments in the tool output, while others strip or flatten any vertical segments.
Tools that support vertical line segments
The following geoprocessing tools support vertical line segments:
- Buffer
- Only a buffer operation with a Dissolve Type of NONE works with vertical line segments. The output buffer polygon is placed at the base height of any vertical line segments. Optional parameter settings Side Type and End Type are respected when generating buffers for hybrid polyline features.
- Check Geometry
- Clip
- Copy Features
- Erase
- Extend Line
- Feature Class To Feature Class
- Integrate
- Project
- Repair Geometry
- Select Layer By Location
- Spatial Join
- Trim Line
Tools that strip, flatten, or remove vertical line segments
Overlay tools such as Intersect and Union, which planarize feature geometries, flatten vertical line segments (see the tool help for more information about what the respective tool does to feature geometries). Tools that aggregate and combine feature geometries, such as Dissolve, may also flatten vertical line segments. Tools that convert between geometry types, such as Feature To Line, may also flatten vertical line segments.