VectorField

Summary

Visualize flow direction and magnitude information in your raster with vector symbols.

Discussion

For more information about how this function works, see the Vector Field raster function.

The referenced raster dataset for the raster object is temporary. To make it permanent, you can call the raster object's save method.

Syntax

VectorField (raster_u_mag, raster_v_dir, {input_data_type}, {angle_reference_system}, {output_data_type})
ParameterExplanationData Type
raster_u_mag

The first input raster, which is either the U value or the magnitude.

Raster
raster_v_dir

The second input raster, which is either the V value or the direction.

Raster
input_data_type

The type of vector field your inputs represent.

  • UnknownIt is unknown whether the inputs represent U-V or Magnitude-Direction.
  • Vector-UVInput data represents U and V components.
  • Vector-MagDir Input data represents magnitude and direction.

(The default value is Vector-UV)

String
angle_reference_system

Specifies how the direction component was measured.

  • Geographic0° points due north, and 90° points due east.
  • Arithmetic 0° points due east, and 90° points due north.

(The default value is Geographic)

String
output_data_type

Specifies the type of vector field your output will represent.

  • Vector-UVOutput data represents U and V components.
  • Vector-MagDirOutput data represents magnitude and direction.

(The default value is Vector-UV)

String
Return Value
Data TypeExplanation
Raster

The output raster.

Code sample

VectorField example 1

This example creates a vector field for a multidimensional dataset.

from arcpy.ia import *
out_vectorfield_raster = VectorField("magnitude", "direction", "Vector-MagDir",
                                 None, "Vector-UV)
out_vectorfield_raster.save("C:/arcpyExamples/outputs/vector_field_UV.crf")
VectorField example 2

This example creates a vector field for a multidimensional dataset.

# Import system modules
import arcpy
from arcpy.ia import *

# Set the analysis environments
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/arcpyExamples/data"

# Set the local variables
# create a multidimensional raster object from hycom.nc that
# contains 2 variables water_u and water_v
hycom_raster = arcpy.Raster("C:/data/hycom.nc", True)

# choose the 2 variables from hycom_raster as 2 multidimensional raster
in_raster_u_mag = Subset(hycom_raster, variables = "water_u")
in_raster_v_dir = Subset(hycom_raster, variables = "water_v")

# Execute VectorField function
out_vectorField_raster = VectorField(in_raster_u_mag, in_raster_v_dir,
                                     "Vector-UV", "Geographic", "Vector-MagDir")

# Save the output
out_vectorField_raster.save("C:/arcpyExamples/vector_field_magdir.crf")