Multiple Ring Buffer (Analysis)

Summary

Creates multiple buffers at specified distances around the input features. These buffers can optionally be merged and dissolved using the buffer distance values to create non-overlapping buffers.

Illustration

Usage

• If the input features have a projected coordinate system, planar buffers will be produced in the output. Ensure the input features have a coordinate system that is suitable for distance analysis, such as an equidistant projection.

  If the input features have a geographic coordinate system, geodesic buffers will be produced in the output, as planar buffers of non-projected features would be highly inaccurate.

  Learn more about geodesic and planar (or Euclidean) buffers

• If the dissolve all option is specified, the output feature class will contain one feature for each distance specified in the Distances parameter; all buffers the same distance from the input features will be dissolved together.

Syntax

MultipleRingBuffer(Input_Features, Output_Feature_class, Distances, {Buffer_Unit}, {Field_Name}, {Dissolve_Option}, {Outside_Polygons_Only})

Parameter	Explanation	Data Type
Input_Features	The input point, line, or polygon features to be buffered.	Feature Layer
Output_Feature_class	The output feature class that will contain multiple buffers.	Feature Class
Distances [distance,...]	The list of buffer distances.	Double
Buffer_Unit (Optional)	The linear unit to be used with the distance values. If the units are not specified, or the default is chosen, the linear unit of the input features' spatial reference is used. If default is used and the Output Coordinate System geoprocessing environment has been set, the linear unit of the environment will be used. The linear unit is ignored if the input features have an unknown or undefined spatial reference. Default —Default Inches —Inches Feet —Feet Yards —Yards Miles —Miles NauticalMiles —Nautical Miles Millimeters —Millimeters Centimeters —Centimeters Decimeters —Decimeters Meters —Meters Kilometers —Kilometers DecimalDegrees —Decimal Degrees Points —Points	String
Field_Name (Optional)	The name of the field in the output feature class that stores the buffer distance used to create each buffer feature. If no name is specified, the default field name is 'distance'. This field will be of type Double.	String
Dissolve_Option (Optional)	Determines if buffers will be dissolved to resemble rings around the input features. ALL —Buffers will be rings around the input features that do not overlap (think of these as rings or donuts around the input features). The smallest buffer will cover the area of its input feature plus the buffer distance, and subsequent buffers will be rings around the smallest buffer which do not cover the area of the input feature or smaller buffers. All buffers of the same distance will be dissolved into a single feature. This is the default. NONE —All buffer areas will be maintained regardless of overlap. Each buffer will cover its input feature plus the area of any smaller buffers.	String
Outside_Polygons_Only (Optional)	Valid only for polygon input features. FULL —Buffers will overlap or cover the input features. This is the default. OUTSIDE_ONLY —Buffers will be rings around the input features, and will not overlap or cover the input features (the area inside the input polygon will be erased from the buffer).	Boolean

Code sample

MultipleRingBuffer example (Python window)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the MultipleRingBuffer tool in immediate mode.

import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/data/airport.gdb"
arcpy.MultipleRingBuffer_analysis("schools", "c:/output/output.gdb/multibuffer1", [10, 20, 30],
                                  "meters", "", "ALL")

MultipleRingBuffer example 2 (stand-alone script)

The following stand-alone script demonstrates how to use the MultipleRingBuffer tool.

# Name: MultipleRingBuffer_Example2.py
# Description: Create multiple buffers for the input features
 
# Import system modules
import arcpy
 
# Set environment settings
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/data/airport.gdb"
 
# Set local variables
inFeatures = "schools"
outFeatureClass = "c:/output/output.gdb/multibuffer1"
distances = [10, 20, 30]
bufferUnit = "meters"
 
# Execute MultipleRingBuffer
arcpy.MultipleRingBuffer_analysis(inFeatures, outFeatureClass, distances, bufferUnit, "", "ALL")

Environments

Default Output Z Value, M Resolution, M Tolerance, Output XY Domain, Output Coordinate System, Extent, Current Workspace, Geographic Transformations, Scratch Workspace, Output has M values, Output has Z values, XY Resolution, XY Tolerance, Z Resolution, Z Tolerance

Licensing information

• Basic: Yes
• Standard: Yes
• Advanced: Yes