Generate Range Rings (Defense)

Summary

Creates a set of concentric circles from a point, given a number of rings and distance between rings or a minimum and maximum distance from center.

Usage

  • The tool provides two methods for generating range rings: interval or minimum and maximum distance:

    • To generate range rings from an interval, specify the number of rings to create. The first ring will be a distance from the center point that you specify and each subsequent ring will be created that distance from the previous ring.
    • To generate range rings from a minimum and maximum distance, specify two values, a minimum and maximum value. One ring will be created for each value at the distance specified.

Syntax

arcpy.defense.GenerateRangeRings(in_features, out_feature_class_rings, range_rings_type, {out_feature_class_radials}, {number_of_radials}, {distance_units}, {number_of_rings}, {interval_between_rings}, {minimum_range}, {maximum_range})
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_features

The point feature set that identifies the center of the range ring. The input must have at least one point.

Feature Set
out_feature_class_rings

The feature class containing the output ring features.

Feature Class
range_rings_type

Specifies the method to create the range rings.

  • INTERVALRange rings will be generated based on the number of rings and distance between rings. This the default.
  • MIN_MAXRange rings will be generated based on a minimum and maximum distance.
String
out_feature_class_radials
(Optional)

The feature class containing the output radial features.

Feature Class
number_of_radials
(Optional)

The number of radials to generate.

Long
distance_units
(Optional)

Specifies the linear unit of measurement for the interval_between_rings parameter or the minimum_range and maximum_range parameters.

  • METERSThe unit will be meters. This is the default.
  • KILOMETERSThe unit will be kilometers.
  • MILESThe unit will be miles.
  • NAUTICAL_MILESThe unit will be nautical miles.
  • FEETThe unit will be feet.
  • US_SURVEY_FEETThe unit will be U.S. survey feet.
String
number_of_rings
(Optional)

The number of rings to generate.

Long
interval_between_rings
(Optional)

The distance between each ring.

Double
minimum_range
(Optional)

The distance from the center to the nearest ring.

Double
maximum_range
(Optional)

The distance from the center to the farthest ring.

Double

Code sample

GenerateRangeRings example 1 (Python window)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the GenerateRangeRings function.

import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = r"C:/Data.gdb"
arcpy.GenerateRangeRings_defense("Ring_Centers", "Output_Range_Rings",
                                 "INTERVAL",
                                 "Output_Radials",
                                 3,
                                 "KILOMETERS",
                                 5, 5, 5, 25)
GenerateRangeRings example 2 (stand-alone script)

The following example uses the GenerateRangeRings function in a sample workflow script.

# Description: Generate range rings around active airports

# Import system modules
import arcpy

# Set environment settings
arcpy.env.workspace = r"C:/Data.gdb"
arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True

# Select points from airports from input
airports = "Airports"
active = "Active_Airports"
whereClause = "Active = 'Yes'"
arcpy.Select_analysis(airports, active, whereClause)

# Generate Range Rings around selected airports
outputRings = "Rings"
outputRadials = "Radials"
ringType = "MIN_MAX"
distType = "KILOMETERS"
arcpy.GenerateRangeRings_defense(active,
                                 outputRings,
                                 ringType,
                                 outputRadials,
                                 4,
                                 distType,
                                 5, 100, 200, 4000)

Licensing information

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

Related topics