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Create a model for route analysis

In this topic

  1. Get the data
  2. Create a map
  3. Add the tutorial data to the project
  4. Create and run a model
  5. Run the model as a geoprocessing tool

Available with Network Analyst license.

ArcGIS Pro provides geoprocessing functionality through the Network Analyst toolbox. These geoprocessing tools, when chained in a model, can help automate repetitive tasks and reduce the probability of error. In a model, the output of one tool is used as input to another tool.

In this tutorial, you will create a model for generating the fastest delivery route connecting 21 stores.

Note:
This tutorial can be completed using as the network data source either the designated tutorial network dataset, ArcGIS Online, or an ArcGIS Enterprise routing service published using a network dataset that covers the geography of the input data of the analysis. If you use ArcGIS Online, credits will be consumed. Learn more about network analysis with a service.

Get the data

The data for this tutorial is available for download.

  1. Go to the data download page.
  2. Click the Download button, and save the file locally.
  3. Unzip the downloaded file.

Create a map

To create a map, complete the following steps:

  1. Start ArcGIS Pro.
  2. Create a new project by clicking Map template. You can change the name of your project and location or you can keep the default.

    A new project with a map appears.

Add the tutorial data to the project

In this set of steps, you'll add a network dataset to the map.

  1. In the Catalog pane, which is on the right side of the application by default, right-click Folders and choose Add Folder Connection Add Folder Connection.

    The Add Folder Connection dialog box appears.

  2. Browse to the folder where you placed the tutorial data, double-click Network Analyst, and click Tutorial to select the folder.
  3. Click OK.

    A connection to the Tutorial folder is created.

    4. Next, add one of the network datasets contained in the folder to the map.

    Note:

    You do not need to add the network dataset to the map if you intend to use ArcGIS Online or an ArcGIS Enterprise routing service as the network data source.

  4. In the Catalog pane, expand Folders > Tutorial > Paris.gdb > Transportation.
  5. Drag ParisMultimodal_ND, which has a network dataset icon Network Dataset, onto the map.

    The network dataset is added to the Contents pane and to the map.

  6. In the Catalog pane, expand Folders > Tutorial > Paris.gdb > Analysis.
  7. Drag the Stores feature class onto the map.

    The point feature class is added to the Contents pane and to the map.

Create and run a model

Follow the steps below in ModelBuilder to create a model and run it.

  1. On the Analysis tab in the Geoprocessing group, click the ModelBuilder button Model.

    A new model is opened for editing.

    2. Learn more about ModelBuilder
  2. On the Analysis tab in the Geoprocessing group, click Tools.

    The Geoprocessing pane appears.

    3. Learn more about geoprocessing
  3. Click Toolboxes and expand the Network Analyst Tools toolbox.
  4. Click the Analysis toolset and drag the Make Route Analysis Layer tool into the new model window.
    5. The model resembles the example below in the ModelBuilder window.
    Make Route Analysis Layer tool
    Note:

    If the Network Data Source input variable is not present, double-click the Make Route Analysis Layer tool and provide the network data source. Once the network data source is provided, the model resembles the image above.

    Add the network data source to make the model ready to run.

  5. Double-click Network Data Source in the model window.
  6. From the Network Data Source drop-down list, select ParisMultimodal_ND and click OK.
    7. Note:

    You can also specify ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise portal as the network data source.

  7. In the Analysis toolset, drag the Add Locations tool into the model window.
  8. Select the Stores feature layer in the Contents pane and drag it into the model window to the left of Add Locations.
    9. Note:

    You can also use a web feature layer hosted in an ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise portal to load your input features.

  9. Connect Stores to Add Locations and click Input Locations on the context menu that appears.
    10. Learn how to connect variables to the tool
  10. Connect Route to Add Locations and click Input Network Analysis Layer on the context menu that appears.
  11. Click the ModelBuilder tab on the ribbon.
  12. In the View group, click the Auto Layout button Auto Layout.

    The model is arranged in a logical order and resembles the example below:

    Add Locations tool in ModelBuilder

  13. In the Geoprocessing pane, in the Analysis toolset, drag the Solve tool into the model window.
  14. Connect the output Updated Input Network Analysis Layer to Solve. Click Input Network Analysis Layer on the context menu that appears.
    15. After solving the network analysis, you can extract the results from a sublayer to a new feature class. To achieve this, add the Select Data tool in your model by following steps 15-18.
  15. On the ModelBuilder ribbon, from the Insert section, click the Utilities drop-down menu and choose the Select Data option.
  16. Connect Network Analyst Layer to Select Data. Click Input Data Element on the context menu that appears.
  17. Open Select Data and from the Child Data Element drop-down menu, select the Routes sublayer.
  18. Click OK.
  19. In the Geoprocessing pane, in the search bar, type Copy Features and drag the Copy Features (Data Management) tool into the model window.
  20. Connect Routes to Copy Features and click Input Features on the context menu that appears.

    This will copy the extracted features from the Routes sublayer to a new feature class in your project geodatabase.

  21. In the Geoprocessing pane, in the Analysis toolset, drag the Delete Network Analysis Layer tool into the model window.

    The Delete Network Analysis Layer tool is valuable in models where a network analysis layer is created as an intermediate step. If such a model is run repeatedly, unwanted sublayer data may accumulate in the project geodatabase. This tool cleans up the network analysis layer's analysis data in the model workflow.

  22. Connect Output Feature Class to Delete Network Analysis Layer and click Precondition on the context menu that appears.

    This will ensure that the network analysis layer is not deleted until it is copied to a new feature class.

  23. Connect Network Analyst Layer to Delete Network Analysis Layer and click Input Network Analysis Layer on the context menu that appears.
  24. Click the Auto Layout button Auto Layout to arrange the model elements.

    Auto layout the model

    Note:

    The layout of the model elements has been modified from the default to make it easier to see in the image.

  25. Click the Save button Save to save the model.
  26. Click the Validate button Validate to ensure that all the elements of the model are valid.
    27. Learn more about validating a model
  27. Click the Run button Run.
    28. A status window appears while the route analysis is performed.
  28. When completed, close the status window .

    29. Once the model is successfully run, optionally, you can visualize the output of this model which here, is a line feature class that stores the route through the input locations.

  29. In the Catalog pane, expand Databases .

    Line feature class storing the output of the model

  30. Add the Routes_CopyFeatures to the current map to visualize the output.

    Output of the route analysis model showing route between the input locations

  31. Turn off the layer visibility and proceed to the next section.

Run the model as a geoprocessing tool

As with other geoprocessing tools, you can open and run a model tool in the Geoprocessing pane. Variables that are set as model parameters show as tool parameters when the model is run as a geoprocessing tool, allowing you to specify different data or values for your model to process than what was specified when the model was created.

  1. Switch to the model view and right-click Stores. Select Parameter from the context menu that appears.

    The variable is set as a parameter, which is indicated by the letter P next to the variable in the model.

  2. Repeat step 1 for the ParisMultimodel_ND and Output Feature Class variables in the model. Since Output Feature Class is the final output of the model, setting it as a parameter will add it to the map view and the Contents pane.

    Set variables as parameters

    Note:

    The layout of the model elements has been modified from the default to make it easier to see in the image.

  3. Save and close the model.

    The model is saved as a geoprocessing tool in a toolbox.

    Model saved as geoprocessing tool in toolbox

  4. Browse to the location where the model is saved and double-click it, or right-click it and choose Open.

    The model appears in the Geoprocessing pane.

  5. Populate the parameters, if necessary, and click the Run button Run at the lower right to run the analysis.

    A new feature layer showing the calculated optimal route is added to the map view and the Contents pane.

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In this topic
  1. Get the data
  2. Create a map
  3. Add the tutorial data to the project
  4. Create and run a model
  5. Run the model as a geoprocessing tool