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Identify Contours (Topographic Production)

In this topic

  1. Summary
  2. Usage
  3. Parameters
  4. Environments
  5. Licensing information

Summary

Identifies types of contours and applies hypsographic codes to input features.

Usage

  • This tool processes each input contour and identifies the contour type. It uses the underlying raster and contour features to identify the type of contour. It then updates the contour code field with the appropriate domain code.

  • This tool identifies the following types of contours:

    • Index
    • Intermediate
    • Depression index
    • Depression intermediate

    • Caution:

    This tool modifies the input data. See Tools that modify or update the input data for more information and strategies to avoid undesired data changes.

  • If more than one input raster is used, all input rasters must have the same cell size, band count, and pixel type. All input rasters should also use the same elevation units (meters or feet).

  • If the Number of Depression Contours to Identify parameter value is negative or zero, the tool will not run.

Parameters

DialogPython

LabelExplanationData Type
Input Contours

The input contours that will be updated with the specified contour codes.

Feature Layer
Input Rasters

The rasters that will be used to derive elevations of points inside contours to correctly identify the types of contours.

Raster Layer; Mosaic Layer
Contour Height field

The field in the input contour feature class that contains elevation values. This field type must be numeric.

Field
Contour Code field

The field in the input contour feature class that will be updated with the appropriate domain code.

Field
Contour Index Interval
(Optional)

The interval or distance between index contour lines. The default is 100.

Long
Index Code
(Optional)

The value that will be used to populate the Contour Code field parameter value when index contours are identified. The default is 1.

String
Intermediate Code
(Optional)

The value that will be used to populate the Contour Code field parameter value when intermediate contours are identified. The default is 2.

String
Depression Code
(Optional)

The value that will be used to populate the Contour Code field parameter value when depression contours are identified. The default is 5.

String
Depression Intermediate Code
(Optional)

The value that will be used to populate the Contour Code field parameter value when depression intermediate contours are identified. The default is 6.

String
Number of Depression Contours to Identify
(Optional)

The number of contours in a depression that will be coded as depressions. The value provided must be greater than zero. If no value is provided, all of the contours in the depression will be coded as depressions.

Long
Area of Interest
(Optional)

The layer that defines the processing extent. The layer must have only one selected feature.

Layer
Z Factor
(Optional)

The conversion factor that will be used to convert the contour elevation value unit of measurement to match the raster's unit of measurement. The default is 1.

For example, if the elevation values in the input raster are in meters but the contours are in feet, set the z-factor to 3.28084 (1 meter = 3.28084 feet).

Double

Derived Output

LabelExplanationData Type
Updated Contours

The contour feature class where contour codes were updated.

Feature Layer

arcpy.topographic.IdentifyContours(in_contour_features, in_rasters, contour_height_field, contour_code_field, {contour_index_interval}, {index_code}, {intermediate_code}, {depression_code}, {depression_intermediate_code}, {depression_contours_count}, {area_of_interest}, {z_factor})
NameExplanationData Type
in_contour_features

The input contours that will be updated with the specified contour codes.

Feature Layer
in_rasters
[in_rasters,...]

The rasters that will be used to derive elevations of points inside contours to correctly identify the types of contours.

Raster Layer; Mosaic Layer
contour_height_field

The field in the input contour feature class that contains elevation values. This field type must be numeric.

Field
contour_code_field

The field in the input contour feature class that will be updated with the appropriate domain code.

Field
contour_index_interval
(Optional)

The interval or distance between index contour lines. The default is 100.

Long
index_code
(Optional)

The value that will be used to populate the contour_code_field parameter value when index contours are identified. The default is 1.

String
intermediate_code
(Optional)

The value that will be used to populate the contour_code_field parameter value when intermediate contours are identified. The default is 2.

String
depression_code
(Optional)

The value that will be used to populate the contour_code_field parameter value when depression contours are identified. The default is 5.

String
depression_intermediate_code
(Optional)

The value that will be used to populate the contour_code_field parameter value when depression intermediate contours are identified. The default is 6.

String
depression_contours_count
(Optional)

The number of contours in a depression that will be coded as depressions. The value provided must be greater than zero. If no value is provided, all of the contours in the depression will be coded as depressions.

Long
area_of_interest
(Optional)

The layer that defines the processing extent. The layer must have only one selected feature.

Layer
z_factor
(Optional)

The conversion factor that will be used to convert the contour elevation value unit of measurement to match the raster's unit of measurement. The default is 1.

For example, if the elevation values in the input raster are in meters but the contours are in feet, set the z-factor to 3.28084 (1 meter = 3.28084 feet).

Double

Derived Output

NameExplanationData Type
updated_contour_features

The contour feature class where contour codes were updated.

Feature Layer

Code sample

IdentifyContours example (stand-alone script)

This Python stand-alone sample codes contours with proper attribution for Index, Intermediate, and Depression contours.

# Name: IdentifyContours_sample.py
# Description: Coding contours with proper attribution for Index, Intermediate, and Depression contours

# Import System Modules
import arcpy

# Check Out Extensions
arcpy.CheckOutExtension('Foundation')

# Setting the environment
arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True

# Create feature layer for area of interest and select a single feature based on the NRN field
arcpy.management.MakeFeatureLayer(r'C:\Data\MapIndex.gdb\MapIndex\TM50_Index','TM50')
arcpy.management.SelectLayerByAttribute('TM50', "NEW_SELECTION", "NRN = 'V7914X17562'", None)

# Setting Local Variables
in_contour_features = r'C:\Data\TDS_7_1.gdb\TDS_CARTO\HypsographyCrv'
in_rasters = r'C:\Data\Monterey.dt2'
contour_height_field = 'ZVH'
contour_code_field = 'HQC'
contour_index_interval = 100
index_code = 1
intermediate_code = 2
depression_code = 5
depression_intermediate_code = 6
depression_contours_count = None
area_of_interest = 'TM50'
z_factor = 1

# Calling the Identify Contours to properly attribute contours in HypsographyCrv feature class
arcpy.topographic.IdentifyContours(in_contour_features, in_rasters, contour_height_field, contour_code_field, contour_index_interval, index_code, intermediate_code, depression_code, depression_intermediate_code, depression_contours_count, area_of_interest, z_factor)

# Check In Extensions
arcpy.CheckInExtension('Foundation')

Environments

Extent

Licensing information

  • Basic: No
  • Standard: Requires Production Mapping
  • Advanced: Requires Production Mapping

Related topics

  • An overview of the Features toolset
  • Find a geoprocessing tool

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In this topic
  1. Summary
  2. Usage
  3. Parameters
  4. Environments
  5. Licensing information