ArcGIS for Python and arcpy - drive time areas result and local data

AlessandroValra

Hello,

I am new to the ArcGIS for Python API but I am kind of expert in arcpy.

My aim would be to use the ArcGIS for Python API to perform drive-time-areas analysis (DTA) like explained here and then use the result to perform spatial selections with arcpy on some local data (e.g. ShapeFiles or others).

My doubts:

1. Do I need to upload all the input data or is there a way to avoid this step?
2. If I have to, is it possible via the API?
3. Will I then be able to use the result from DTA to perform spatial selection with arcpy against local data or do I have to upload the local data/download the result locally?

As regards this last point, I guess one thing to handle would be the JSON format of the resulting SHAPE field from DTA.

I know that from ArcGIS Pro one can use Feature Layers from AGOL directly to perform this kind of operations, as opposed to ArcMap where one has to make a copy of it. But, what about via a python script?

Is there any better option? Thanks in advance for any hints or advice.

AlessandroValra

DISCLAIMER : Use the provided code at your own risk or you'll blown your credits away!!! (see my comment below the answer)

Answering myself.

It's been tough but I did it.

First of all, I have to say the ArcGIS for Pytho documentation is not very good, at least for the create_drive_time_areas function.

Anyway, the way I performed DTA analysis with a local FeatureClass was:

1. converting it to a FeatureSet
2. Converting the FeatureSet into a JSON and then into a dict
3. use this dict as input to the create_drive_time_areas function

I am going to convert the result of the analysis (now a hosted feature layer in my organizational AGOL account), which is now in the form of a FeatureSet, back to a (in_memory) FeatureClass and do my stuff with arcpy.

Before posting the code I have to warn you:

• as of now, there's no hint in the docs about what should be the format of the input feature of the create_drive_time_areas. From my trial and errors I saw this message

Exception: Invalid format of input layer. url string, feature service Item, feature service instance or dict supported

• the "estimate=True" which should tell you the credit consumption does not work.

Failed to execute (EstimateCredits).

Below is the code I used (adapted from Drive time analysis for opioid epidemic | ArcGIS for Developers , sorry I don't know how to format the code in this site...).

I only left the part where I use the result to perform spatial query with local data (it's up to you but I should have given you enough information so far).

import arcgis, arcpy
from datetime import datetime
from arcgis.features import FeatureLayer
import json

USERNAME="YOUR_USERNAME"
PASSWORD="YOUR_PASSWORD"
IN_FC = r"example.gdb\test"

# Create a FeatureSet object and load in_memory feature class
feature_set = arcpy.FeatureSet()
feature_set.load(IN_FC)

# Connect to GIS
from arcgis.gis import GIS
gis = GIS("https://www.arcgis.com", USERNAME, PASSWORD)

feature_json = feature_set.JSON
feature_dict = json.loads(feature_json)
print(feature_dict)

from arcgis.features.use_proximity import create_drive_time_areas

# Generate service areas
result = create_drive_time_areas(feature_dict, [5], 
                                 output_name="TEST"+ str(datetime.now().microsecond),
                                 travel_mode="Walking", 
                                 overlap_policy='Dissolve')

# Check type of result
type(result)

# Share results for public consumption
result.share(everyone=True)

# Convert it to a FeatureSet
drive_times_all_layer = result.layers[0]
driveAll_features = drive_times_all_layer.query()
print('Total number of rows in the service area (upto 5 mins) dataset: '+ str(len(driveAll_features.features)))

# Get results as a SpatialDataFrame
driveAll = driveAll_features.sdf
driveAll.head()