Multiple Ring Buffer - XY Resolution Limit?

RandyMcGregor3

I am using the Multiple Ring Buffer and noticed that my output buffers (in this case, 10 miles) are much more generalized than I would get using the regular buffer tool with defaults for the same distance. I have tried to tweak xy resolution and I cannot get a finer resolution than below (approx 3,500 feet between points).

I get the same thing with geographic coordinates and projected (us_foot) coordinates.

Is this a known issue with the Multiple Ring Buffer?

Thank you,

Randy McGregor

 

 

Robert LeClair

So I tested a few workflows that proved to be interesting.

1. Ran the regular buffer tool around a selected point to create a 50 mile buffer.  Selected the buffer polygon to edit vertices.  The polygon seems to be a true curve as it were - no vertices save for one.  A true curve.
2. Ran the multi-ring buffer tool for 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mile buffers.  The output is like the output for a shapefile.  Shapefiles don't support true curves and adds a vertex every xyz feet (or miles) to simulate a true curve.  This is what you're seeing in your screen grab.
3. Created a new circular polygon from the circle construction tool, did a right-click and created a circle polygon with a 60-mile radius.  Output was a true curve with only one vertex to edit.
4. Ran the Pairwise Buffer tool to create a 50-mile buffer.  Output was a true curve with only one vertex to edit.

So what I'm seeing is all the tools/workflows except the multi-ring buffer tool creates a true curve for output.  Not sure why but that seems to be what's happening.  Depending on how my multi-ring buffers you need to create, you might look at some other GP tools/editing to create the smoother polygons of the true curve variety.  Perhaps Esri Support Services has a good answer why the multi-ring buffer tool does not create true curves?