Summarize points from several different layers into a single layer?

Question

I'm very new to ArcGIS and am trying to figure out how can I summarize points from several different layers into a single layer?

For example, I have a layer for each of the below…
1. K12 Public Schools
2. Private Schools (PreK - 12)
3. College / Universities
4. Military Bases
5. Sister Stores
6. Competitors
7. National Retailers

Within a single a trade area (buffer) layer "Craig", I want to add a new column for each of the above and then summarize their total counts. Presently, starting with public schools, I summarize it’s points in a new layer “Craig1”. I then use “Craig1” and then summarize private schools (new columns) naming that (new) layer “Craig2”, I repeat this same process 5 more times until layer “Craig7” has the summarized counts for each of the 7 point files in the single buffer layer. This takes a lot of time to do compounded that I also have to rename the attribute table count column names after each summarization as ArcGIS labels the columns “Count of Points” (vs count of public schools, count of private schools, etc…)

If I'm doing this wrong, I'm open to any faster more streamlined suggestion techniques please - thanks!

AndreaB_ · Answer

I also would love if Summarize Within could use more than 1 layer as input. I need to select from 2 polygon layers that are within one other polygon and I would like a summary of both of those polygon layers together. Instead of having to use a workaround/longer process.

Lyle-GIS-Analyst · Answer

5 years later and this exact topic is relevant to my work, I like to summarize points from several different companies into a polygon layer, with each company being in its own named attribute field in the polygon layer. I was hoping to incorporate the Summarize Within tool into my ArcPy code but it A. only does one at a time and B. spits out a new feature class instead of modifying the base polygon, which isn't the end of the world but it is inconvenient.
Spatial joins in ArcPy are very messy, at least as far as I work with them- since they usually change the names of attribute fields if I'm trying to calculate anything from them, they just end up being more of a headache.
I could use the model builder to make the process into a model that I then copy into an ArcPy script but I was hoping there might have been a simpler solution before trying that.

CraigHarris1 · Answer

Thanks - yes, originally I had all the individual point layers in a single layer and did a spatial join, however I then have to do a pivot table in Excel to parse all the data.  Both approaches take a fair amount of time, hence I'm exploring if there are any quicker approaches I could take.

I'm familiar with ModelBuilder -  I'm new to ArcGIS so I have to take a couple classes to understand how to use it.  🙂