how to split a polyline into equal segments with python

ruiyang

I am trying to split a road (a line feature) into equal size segment. I know there is a way to do it in ArcGIS (editor-split), but this can not be coded with python script. Is there anyone can help me to code this? Or Any hint could be very helpful.

MathewCoyle

Here is something I wrote that will build points along the line that you can then feed to the split by point tool.

def points_along_line(line_lyr, pnt_layer, pnt_dist):
    """
    line_lyr (feature layer) - Single part line
    pnt_layer (feature layer) - Path to point feature class
    pnt_dist (integer) - Interval distance in map units to add points
    """

    search_cursor = arcpy.da.SearchCursor(line_lyr, 'SHAPE@')
    insert_cursor = arcpy.da.InsertCursor(pnt_layer, 'SHAPE@')

    for row in search_cursor:
        for dist in range(0, int(row[0].length), pnt_dist):
            point = row[0].positionAlongLine(dist).firstPoint
            insert_cursor.insertRow([point])

It was setup to work on an existing point feature class. You could just as easily add a few lines to create it on the fly.

    if not arcpy.Exists(pnt_layer):
        arcpy.CreateFeatureclass_management(
            os.path.dirname(pnt_layer), os.path.basename(pnt_layer), 'POINT')
...
    return pnt_layer

Then add the split line at point tool where you call the function.

points_along_line(line_features, point_features, pnt_dist)
arcpy.SplitLineAtPoint_management(line_features, point_features, out_feature_class)