Cost Path Tool Usage Help

Question

I'm have the following data:* Raster layer, cells have 1 of 2 values that represent either an obstacle or non-obstacle
* Layer with single point feature (source)
* Layer with single point feature (destination)

I'm trying to find the shortest path between the source and destination points while avoiding obstacles.  I tried creating a cost distance and cost backlink using the raster and the source point feature in ArcMap but the rasters I got had cells with 0 values only.

Am I doing something wrong? Should I be using the cost path tool for this?

goodhen · Answer

Thanks very much for this - I was having the exact same problem, then you made me realise I had an impossible path as there were too many areas of NoData in my friction map.

Many thanks!

JohnPorter · Answer

Two items that might cause the problem you encountered. 
1) make sure that even your impassable elements have a valid (but very, very, high) impedance/cost value, not NODATA
2) your cost-raster should be in GRID format. I've had many problems with other raster formats (e.g., TIFF) not working properly in analyses.

Hope that helps!