topic Re: Distance Accumulation Vs Cost Distance Tools in ArcGIS Pro Questions

Distance Accumulation Vs Cost Distance Tools

CraigJurkiewicz_TRCA — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 20:41:34 GMT

Hey All,

I am trying to create a tool using least coast path analysis and stumbled across something a bit odd between the old deprecated tool and the new one. The results I get when using the "Cost Distance" tool, vs the "Distance Accumulation" tool are quite different. Even though, theoretically they should be the same right? Both the Cost Distance and Backlink Rasters created are different. But when I look at the values, the deprecated Cost Distance Tool seems to follow the path of least resistance better than the Distance Accumulation tool when following their created polylines.

The inputs and masks are the same, all I am doing is trying to calculate the lowest cost based on elevation between two points on a road. If anyone has had any experience with either of those tools and how to best go about this it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

I am using ArcGIS 3.3.0.

Re: Distance Accumulation Vs Cost Distance Tools

ChristopherCounsell — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 20:58:09 GMT

I don't believe they should produce the same results. The new tool takes a different approach that's meant to bring a few benefits. Read more about it here:

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/tool-reference/spatial-analyst/migrate-from-legacy-distance-tools-to-distortion-free-distance-tools.htm

Re: Distance Accumulation Vs Cost Distance Tools

DanPatterson — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 21:12:09 GMT

for reference too

How distance accumulation works—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation

Re: Distance Accumulation Vs Cost Distance Tools

CraigJurkiewicz_TRCA — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 13:43:37 GMT

Oh this is perfect, thank you for the links! Definitely helped clear things up for me!