topic Re: How to split a (huge) contour lines shapefile into a grid? in Geoprocessing Questions

How to split a (huge) contour lines shapefile into a grid?

AntoineCantin — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 02:48:22 GMT

I've been trying to create a raster layer from a really big topo shapfile using Topo to Raster, but it crashes or takes way too long (more than 24h). I'm looking for a way to split the shapefile into smaller parts to mae it easier to generate a few raster layer then joining them. Any clues about how to achieve this? Can anyone help me?

Thanks!

Re: How to split a (huge) contour lines shapefile into a grid?

DanPatterson_Retired — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 03:58:10 GMT

If you have an advanced license Split—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop

otherwise you are going to have to do it via standard clipping, or one of the overlay tools, but you will have to create your boundary shapes to do the subsetting of the larger. As an alternative, you could subdivide your file by querying contours and exporting those. This is essentially changing the contour interval, but given your area, you may want to investigate the difference in the interpolated surfaces to see if it is worthwhile in the first place having a dense contour network. In many situations, reducing the contour interval has less impact on the resultant dem and its terrain derivatives.

Re: How to split a (huge) contour lines shapefile into a grid?

AntoineCantin — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 13:09:28 GMT

To use the split tool, I would need a split feature (I guess that means a grid). How do I create one? Sorry if this is basic, I'm a bit of a newbie...

Re: How to split a (huge) contour lines shapefile into a grid?

DanPatterson_Retired — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 15:28:22 GMT

Other than providing a basic into to creating a featureclass at some stage this tool might be of use

Create Fishnet—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop

Re: How to split a (huge) contour lines shapefile into a grid?

AntoineCantin — Thu, 17 Mar 2016 15:53:20 GMT

Exactly what I needed. Thanks a lot!