topic Re: Is there a possibility in ArcMap to automatically fill a given shape with smaller polygons of a given shape? in Geoprocessing Questions

Is there a possibility in ArcMap to automatically fill a given shape with smaller polygons of a given shape?

AndreasEugster2 — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 13:58:27 GMT

Like I have a rectangle (3x5m) as a vector layer... now I would like to fill this 3x5m rectangle optimal with smaller polygons in a given shape (1x2m rectangles).
I didn't find anything helpful yet....

Re: Is there a possibility in ArcMap to automatically fill a given shape with smaller polygons of a given shape?

AdrianWelsh — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 14:20:27 GMT

Andreas,

Try the Minimum Bounding Polygon tool:

Creating a minimum bounding rectangle—Help | ArcGIS for Desktop

Re: Is there a possibility in ArcMap to automatically fill a given shape with smaller polygons of a given shape?

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 14:22:26 GMT

Andreas,

There is a tool called "create fishnet" in the Data Mangement Tools > Feature Class > Create Fishnet

You can specify the Template Extent as your 3m x 5m rectangle and then set the Cell Size Widget to 1m and Cell Size height to 2m and leave Number or Rows and Columns black. This will create a new FC with cells that are 1m by 2m.

Re: Is there a possibility in ArcMap to automatically fill a given shape with smaller polygons of a given shape?

AndreasEugster2 — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 14:43:51 GMT

Thank you Robert for the quick answer

interesting approach, I already tried it out but the problem is, I have more than one Polygon to fill, and they are not lined up straight...

Re: Is there a possibility in ArcMap to automatically fill a given shape with smaller polygons of a given shape?

AndreasEugster2 — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 14:45:36 GMT

Dear Adrian

Thanks too for the answer, as you can see down below, the "minimum bounding rectangle" does not what I'm looking for.. (or am I wrong ? )

Re: Is there a possibility in ArcMap to automatically fill a given shape with smaller polygons of a given shape?

DanPatterson_Retired — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 14:48:55 GMT

Create your own.... I have blogged some ideas and code several times...

here is one link

Re: Is there a possibility in ArcMap to automatically fill a given shape with smaller polygons of a given shape?

RobertScheitlin__GISP — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 14:57:20 GMT

Andreas,

I am unaware of any tool that will meet your needs then.

Re: Is there a possibility in ArcMap to automatically fill a given shape with smaller polygons of a given shape?

RobertBorchert — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 15:02:49 GMT

Do you only want one 1 x 2 polygon in the 3 x 5?

If you want to completely fill the polygon you would need to change the size of your 1 x 2's as the result would not be the same area, either a 1 x 2 would be cut down or exceed the boundary. You could stack 1 x 2's 3 high but would either need to go 4 or 6 wide

If you only want to create a single 1 x 2 in the middle of the 3 x 5 that's an easy fix.

Re: Is there a possibility in ArcMap to automatically fill a given shape with smaller polygons of a given shape?

DanPatterson_Retired — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 15:09:56 GMT

It is far easier to create the bounds and orientation at the smaller scale, then aggregate them to the larger unit, than to ensure that everything fits within those bounds. Sort of like squeezing stuff into a package... it is easier to wrap what exists than to put something into a pre-existing container.

Re: Is there a possibility in ArcMap to automatically fill a given shape with smaller polygons of a given shape?

AndreasEugster2 — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 15:25:14 GMT

I would like to place "the maximum nr" of 1x2 polygon in this space, not completely fill the polygon... means, in this example it should not place more polygons cause as you said, this would be an exceed of the boundary..

Re: Is there a possibility in ArcMap to automatically fill a given shape with smaller polygons of a given shape?

AndreasEugster2 — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 15:28:02 GMT

@ Dan

the problem is, the "package" is given and fix There will be a given vector layer with the "lager polygons" needed to be filled....

Re: Is there a possibility in ArcMap to automatically fill a given shape with smaller polygons of a given shape?

RobertBorchert — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 15:29:40 GMT

How many polygons are you talking about? and are they all 3 x 5?

Re: Is there a possibility in ArcMap to automatically fill a given shape with smaller polygons of a given shape?

AndreasEugster2 — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 15:33:14 GMT

about hundreds and they are in every kind of shape

Re: Is there a possibility in ArcMap to automatically fill a given shape with smaller polygons of a given shape?

AndreasEugster2 — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 15:37:18 GMT

The nr. of the given polygons should not matter, nor the size/shape...
I'm looking for an solution / feature like:
-check all polygons of layer A
-Fill each polygon of layer A with the max. possible nr of polygons 1x2m

Re: Is there a possibility in ArcMap to automatically fill a given shape with smaller polygons of a given shape?

RobertBorchert — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 15:50:44 GMT

I was going to say if it was only a couple dozen to just to it manually. Final question before I get mathematical. Are they all 4 corner rectangles

Re: Is there a possibility in ArcMap to automatically fill a given shape with smaller polygons of a given shape?

DanPatterson_Retired — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 16:01:22 GMT

good luck... their is a body of literature out their which goes by several names... polygon packing .... is one. The problem isn't simple, particular since their size and shape is not fixed. For rectangular bodies, you can translate and orient the rectangle to the XY plane centered about the origin, then use X, Y subdivision to produce you packing.

For example, consider a polygon translated and oriented to the 0,0 origin ( a rigid affine transformation, just translation and rotation). A rectangle with a width of 10 and a height of 6 will have its center at 0,0 and the left and right edges at -5 and +5, and top and bottom at 3 and -3. It is simple math to figure out how to slice the polygon into chunks or rectangles in the X and or Y plane. Other shapes will be more complicated, but the affine transformation will put it into the best position to be subdivided.

I will be interesting to see what you come up with

Re: Is there a possibility in ArcMap to automatically fill a given shape with smaller polygons of a given shape?

RobertBorchert — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 16:30:36 GMT

The best I can think is to run Grid Index Feature tool. On your polygons. You can specify exactly a 1 x 2 meter polygon. However they will be aligned north south etc.

Then use the Select by location tool to select all grids that intersect the boundary and delete them.

Re: Is there a possibility in ArcMap to automatically fill a given shape with smaller polygons of a given shape?

AndreasEugster2 — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 18:44:32 GMT

Thank you Robert, I tryed to do it with the gridindexfeature. Works kind of, except (as you said) for the North-South arrangement...and the arrangement is very important
So far it is the best solution but I still not what I try to find...
I'll try to find out how to get the generated gridindex into the right arrangement.... What i further have is the aspect of the "to be filled polygons"..
so maybe I can integrate this aspect into the gridindex ?!...

Still thankful for your help
And if I find out something I'll let you know here

Re: Is there a possibility in ArcMap to automatically fill a given shape with smaller polygons of a given shape?

DanPatterson_Retired — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 18:46:49 GMT

you still should be able to use rotation...

Re: Is there a possibility in ArcMap to automatically fill a given shape with smaller polygons of a given shape?

BruceHarold — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 19:24:17 GMT

Hi, see if this gets you close:

http://arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=9398bd2232cb4c8490b0b05015364d28