Migrating Production Mapping generalization processes from ArcMap to ArcGIS Pro
ArcGIS Production Mapping and ArcGIS Defense Mapping are now fully available in ArcGIS Pro. This blog provides information about migrating generalization models from ArcMap to Pro, focusing on the differences specifically when using Production Mapping or Defense Mapping tools as part of your generalization.
COTS Generalization Models
In ArcMap, Defense Mapping included toolboxes containing generalization models for the TDS schema while Production Mapping provided a set of generalization models on GitHub as part of the CTM sample configurations.
In ArcGIS Pro, both sets of generalization models have been replaced with the new Topographic Mapping Generalization capabilities. A new set of Pro-based generalization models are provided as part of the Production Mapping product file installation. These models do not require a specific schema such as TDS or CTM but can be used with any schema by configuring a generalization rules spreadsheet. Preconfigured spreadsheets for CTM are provided with the Production Mapping product file installation, and spreadsheets for TDS and MGCP are part of the Defense Mapping product file installation.
When you install Production Mapping Product Data, you will find a Generalization folder within the install location. The Generalization Models subfolder contains all provided models in a series of numbered toolboxes. The Generalization Tools.tbx toolbox provides tools used within the models as well as a tool called Run Generalization which executes the generalization models in order and as defined by settings in the rules spreadsheet provided by the user. The Generalization Rules folder contains pre-configured generalization rules spreadsheets.
For more information about generalization models, documentation is provided as part of the product data install. Within the Generalization Models folder, the GeneralizationGettingStarted.pdf describes the concepts and how to use the provided generalization models. The GeneralizationModelDiagrams.pdf provides high-level flow charts that include the tools used in each of the models as well as the tolerances and fields used from the generalization spreadsheet. If you want to modify the existing generalization rules spreadsheets or create one from scratch for your schema, the GeneralizationRulesConfigurationGuide.pdf in the Generalization Rules folder describes in detail the tabs and columns in the spreadsheet and how they are used.
Custom Generalization Models
You can create your own custom models in ArcGIS Pro to supplement those in the numbered toolboxes and modify a rules spreadsheet to manage how and when they are executed by the Run Generalization tool.
If you have built your own custom generalization models in ArcMap, you should be able to use them in Pro. We suggest that you test the models thoroughly to make sure that they run correctly. There are a few differences that need to be considered when using models built in ArcMap within Pro. Please see ModelBuilder: Migration to ArcGIS Pro for more information.
If you have built your own python scripts as part of generalization, these may require some updates as ArcMap supports version 2 of Python and ArcGIS Pro uses version 3. To determine if your python scripts require modifications you can run the Analyze Tools for Pro GP tool to report functionality that is not supported in ArcGIS Pro.
Some tools are not supported in Pro, so if your model uses one of these tools you will need to modify the model or find an alternative in Pro: Tools that are not available in ArcGIS Pro.
If you used geoprocessing tools from ArcMap Defense Mapping or Production Mapping in any of your models or scripts, these will have to be replaced. The toolboxes for Defense Mapping and Production Mapping have been combined into a new Topographic Production toolbox in ArcGIS Pro. Additionally, many of the tool names have changed. In the table below, you will find a mapping of some of the commonly used generalization tools from Production Mapping in ArcMap to the new name in Pro or a similar recommended tool. Some Pro columns are left blank for ArcMap tools that have no equivalent in Pro.
Production Mapping Tools (ArcMap) | Topographic Production Tools (Pro) | Alternative Tool |
Aggregate Polygons | Aggregate by Field – Generalization Tool.tbx in the Production Mapping Product Data install. | |
Convert Polygons | Eliminate Polygon | |
Delete Dangles | Remove Small Lines | |
Delete Polygons And Extend Lines | Polygon To Centerline | |
Extend Polygon Sides | ||
Extract Data | Extract Data By Feature | |
Fill Gaps | Fill Gaps | |
Generalize Shared Features | Simplify Shared Edge and Smooth Shared Edge - Cartography | |
Increase Line Length | ||
Increase Polygon Area | ||
Modify Underlying Polygon | ||
Production Centerline | Polygon To Centerline | |
Production Clip | Extract Data By Feature | |
Production Dissolve | Dissolve – Data Management | |
Prune Hydro | Thin Hydrology Lines |
|
Remove Cutbacks | Remove Cutback Vertices | |
Remove Self Intersections | Repair Self Intersection | |
Repair Bad Geometry | Repair Geometry – Data Management | |
Split Narrow Polygons | Identify Narrow Polygons | |
Thin Hydro Features | Thin Hydrology Lines |
Summary
ArcGIS Production Mapping product file installer includes ready to use geoprocessing models and sample rule file spreadsheets for specific schemas and scales. You can modify a rules spreadsheet to enable these models to generalize any data schema to most scales. You can also create your own custom models in ArcGIS Pro to supplement these COTS models and modify the rules file to manage how and when they are executed by the Run Generalization tool. Keep in mind that if your custom models were created in ArcMap, there may be some tools that need to be replaced and additional testing is required.