Is it possible to create canopy spreads using precise distances and directions from the stem?

2288
14
01-26-2018 03:53 AM
by Anonymous User
Not applicable

Hi 

Im currently creating Tree Constraints Plans in Arc but having trouble creating "representative canopy spreads". Our surveyors collect a North/South/East/West distance from a central point  and these distances are then used to depict the canopy spread.

We've been creating the canopies by calculating the average size using the measurements above then using this calculation to create a buffer - a nice circle and works very well. However we'd like to get a more representative shape as i'm sure you're aware tree canopies are rarely circular.

My initial thoughts were to place 4 points around the a center point at the distances and directions provided, then create a polygon using these points and finally smooth  the polygon to get an elliptical shape. However this is a long process, especially if we have over 200 trees to work with. That would mean plotting an additional 800 points at specific distances, then digitizing each individual canopy.....there must be a tool or a way of automating the process. 

I've attached a couple of examples of the canopies. Example 1 is what we are aiming for example 2 is our current output. 

Any ideas or suggestions would be hugely appreciated!

0 Kudos
14 Replies
XanderBakker
Esri Esteemed Contributor

have a look at this code:

def main():
    import arcpy
    import os

    # output and intermediate fcs
    fc_pnt  = r'C:\GeoNet\TreeElipse\tree_data_sample.gdb\tree_data'
    fc_pol1 = r'C:\GeoNet\TreeElipse\tree_data_sample.gdb\canopy_squares_v03'
    # fc_pol2 = r'C:\GeoNet\TreeElipse\tree_data_sample.gdb\canopy_squares_diss_v03'
    fc_pol3 = r'C:\GeoNet\TreeElipse\tree_data_sample.gdb\canopy_squares_diss_smooth_v03'

    # flds
    fld_n = 'Spread___N'
    fld_e = 'Spread___E'
    fld_s = 'Spread___S'
    fld_w = 'Spread___W'
    fld_id = 'Tree_ID'

    # some settings
    sr = arcpy.Describe(fc_pnt).spatialReference
    arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True

    # generate the points and the NESW values into a list
    flds = ('SHAPE@', fld_n, fld_e, fld_s, fld_w, fld_id)
    feats = [[r[0].firstPoint, r[1], r[2], r[3], r[4], r[5]] for r in arcpy.da.SearchCursor(fc_pnt, flds)]

    # step 1: create polygons using straight lines
    polygons = {}
    for feat in feats:
        pnts = []
        tree_id = feat[5]
        lst_apply = [(0, 1), (1, 0), (0, -1), (-1, 0)]
        for i in range(1, len(feat)-1):
            tpl = lst_apply[i-1]
            pnt = arcpy.Point(feat[0].X+tpl[0]*feat[i], feat[0].Y+tpl[1]*feat[i])
            pnts.append(pnt)
        pnts.append(pnts[0])
        polygon = arcpy.Polygon(arcpy.Array(pnts), sr)
        polygons[tree_id] = polygon

    # create the featureclass
    ws, fc_pol1_name = os.path.split(fc_pol1)
    arcpy.CreateFeatureclass_management(ws, fc_pol1_name, "POLYGON", None, None, None, sr)

    # add the ID field
    arcpy.AddField_management(fc_pol1, fld_id, "TEXT", None, None, 10)

    # store the polygons from step 1
    flds1 = (fld_id, 'SHAPE@')
    with arcpy.da.InsertCursor(fc_pol1, flds1) as curs:
        for tree_id, polygon in polygons.items():
            curs.insertRow((tree_id, polygon, ))

    # step 2: Use dissolve to union polygons with overlap
##    arcpy.Dissolve_management(in_features=fc_pol1, out_feature_class=fc_pol2,
##                              dissolve_field="", statistics_fields="",
##                              multi_part="SINGLE_PART", unsplit_lines="DISSOLVE_LINES")

    # step3: use the smooth tool (Advanced license required) to smooth the polygons
    # use BEZIER_INTERPOLATION to force the output line to go through the input vertices
    arcpy.SmoothPolygon_cartography(in_features=fc_pol1, out_feature_class=fc_pol3,
                                    algorithm="BEZIER_INTERPOLATION", tolerance="0 Meters",
                                    endpoint_option="FIXED_ENDPOINT", error_option="NO_CHECK")


if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

In this case no dissolving is applied and for each tree the Tree_ID is preserved:

BTW you tree with ID "1694" has 0 values for all four directions.

I have attached the FGDB with the newly created featureclasses.

AshRymer1
New Contributor II

xander_bakker‌ Thanks for that. It works perfect. Exactly what i was after.

AshRymer1
New Contributor II

Dan_Patterson‌ I did try and spatial join the point data onto the single polygons. However there seems to be alot of overlap, therefore the data wasn't joining accurately.

0 Kudos
R_Millman
New Contributor II

To ask an incredibly basic question - where are you running that code?  As a script within a new tool in the user toolbox?

0 Kudos
DanPatterson_Retired
MVP Emeritus

a couple of your desired shapes are 'super-ellipses' (b-axis not centered on a-axis).

how strict is the requirement for the shape?

0 Kudos