Latest Contributions by ChrisDonohue__GISP

Just curious - are there suitable replacements for all AML code/processes?  Looks like ArcInfo Workstation is in its final version and will be retired at the end of this year: http://downloads.esri.com/support/product%20life%20cycle/gis_tools/ArcInfoWorkstation_PLC.pdf Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

IKR - back in the day when GIS was almost an abstract thing in that you usually couldn't see your data and how it was getting modified until the end of a series of processes. Then ArcView came out and suddenly you could easily look at your data and see the effects of processes as you worked on it.  Though then again that ushered in shapefiles, for good and bad.... Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

So to summarize what Darren Wiens is pointing out, Buffer 3D just produces a sphere or cylinder, with no account for the terrain.  It is like a regular 2D Buffer in that regard - it is a straight-line radius from the input.  As a result, it will produce a larger extent than if it followed the terrain (with the exception of if the terrain was smooth).  So it seems like a good idea at first, but unfortunately won't meet the requirements.  Generates spheres for point inputs and cylindrical features for line inputs. ArcGIS Help (10.2, 10.2.1, and 10.2.2) Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

Xander Bakker - So circling back, Cost Distance is out as a potential solution.  However, the code you wrote seems like an effective solution.  So one question in that regard - would it be possible to modify your code to handle inputs like lines or polygons and achieve the same result?  Shannon Shy - are your inputs that you want to buffer points, lines, or polygons (or some combination)?  Also, do you have an elevations surface and access to the Spatial Analyst Extension?  In short, does the code Xander Bakker wrote seem like a potential solution for your issue?  If you don't know Python, no worries, people here on GeoNet can point you in the right direction. Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

Here's the process.  Look at the overview and then the specfic links. A quick tour of creating script tools ArcGIS Desktop Then look at this for the specifics on using AML's ArcGIS Desktop Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

AML Code was designed to work with ArcInfo Workstation.  Note that this is not the same as ArcGIS.  However, there are some options to use it with ArcGIS, but you will need to set it up: This topic applies to ArcInfo only. It's possible to use ARC Macro Language (AML) files in the ArcGIS Desktop environment by creating a new geoprocessing script tool. If you have an ArcInfo license and ArcInfo Workstation installed, you can add a custom script tool that references an AML. There is an initial step that must be completed before an AML file can be set up as a script tool. The system must be able to open ArcInfo Workstation and run the &run command, such as arc: &run MyAml.aml. ESRI provides a tool for updating the system registry. After the system registry has been updated, add a new script tool using the Add Script Tool dialog wizard. The script tool can be used like any other geoprocessing tool. Using AML with Script Tools ArcGIS Desktop Also, here is an older post that provides more info: Run aml script from Toolbox Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

Sorry, we are wandering off topic from what you need, which is a way to do the 3D Buffer in GIS, as that may become a requirement.  The backstory is always good to know. If you haven't already checked, I'd go with Dan Patterson suggestion of checking out the code written by Xander Bakker. Creating a surface buffer? This may accomplish what you need.  The code was written to do a single point and buffer it in 3D.  If the extent you need to buffer is not a single point, you could post the type (line, polygon) here and I suspect the many skilled Python guru's on GeoNet would likely come up with a solution. Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

Ouch.  This sounds like a thorny policy issue.  As Dan Patterson pointed out, the Buffer is an abstraction to begin with, with the general idea being that activities within its extent are a likely risk to a water feature.  But in your case it could be argued in the real-world that a facility upslope of the buffer (even a 3D one) but just outside it would be a risk too, as a steep slope may make it more conducive for a spill to reach the water.  And conversely a facility  inside the buffer but downslope from the water feature may not be a risk to the water feature.  So some potential "exceptions". In the Environmental policy world, using a normal buffer (not 3D) is typically done as pragmatic trade-off in trying to protect a resource in a standardized way.  It is a "one size fits all" approach that tries to achieve protection by balancing the cost of analysis for a multitude of varied sites with the Administrative realities of doing so, realizing that it is not perfect for each site. For example, here in California the State mandates a specific distance buffer (2D) around Vernal Pool features, as they are considered by the State to be Sensitive Habitat and typically contain several endangered species.  It is a set distance for all cases, with no variation for the topography.  However, the State does provide a process where one can file for an exemption by proving that the planned activity that would fall within the buffer is actually downslope from the pool's watershed, and therefore a spill would not affect it. So I guess it will depend on how the policymakers have developed the existing policy and how they will proceed with the new one. Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

It may be possible to just re-run the buffers using this tool.  However, I have not used this tool myself, so am not totally sure. Buffer 3D (3D Analyst) ArcGIS Help (10.2, 10.2.1, and 10.2.2) Someone who probably knows is: Darren Wiens (added in case he has ideas) Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

Update - tried changing the Sticky Tolerance to a high value, but still had the same issue with the gap appearing. Contacted ESRI Customer Support a short while ago and ran through some ideas.  Interestingly, when I tried on-screen to redo the cut, it worked fine and no gap was created (Murphy's Law - when you contact Tech Support, of course the issue doesn't replicate).  Still we ran through some ideas on what else to check. Things checked: XY Tolerance and Resolution seems reasonable. Cut process seems reasonable. All data layers are in same Projection/Coordinate System/Datum. After I got off the phone, retried the cut with the same data and of course it created the gap again....  DOH!    It must be the aura of Customer Support that makes my computer behave when they are present.  Maybe the remedy is to get a Customer Support presence installed as a continuous service... I'll post more if I find a solution. Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

Interesting idea.  The sticky tolerance is currently set to 20 pixels.  I'll play around with that to see it resolves the issue.  Running the sticky tolerance up to 1000 should make it immovable (in theory). Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

Thanks for replicating the process.  I still get the sneaky suspicion that a setting is off on my end, as it worked fine for you.  I'll retry it on my end and see if it still is an issue (probably later today - I have another fire to put out). Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

The Check Geometry came out clean (no issues). Here's the data in a File Geodatabase, in case anyone wants to see if they can replicate the issue (please see attached zip file).  It includes the "before" and "after" feature classes. Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

I'll give that a shot. Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more