Latest Contributions by ChrisDonohue__GISP

Some more detail: AddLayer (arcpy.mapping) ArcGIS Help (10.2, 10.2.1, and 10.2.2) Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

Here's an older thread that offers some explanations that may be of help.  I'm not sure, but there may be a way to adapt their Python solution as workaround to resolve the issue. Seth Sobel posted: You may be able to get around this in 10.0 by using arcpy.mapping in a Calculate Value tool code block to add the layer to the current data frame. Also, there is a toolbox posted by Feature Class Not Added to Display / Table of Contents When a Variable Name is Used Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

Hmmm, not sure why this is happening.  I made a simple model (ArcGIS 10.2.1) with just Merge (Data Management) and am not encountering the issue with the Parameter when run as a tool (see images below).  It did not result in a required parameter for the output.  I set parameters for the inputs to see if that would trigger it, but still no required output parameter. So, my guess would be there either is a bug or I missed something important in your process. One way I would suggest moving forward is to try to make just a Merge tool like I did as a test to see if that is the culprit.  If it is not, then start adding some of the other processes you have to it until the issue crops up again. Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

This seems odd.  Can you post an image of the model so we can see what processes are going on that may be causing this? Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

There's probably also a straight-forward way to do this purely in raster, though I'm not coming up with it at the moment. I bet Darren Wiens or Dan Patterson would know. Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

If you have access to the Spatial Analyst Extension, the easiest method that comes to mind is this: 1.  Select just the Corn and Soybean crops in your raster by using "Extract by Attributes (Spatial Analyst)" tool ArcGIS Help (10.2, 10.2.1, and 10.2.2) 2.  Convert the selected Corn and Soybean raster to vector using "Raster to Polygon (Conversion)" tool: ArcGIS Help (10.2, 10.2.1, and 10.2.2) 3.  Use "Intersect (Analysis)" on the Converted Corn and Soybean vector result using your 1000 foot School buffer.  This will find the areas where both overlap. ArcGIS Help (10.2, 10.2.1, and 10.2.2) 4.  Check the attribute table of the resulting file.  The schools listed will be those that are within 1000 feet of Corn and Soybean crops. Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

Thanks Samuel.  The link didn't go all the way to the specific class, but got me to the Training Catalog.  I assume you mean the Instructor-led one (first in the list)? Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

This can be done with GIS.  A couple of workflows come to mind, but first a question to clarify what you want: - Is the desired answer that of "which buffers overlap", or instead "how much of each buffer that overlaps"?  For example, are you ultimately trying to find how much corn or soybean acres are within 1000 feet of each school, or instead just that Corn and/or Soybeans exist within 1000 ft of a school? Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

Not sure if this will work with your particular dataset, but I'll throw it out there.  In terms of the merge to largest feature, one process workflow that may work is to do this: 1. Select the largest line feature of each.  Save this result. 2.  Dissolve ArcGIS Help 10.1 3.  Join the table from Step 1 to the Dissolved feature class. Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

One way to address this is to create Station Points.  ET Geowizards, a third-party software, can do this.  The Station Points function is a free one. ET GeoWizards for ArcGIS - Free functions Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

Another good site to check is the GIS Jobs Clearninghouse. www.gjc.org Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

Based on what you posted, I think Joe has the answer - for "Location Position" select the "Use Geometry" radio button instead of the "Use Network Location Fields" button.  Then plug in a search tolerance value so it can associate your features with the network. However, if you need to go with "Use Network Location Fields" method, if I remember correctly you will need to fill in a field for each of the listed Properties in the grid.  This will depend up on how your network data was set up. Of the two choices, "Use Geometry" is much easier to run with (though potentially less accurate). Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

Some broad tidbits to pass on that may be of help based on my experience in Environmental Consulting for 20+ years: 1.  When doing environmental constraints for development in the United States, there may be a regulatory requirement with defined criteria that must be met, including GIS specifics.  If you are doing this evaluation to meet a requirement, be it local, State, or Federal, it will be incumbent to look up the expectations.  For example, if you are doing a Wetland Delineation to meet U.S. Corps of Engineers requirements for a permit (Section 404 of the Clean Water Act), the Corps defines how one goes about doing that analysis and how the GIS result needs to be arranged. Even if your analysis is not for the purpose of meeting a regulatory requirement, it can be helpful to see how others are addressing it.  That's not to say the requirements will necessarily be the best or most refined way to do the analysis, but it will provide an idea of the standard way it is being tackled. 2.  In terms of data, even if there is not a specific requirement, save copies of your intermediate layers so you can produce figures showing each stages' result besides the final result.  I've done several projects where the client and/or regulators wanted to see the intermediate results after seeing the final results.  They usually want paper maps, so even though you have a Model that you can give them besides the starting data, they usually aren't interested in using GIS to check the results. This is particularly important if you are trying to negotiate with Regulators over a non-typical situation.  For example, we worked out an Exemption from the Fish and Wildlife Service for a large residential development project after we conclusively showed that the development would be downhill of a collection of Vernal Pools, which are sensitive ecological areas.  Normally, there is a substantial non-development buffer around Vernal Pools to protect them from potential pollution flowing into them, but in this case they were all well upslope from the development.  However, this was not obvious from a quick viewing of a map. Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more

I think Richard is recommending the Right method as the information you want to retain is all on the right and the excess to be removed is on the left.  Therefore you can use Right, specifying 10 characters, and everything more than 10 characters to left will be removed. Chris Donohue, GISP ... View more