Network Analyst and Polygon data?

Discussion created by DHJenkins on Feb 13, 2012
Latest reply on Feb 24, 2012 by DHJenkins

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Hi Guys,

I just received a demo of the network analyst in hopes to do some routing with some Disposition data. The first major problem that I have is the LOC's or in other words road data are polygons. This data is government data and I cant get this as line features. Is there anything I can do to work around this? I unfortunately don't have the license for the "polygon to line" tool.

Thanks in Advance.
~Devon

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tereshenkov Feb 14, 2012 7:30 AM
Hi Devon,

Could you please elaborate a bit on what is "LOC" and what polygons you got? Are you going to test a specific functionality of the Network Analyst extension (this will define what input data you'd need)?
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DHJenkins Feb 16, 2012 11:03 AM
Hi Devon,

Could you please elaborate a bit on what is "LOC" and what polygons you got? Are you going to test a specific functionality of the Network Analyst extension (this will define what input data you'd need)?

Hey thanks for your response,

Basically LOC's are roads....instead of having a network of single lines I have networks of polygons.... essentially if you used the buffer tool and buffered a line by 10 meters that's what these polygons would look like. I want to use the basic functionality of network analyst by finding the shortest route from one point to another. It looks as if it is a necessity to have line networks for this extension.

thanks again,
Devon
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tereshenkov Feb 16, 2012 11:53 PM
All right. What you have to do now though is to convert your polygons into centerlines (polylines) which can be used in Network Analyst. Some alternatives you have are as below:

1) Manually digitize the lines from the polygons.
2) Run the Feature Class to Coverage tool (Conversion toolbox > To Coverage) and then run the Collapse Dual Lines to Centerline tool (Coverage toolbox > Data Management > Generalization). Experiment with max and min width of the features here.
3) Convert your polygons to raster (Conversion toolbox > To Raster > Feature to raster) and then run Shrink tool (Spatial Analyst toolbox > Generalization) to obtain a "single-line" raster. Then you can convert the raster back to vector line with the Raster to Polyline (Conversion toolbox > From Raster).
4) Use ET Geowizards from http://www.ian-ko.com/ (tool is called Create Centerlines from Polygons).
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DHJenkins Feb 22, 2012 12:03 PM
All right. What you have to do now though is to convert your polygons into centerlines (polylines) which can be used in Network Analyst. Some alternatives you have are as below:

1) Manually digitize the lines from the polygons.
2) Run the Feature Class to Coverage tool (Conversion toolbox > To Coverage) and then run the Collapse Dual Lines to Centerline tool (Coverage toolbox > Data Management > Generalization). Experiment with max and min width of the features here.
3) Convert your polygons to raster (Conversion toolbox > To Raster > Feature to raster) and then run Shrink tool (Spatial Analyst toolbox > Generalization) to obtain a "single-line" raster. Then you can convert the raster back to vector line with the Raster to Polyline (Conversion toolbox > From Raster).
4) Use ET Geowizards from http://www.ian-ko.com/ (tool is called Create Centerlines from Polygons).

Hi Alex,

Could you go into more detail about how to convert the polygons into centre lines within Network Analyst. I dont have the tool licensing for the alternatives you listed so I need to rely on the capability of the network extension.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]12141[/ATTACH] Here is an attached photo to reiterate what I'm trying to do. The screen shot contains roads and well site pads; I'm trying to use Network Analyst to find shortest distances along the roads AND the pads. But I need to convert these polygons into lines.

Thanks in advance
~Devon
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- Polygons.jpg160.2 KB
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tereshenkov Feb 22, 2012 10:34 PM
Hi Devon,

Network Analyst extension does not provide the functionality you are looking for. This shall be done by ArcGIS geoprocessing tools or by manual editing of your data by using, for instance, the Editor toolbar.

As a really quick solution, you can use the trace tool for a new polyline feature class from the Editor toolbar with a small offset and digitize your lines quickly yet manually (the offset would be required so you will draw a line not on the polygon border itselft but rather somewhere close to the centerline).

You can also try to search on http://arcscripts.esri.com for any script that would be useful. Personally, I do not know any script there that would run on ArcView license you have. Some other scripts are for using with ArcINFO Workstation (coverages), which you've said you do not have a license either.

Consider running the ET Geowizards or upgrade to ArcInfo :)
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DHJenkins Feb 24, 2012 6:19 AM
Hi Alex,

Thanks for all your advice. I do have ArcEditor aswell but still not licensed for some geoproccessing tools. It looks as if for now network analyst doesn't suite my needs. Was trying to find new ways to speed up the process of making access maps; however, with the manuel geoprocessing required it doesn't make sense to do all that work since we have such large data sets. Anyways great help, take care.

~Devon
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