Depths To ASCII (Bathymetry)
Summary
Exports a depths point feature class to an ASCII text file. You can use the ASCII text file for working with depths information in non-GIS systems. Depths in the ArcGIS for Maritime: Bathymetry are z-enabled point features interpolated from a Bathymetric Attributed Grid (BAG). Depth values also contain a vertical uncertainty value. Elevation and uncertainty values are sampled from bands in the BAG.
Depths represent a measurement of the vertical distance from a given water level to the seafloor.
A BAG is a multidimensional hydrographic data file that models elevation and Total Propagated Uncertainty (TPU) values in a gridded format. It conforms to standards created by the Open Navigation Surface Working Group.
Usage
Use the Extract Depths tool to create the depth features that are going to be exported to ASCII.
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The Input Feature parameter is a feature layer that references the depth features that will be converted to a text file.
The Input Feature parameter requires all of the following attributes: Uncertainty, PrimitiveId, ModelId, BisWorkspacePath, and BisId. These fields will be present if the depths features were created with the Extract Depths tool.
The ASCII File parameter references a text file that contains X, Y, Z and uncertainty attributes from a BIS points feature class. Uncertainty can vary depending upon the type of BAG. Depths derived from a BAG created for navigation would specify elevation uncertainty.
Syntax
| Parameter | Explanation | Data Type |
in_layer |
Input points to export to ASCII. | Feature Layer |
ascii_file |
The text file to which features will be written. | File |
Code Sample
The following stand-alone script demonstrates how to use the DepthsToASCII tool.
# Name: DepthsToASCII_Example.py
# Description: Exports a Bathymetry points feature class to an ascii file
# Requirements: ArcGIS for Maritime Bathymetry
import arcpy
# setup parameters
inLayer = "C:/data/MyData.gdb/PointFC"
asciiFile = "C:/output/MyOutput.txt"
# execute the tool. For a stand-alone scripts, checkout the extension first - arcpy.CheckOutExtension("nauticalb")
arcpy.DepthsToASCII_bathymetry(inLayer, asciiFile)