Adding connection lines to improve connectivity in the parcel fabric

This topic applies to ArcGIS for Desktop Standard and ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced only.

The parcel fabric needs to be well connected for a fabric least-squares adjustment to run successfully. A well-connected fabric improves network redundancy, which leads to more reliable results from the fabric least-squares adjustment.

You can use the Create Connection tool on the Parcel Editor toolbar to add connection lines in the parcel fabric.

The Create Connection tool can be used to quickly add connection lines between blocks of parcels without having to open and edit the parcels themselves. A fabric least-squares adjustment does not run if an island of parcels is not well connected to the surrounding parcel fabric.

Connection lines connecting parcel blocks

Tip:

Connectivity is also established from common center points of curves.

Connectivity from radial lines

If a parcel has a connection line connecting one of its points to another parcel point, the connection line is added to the traverse of the parcel. You can also manually add a connection line to a parcel traverse by traversing in the connection line dimension and setting the template or line category to Connection.

Connection line in the parcel traverse

In some cases, parcel blocks are connected through line points. Since line points sit or float on top of adjacent parcel lines, connectivity is insufficient, and the fabric least-squares adjustment will fail.

In the graphic below, adjacent parcels share no common points. Parcel points are line points that sit on the adjacent parcel boundaries and do not split the boundaries. Because no common points are being shared, these parcels are effectively floating next to each other and are not connected. For a fabric least-squares adjustment to run on these parcels, connection lines may need to be added between parcel corners. Connection lines can sit on top of parcel boundary lines.

Adjacent parcels are only connected through line points.

Steps:

To add connection lines to parcels in the fabric, follow these steps:
1. In an edit session in ArcMap, click the Create Connection tool on the Parcel Editor toolbar.
2. Click to snap on the two points between which you want to add a connection line.
The Point 1 and Point 2 text boxes on the Create Connection Line dialog box are populated with the point IDs of the points you clicked.



3. Check the check boxes of the parcels listed under Parcels to Connect for which you want to create connection lines.
Any parcels that share the points you clicked are displayed under Parcels to Connect. For example, you may want to add a connection line to only one of the adjacent parcels that shares the point you clicked.
The rotation of the parcels is displayed under Rotation on the Create Connection Line dialog box.
4. If necessary, type the correct bearing and distance of the connection line in the Bearing and Distance text boxes.
The bearing and distance of the connection line are initially generated from the connection line geometry. Connection line dimensions should be obtained from the plan or record of survey. If the parcel fabric contains accurate data, the differences between the generated and typed values should not be significant.
5. Click Apply to create the connection line.

Note:

A parcel has a rotation if it needs to be rotated to fit into the surrounding parcel fabric. Large rotations might indicate data inaccuracies that could cause a fabric least-squares adjustment to fail. When adding a connection line to a parcel that has a rotation, be aware that the difference between the specified dimensions of the connection line and the rotated dimensions could cause a fabric least-squares adjustment to fail.

Tip:

To view the rotated parcel, double-click the parcel to open it. Click Parcel Measurement View on the Parcel Details dialog box (toggle it on) to display the parcel using its rotation. The parcel rotation value is stored in the parcel's Rotation attribute, which is displayed in the Properties tab of the Parcel Details dialog box.

Tip:

If you have typed bearing and distance values for the connection line, you can click the Recalculate button on the Create Connection Line dialog box to regenerate the bearing and distance dimensions that are computed from the connection line geometry.