Create Contours (Defense Mapping)

Summary

Esri Defense Mapping cartographic production tool that creates and smooths contours from an input raster.

This tool uses the following process to generate contours:

1. Creates contours by executing the Spatial Analyst Contour tool.
2. Smooths contours by applying a Defense Mapping-specific algorithm.
3. Calculates contour fields that pertain to Defense Mapping data models.

Usage

• Set the Map Scale parameter to the scale at which your cartographic products will be printed. The tool uses this parameter to improve contour display in output products.

• This tool requires specific fields within Out Contour Features. Out Contour Features should be a Defense Mapping data model feature class.

Syntax

CreateContours_defense (Input_Raster, Map_Scale, Base_Contour, Contour_Interval, Index_Interval, Include_Zero_Contour, Out_Contour_Features, Contour_Subtype)

Parameter	Explanation	Data Type
Input_Raster [Input_Raster,...]	A list of rasters from which contours will be created.	Raster Layer
Map_Scale	The scale at which the cartographic product is going to be printed. The tool optimizes cartographic display by setting a minimum feature length based on this scale. 1:5000 —Contour printing is optimized for scale 1:5000. 1:7500 —Contour printing is optimized for scale 1:7500. 1:12500 —Contour printing is optimized for scale 1:12500. 1:25000 —Contour printing is optimized for scale 1:25000. 1:50000 —Contour printing is optimized for scale 1:50000. This is the default. 1:100000 —Contour printing is optimized for scale 1:100000. 1:250000 —Contour printing is optimized for scale 1:250000. 1:500000 —Contour printing is optimized for scale 1:500000. 1:1000000 —Contour printing is optimized for scale 1:1000000.	String
Base_Contour	Base contour value. Contours are generated above and below this value to cover the entire value range of the input raster. Setting this value to 5 and the contour interval to 10 will produce contour lines at 5, 15, 25, -5, -15, and so forth. The default is zero.	Double
Contour_Interval	The interval, or distance, between contour lines. This can be any positive number.	Double
Index_Interval	Indicates the index contour interval.	Double
Include_Zero_Contour	Indicates if the tool will create a zero contour. A zero contour represents sea level. Zero contours, when generated along a coastline, may be created inside a water body. Specify ZERO_CONTOUR if you will generate contours on land areas that are at or below sea level. NO_ZERO_CONTOUR —Do not include a zero contour. This is the default. ZERO_CONTOUR —Include a zero contour.	Boolean
Out_Contour_Features	An existing Defense Mapping feature class. The tool appends contours to this feature class.	Feature Class
Contour_Subtype	A subtype in Out_Contour_Features to which contours will be written.	String

Code Sample

CreateContours example (Python window)

The following Python window script demonstrates how to use the CreateContours tool.

# set gp environment
arcpy.env.workspace="C:/data"

# variables for tool
rasters="elevation.tif"
mapScale="1:12500"
baseContour=0
contourInterval=10

# output feature class must exist
outContours="mgcp.gdb/mgcp/contours"
noIdx="NO_INDEX_CONTOURS"
contourSubtype="FCSubtype"

# execute the tool
arcpy.CreateContours_defense(rasters,mapScale,baseContour,contourInterval,outContours,contourSubtype)

Environments

Current Workspace

Licensing Information

ArcGIS for Desktop Basic: No

ArcGIS for Desktop Standard: Requires Defense Mapping

ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced: Requires Defense Mapping