[GIS] ArcMap Point Distance giving decimal degrees even when in projected coordinate system

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I'm trying to calculate pairwise river distance among 60 XY coordinates in a small region of Mexico with ArcMap 10.2.2. I have defined my projections and projected both my stream network and XY coordinate layers as projected coordinates using the NAD_1983_UTM_Zone_14N since the entire area that I am looking at falls within zone 14 as far as I can tell. I followed all the steps to start a new feature data set, imported my river network and XY layer, built a new network data set, etc. All of that seems to be fine. But when I use the Point Distance tool, specifying my XY layer as the input field and the near objects (since I want the distance between all possible combinations of my points), it always gives me decimal degrees. I also changed the Display setting in the Layer Properties to Kilometers, but that didn't help. I've tried starting from scratch with a blank map, and projecting everything in projected coordinates, but still no luck.

How do I get Point Distance to give KM or miles rather than decimal degrees?

Best Answer

These steps would help to transform shape files from GCS to project coordinate system and ensure the calculation of distance or any other function appear in projected system:

  1. Add the shapefile into frame with projected coordinate in ArcMap.
  2. Make sure the shape file represented in its original coordinate system, for instance, if the file originally with GCS 1984, it should be represented in GCS 1984 so it gets mapped in its real location. This is essential for the next step.
  3. If the feature is a point, use the function "add xy data" to add x and y coordinate and export the table into dbase dbf file. It is important to select the projected coordinate system you want to change to from environment under "output coordinate".
  4. Export the table into dbase dbf file and accept adding it to the frame.
  5. Create new feature based on the dbase dbf file by using the right click command "display xy". Importantly, choose the projected coordinate in accordance with the frame coordinate.
  6. If the feature is line, use the command "Project" from data management tools: projection and transformations. It is important to select the projected coordinate system you want to change to from environment under "output coordinate". Then export the shape file and accept adding it.
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