[GIS] Finding average elevations from a Raster DEM, applying those to Vector Grid created with GME

3d-analystarcgis-10.3arcgis-desktopdemgme

I'm using ArcMap 10.3, and here's what I have:
I have an angled vector grid created through GME's GenVecGrid tool which has been clipped to an irregular size and angled relative to the xy axes to represent a study area. When I say it's irregular, I mean to say while each cell is full (no partial cells), portions of the rectangular grid have been removed to reflect the study area. Here's an image to show what I mean:

I also have a raster DEM of the area in question (also pictured in the above image link).

Here's what I'm hoping to do:
For each cell in the vector grid, I want to find an average elevation from the raster DEM and incorporate this into the vector grid itself (in the attribute table). Ideally, I'd like to use an interpolation method like kriging to find an intelligent average, so to speak.

In searching forums, I have seen recommendations for using the Add Surface Information tool (ArcToolbox > 3D Analyst > Add Surface Information), as well as Interpolate Shape (ArcToolbox > 3D Analyst > Interpolate Shape), but these were unsuccessful.

Can anyone guide me in the right direction?

Best Answer

If you have access to Spatial Analyst, you could use the Zonal Statistics tool.

You could treat each cell in the angled vector grid as a zone, and use Zontal Statistics to calculate the MEAN elevation within it.

Related Solutions

[GIS] Finding the average value from polygon areas in a fishnet cell

Unless i missunderstand you this should work:

Intersect Fishnet and contours
Calculate a column of area-weighted values (value*shapearea)
Dissolve by fishnet ID and sum the area-weighted values
Calculate total averages by Dividing with shape areas

You can do this manually, with ModelBuilder or using the Python window and code below (change the four lines as indicated):

import arcpy
arcpy.env.overwriteOutput=1

fishnet = r'C:\Default.gdb\fishnet_4km' #Change to match your data
contours = r'C:\Default.gdb\contour' #Change to match your data
valuecolumn = 'AvgValue' #Change to match your data
outfc = r'C:\Default.gdb\fishnet_with_averages' #Change to match your data

#Intersect fishnet and contours
tempfc=r'in_memory\intersect'
arcpy.Intersect_analysis(in_features=[fishnet,contours], out_feature_class=tempfc)

#Calculate areaweighted values per intersection
arcpy.AddField_management(in_table=tempfc, field_name='AvgArea', field_type='DOUBLE')
with arcpy.da.UpdateCursor(tempfc,['AvgArea',valuecolumn,'SHAPE@AREA']) as cursor:
    for row in cursor:
        row[0]=row[1]*row[2]
        cursor.updateRow(row)

#Dissolve by fishnet ID and calculate sum of areasums
fishnetID = '{0}{1}'.format('FID_',arcpy.Describe(fishnet).name)
arcpy.Dissolve_management(in_features=tempfc, out_feature_class=outfc, 
                         dissolve_field=fishnetID, 
                         statistics_fields=[['AvgArea','SUM']])
arcpy.AddField_management(in_table=outfc, field_name='Areaweighted_average', field_type='DOUBLE')

#Calculate areaweighted average
with arcpy.da.UpdateCursor(outfc,['Areaweighted_average','SUM_AvgArea','SHAPE@AREA']) as cursor:
    for row in cursor:
        row[0]=row[1]/row[2]
        cursor.updateRow(row)

Inputs: Output:

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