[GIS] How to create links between points and nearest vertex of polyline feature class

arcgis-10.1arcgis-desktoppolyline-creation

I have a point feature class and for each point I want to find the nearest vertex on a polyline feature class. I then want to create a line between each point and it's nearest vertex on the other layer.

How is this done?

If it can't be done with a polyline layer, I can also use a point layer in lieu.

Best Answer

You can convert your line vertices to points using Feature Vertices To Points. Then using the Near tool, you can find the nearest vertex for each point. As for creating new polylines from these points, use the tool: XY to line.

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[GIS] Calculating the distance between points and multiple lines

You can turn your polyline shapefile into a route using Create Routes in the Linear Referencing Toolbox. Then use the tool, Locate Features Along Routes, also in the Linear Referencing toolbox, to find the distance to the nearest routed polyline and it's nearest perpendicular location along the route. I always use ArcMap's Search button or key Ctrl+F while in your mxd and just type in whatever tool you're looking for.

You'll need to set a large enough search radius so that all your points are captured when using Locate Features Along Routes (and search radius only works for locating points.)

The MEAS field will be the point's perpendicular location along the route in whatever map units your mxd is set in (feet, meters, etc.), and the Distance field, what you're interested in, will contain the nearest distance from the route. A negative (-) number is west of the route, and a positive number is east of the route.

ArcPy – How to Create Line from Two Points in Different Feature Classes

I don't have Arc on this machine but this should work. It would actually work with multiple start points, but will work on a single start point as well.

import arcpy

start_feature = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0)
end_feature = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(1)
out_feature = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(2)

start_cursor = arcpy.SearchCursor(start_feature)
end_cursor = arcpy.SearchCursor(end_feature)

desc = arcpy.Describe(start_feature)
shapefieldname = desc.ShapeFieldName

point = arcpy.Point()
array = arcpy.Array()
featureList = []

cursor = arcpy.InsertCursor(out_feature)
feat = cursor.newRow()

for start in start_cursor:
    startFeature = start.getValue(shapefieldname)
    pnt1 = startFeature.getPart()
    for end in end_cursor:
        endFeature = end.getValue(shapefieldname)
        pnt2 = endFeature.getPart()
        point.X = pnt1.X
        point.Y = pnt1.Y
        array.add(point)
        point.X = pnt2.X
        point.Y = pnt2.Y
        array.add(point)
        polyline = arcpy.Polyline(array)
        array.removeAll()
        featureList.append(polyline)
        feat.shape = polyline
        cursor.insertRow(feat)

del feat, cursor, end_cursor, start_cursor

You may actually want to change the inputs so it creates the output file during the script instead of having to point at one that's already created, but that depends on what you want to do.

Best Answer

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[GIS] Calculating the distance between points and multiple lines

ArcPy – How to Create Line from Two Points in Different Feature Classes

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