[GIS] How to remove spikes in polygons with ArcGIS 10/Python

arcgis-10.0arcpypython

In the picture below you can see a polygon layer, representing steep slopes, extracted from a TIN. The polygons have a lot of spikes in them. I would like to remove these spikes while the rest of the borders stay on the exact same location. I would like to do this in a Python script, using arcpy or Python functions.

Further info: ArcGIS 10.0, Python 2.6.5, polygon layer is in a GDB

Best Answer

I suggest playing around with the Simplify Polygon tool (first) or the Smooth Polygon tool (second), to see how well they meet your requirement that "the rest of the border stay on the exact same location".

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This isn't really a doable thing -- the best you can hope for here is to install ArcGIS Server on the local machine and expose the Python script as a Geoprocessing service.

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After re-reading the documentation on Internal Layers http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/...0000000m000000, specifically:

When you create a layer or table view using geoprocessing tools, the new layer or table view is stored in an internal layer list, which is a different list from the ArcMap table of contents. This means that geoprocessing actually keeps two lists of layers and table views:

The list of layers in the ArcMap table of contents

The internal list of layers created by geoprocessing tools

I can see what I was doing wrong. I thought I was deleting the temporary layers by getting a list of layers for the data frame and deleting from that list:

def clearLayers():
    mxd = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument('CURRENT')
    for df in arcpy.mapping.ListDataFrames(mxd):
        for lyr in arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mxd, "", df):
            arcpy.mapping.RemoveLayer(df, lyr) 
    del mxd

This was not clearing the internal layer list (layers created by other geoprocessing tools) that the python tools use in part to generate parameter lists. Having arcpy.env.addOutputsToMap = False had no effect on the internal layer list either (which it shouldn't).

To delete from the internal list I am using arcpy.Delete_management() on the temporary layer itself as in:

tempLyr = arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer(features, layerName)

...do other stuff

arcpy.Delete_management(tempLyr, 'GPFeatureLayer')

Best Answer

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