[GIS] In ArcPy, how can I save a clipped raster dataset to memory (not to file)

arcgis-10.0arcpymemory

I've been trying to clip a larger raster dataset by a polygon extent, where the resulting clipped raster dataset is saved in-memory. So far, my attempts produce vague errors.

>>> arcpy.Clip_management(in_raster="/path/to/raster_dataset.tif", rectangle="899329.78438381 1065232.74648145 912509.334774774 1080416.77223298", out_raster="in_memory/clipped", in_template_dataset="/path/to/boundary.shp", clipping_geometry="ClippingGeometry")
Runtime error <class 'arcgisscripting.ExecuteError'>: ERROR 999999: Error executing function. Failed to execute (Clip).

Is there a way I can store a raster dataset in-memory?

Documentation for the VB.NET API seem to indicate it is possible beginning in Arc 9.2, and I'm using Arc 10 on my workstation.

ArcGIS 9.2 allows to create an in-memory RasterDataset where the pixels are stored in memory, this type of raster dataset has the charastics of a file RasterDataset.

Best Answer

This works for me:

arcpy.Clip_management("C12.TIF","481919 5456830 482895 5456851","in_memory/raster2","#","256","NONE")

When I first tried this, I just wrote right into the python window, I got an error. So I ran the GUI tool, and copy/pasted the 'python snippet' from that, it worked. I also tried just 'in_memory', this writes a raster named 'in_memory' to the default GDB.

Related Solutions

Python GDAL – Getting Extent of Georeferenced Rasters and Output to Polygon Shapefile

You almost had it right with your first attempt. What you are doing is trying to call the extent property with a filename as its parameter, when you need to construct a Raster object with that parameter.

In practical terms, that means:

extent1 = arcgisscripting.Raster('stg1_05.jpg').extent

Although it is usually better practice to break it down into two steps:

raster1 = arcgisscripting.Raster('stg1_05.jpg')
extent1 = raster1.extent

Note the lack of parentheses on extent, this is because it is a property rather than a method.

[GIS] Saving raster dataset using ArcPy

It looks like you've looked at ESRI's example because your comment says "Execute FlowDirection" - which is the error in ESRI's docs, but I'll pull out the important part that your code is missing - the save() method for your fill object.

Generally, the Spatial Analyst tools work a little differently in scripting than some of the other toolbox tools since they generate a return value that is an object (rather than taking input and output locations). Once you have the Fill object living in memory, you can save it using the object's save method. So, in your code above:

# run Fill on surfaceRaster and put output object into fillRaster
fillRaster = Fill(surfaceRaster)

# note the specification of a dataset name in the gdb below
outname = r"C:\GIS Data\Cameron_Run\Topo_NED\Projected\fillRasterGDB.gdb\fillRaster"

# save the fillRaster object to the location specified in outname
fillRaster.save(outname)

So, just run save, and pass in a location in order to specify where it goes. My understanding is that the RasterToGeodatabase tool doesn't accept Spatial Analyst objects as inputs.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

Python GDAL – Getting Extent of Georeferenced Rasters and Output to Polygon Shapefile

[GIS] Saving raster dataset using ArcPy

Related Question