3D Analyst Tools ArcToolbox

Buffer Tool

 How to use Buffer Tool in ArcToolbox ArcMap ArcGIS??

Buffer Tool

Buffer Tool, Proximity Toolset, Analysis Toolbox

Buffer

Creates buffer polygons around input features to a specified distance.

1.  Input Features

The input point, line, or polygon features to be buffered.

2.  Output Feature Class

The feature class containing the output buffers.

3.  Distance [value or field]

The distance around the input features that will be buffered. Distances can be provided as either a value representing a linear distance or as a field from the input features that contains the distance to buffer each feature.

If linear units are not specified or are entered as Unknown, the linear unit of the input features' spatial reference is used.

4.  Side Type (optional)

Specifies the sides of the input features that will be buffered.

1. FULL—For line input features, buffers will be generated on both sides of the line. For polygon input features, buffers will be generated around the polygon and will contain and overlap the area of the input features. For point input features, buffers will be generated around the point. This is the default.
2. LEFT—For line input features, buffers will be generated on the topological left of the line. This option is not valid for polygon input features.
3. RIGHT—For line input features, buffers will be generated on the topological right of the line. This option is not valid for polygon input features.
4. OUTSIDE_ONLY—For polygon input features, buffers will be generated outside the input polygon only (the area inside the input polygon will be erased from the output buffer). This option is not valid for line input features.

This optional parameter is not available with a Desktop Basic or Desktop Standard license.

5.  End Type (optional)

Specifies the shape of the buffer at the end of line input features. This parameter is not valid for polygon input features.

1. ROUND—The ends of the buffer will be round, in the shape of a half circle. This is the default.
2. FLAT—The ends of the buffer will be flat, or squared, and will end at the endpoint of the input line feature.

This optional parameter is not available with a Desktop Basic or Desktop Standard license.

6.  Method (optional)

Specifies the method to use, planar or geodesic, to create the buffer.

1. PLANAR—If the input features are in a projected coordinate system, Euclidean buffers are created. If the input features are in a geographic coordinate system and the buffer distance is in linear units (meters, feet, and so forth, as opposed to angular units such as degrees), geodesic buffers are created. This is the default. You can use the Output Coordinate System environment setting to specify the coordinate system to use. For example, if your input features are in a projected coordinate system, you can set the environment to a geographic coordinate system to create geodesic buffers.
2. GEODESIC—All buffers are created using a shape-preserving geodesic buffer method, regardless of the input coordinate system.

7.  Dissolve Type (optional)

Specifies the type of dissolve to be performed to remove buffer overlap.

1. NONE—An individual buffer for each feature is maintained, regardless of overlap. This is the default.
2. ALL—All buffers are dissolved together into a single feature, removing any overlap.
3. LIST—Any buffers sharing attribute values in the listed fields (carried over from the input features) are dissolved.

8.  Dissolve Field(s) (optional)

The list of fields from the input features on which to dissolve the output buffers. Any buffers sharing attribute values in the listed fields (carried over from the input features) are dissolved.

The Add Field button, which is only used in ModelBuilder, allows expected fields to be added to the Dissolve Field(s) list.