3D Analyst Tools ArcToolbox

Simplify Line and Polygon Tools

Simplify Line 

How to use Simplify Line Tool in ArcToolbox ArcMap ArcGIS??

Simplify Line Tool

Simplify Line Tool, Generalization Toolset, Cartography Toolbox 

Simplify Line

Simplifies lines by removing relatively extraneous vertices while preserving essential shape.

1. Input Features

The input line features to be simplified.

2. Output Feature Class

The simplified output line feature class. It contains all fields present in the input feature class. The output line feature class is topologically correct. The tool does not introduce topology errors, but topological errors in the input data are flagged in the output line feature class. The output feature class includes two additional fields: InLine_FID and SimLnFlag to contain the input feature IDs and the input topological errors, respectively. A SimLnFlag value of 1 indicates an input topological error is present; 0 (zero) indicates that no input error is present.

3. Simplification Algorithm

Specifies the line simplification algorithm.

POINT_REMOVE— Retains critical points that preserve the essential shape of a line and removes all other points (Douglas-Peucker).This is the default.

1. BEND_SIMPLIFY— Retains the critical bends and removes extraneous bends from a line (Wang-Müller).
2. WEIGHTED_AREA—Retains vertices that form triangles of effective area that have been weighted by triangle shape (Zhou-Jones).
3. EFFECTIVE_AREA— Retains vertices that form triangles of effective area (Visvalingam-Whyatt).

4. Simplification Tolerance

The tolerance determines the degree of simplification. You can choose a preferred unit; otherwise, units of the input will be used. MinSimpTol and MaxSimpTol fields are added to the output to store the tolerance that was used when processing occurred.

For the POINT_REMOVE algorithm, the tolerance is the maximum allowable perpendicular distance between each vertex and the new line created.

1. For the BEND_SIMPLIFY algorithm, the tolerance is the diameter of a circle that approximates a significant bend.
2. For the WEIGHTED_AREA algorithm, the square of the tolerance is the area of a significant triangle defined by three adjacent vertices. The further a triangle deviates from equilateral, the higher weight it is given, and the less likely it is to be removed.
3. For the EFFECTIVE_AREA algorithm, the square of the tolerance is the area of a significant triangle defined by three adjacent vertices.

5. Check for topological errors (optional)

This is a legacy parameter that is no longer used. It was formerly used to dictate how topological errors, possibly introduced during processing, were handled. This parameter is still included in the tool's syntax for compatibility in scripts and models but is hidden from the tool's dialog box.

6. Resolve topological errors (optional)

This is a legacy parameter that is no longer used. It was formerly used to dictate how topological errors, possibly introduced during processing, were handled. This parameter is still included in the tool's syntax for compatibility in scripts and models but is hidden from the tool's dialog box. 

7. Keep collapsed points (optional)

Check to create an output point feature class to store the endpoints of any lines that are smaller than the spatial tolerance. The point output is derived; it will use the same name and location as the Output feature class parameter but with a _Pnt suffix.

1. Checked—Record the endpoints of collapsed zero-length lines in a derived output point feature class. This is the default.
2. Unchecked—Do not create a derived output point feature class.

8. Input Barriers Layers (optional)

Inputs containing features to act as barriers for simplification. Resulting simplified lines will not touch or cross barrier features. For example, when simplifying contour lines, spot height features input as barriers ensure that the simplified contour lines will not simplify across these points. The output will not violate the elevation as described by measured spot heights.

Simplify Polygon 

How to use Simplify Polygon Tool in ArcToolbox ArcMap ArcGIS??

Simplify Polygon Tool

Simplify Polygon Tool, Generalization Toolset, Cartography Toolbox

Simplify Polygon

Simplifies polygon outlines by removing relatively extraneous vertices while preserving essential shape.

1. Input Features

The input polygon features to be simplified.

2. Output Feature Class

The simplified output polygon feature class. It contains all fields present in the input feature class. The output polygon feature class is topologically correct. The tool does not introduce topology errors, but topological errors in the input data are flagged in the output polygon feature class.

The output feature class includes two additional fields, InPoly_FID and SimPgnFlag, which contain the input feature IDs and the input topological errors or discrepancies, respectively.

SimPgnFlag values are as follows:

1. SimPgnFlag = 0 indicates that no errors are present.
2. SimPgnFlag = 1 indicates a topological error is present.
3. SimPgnFlag = 2 indicates features that have been split by a partition and are now below the minimum area after simplification. The flag may appear on only one part of the split feature. These features are all retained in the output feature class. This situation arises only when the Cartographic Partitions environment setting is used.

3. Simplification Algorithm

Specifies the polygon simplification algorithm.

POINT_REMOVE—Retains critical points that preserve the essential shape of a polygon outline and removes all other points (Douglas-Peucker). This is the default.

1. BEND_SIMPLIFY— Retains the critical bends and removes extraneous bends from a line (Wang-Müller).
2. WEIGHTED_AREA—Retains vertices that form triangles of effective area that have been weighted by triangle shape (Zhou-Jones).
3. EFFECTIVE_AREA— Retains vertices that form triangles of effective area (Visvalingam-Whyatt).

4. Simplification Tolerance

The tolerance determines the degree of simplification. You can choose a preferred unit; otherwise, the units of the input will be used. MinSimpTol and MaxSimpTol fields are added to the output to store the tolerance that was used when processing occurred.

For the POINT_REMOVE algorithm, the tolerance is the maximum allowable perpendicular distance between each vertex and the newly created line.

1. For the BEND_SIMPLIFY algorithm, the tolerance is the diameter of a circle that approximates a significant bend.
2. For the WEIGHTED_AREA algorithm, the square of the tolerance is the area of a significant triangle defined by three adjacent vertices. The further a triangle deviates from equilateral, the higher weight it is given, and the less likely it is to be removed.
3. For the EFFECTIVE_AREA algorithm, the square of the tolerance is the area of a significant triangle defined by three adjacent vertices.

5. Minimum Area (optional)

The minimum area for a polygon to be retained. The default value is zero, that is, to keep all polygons. You can choose a preferred unit for the specified value; otherwise, units of the input will be used.

6. Handling Topological Errors (optional)

This is a legacy parameter that is no longer used. It was formerly used to specify how topological errors possibly introduced during processing were handled. This parameter is still included in the tool's syntax for compatibility in scripts and model but is hidden from the tool's dialog box. 

7. Keep collapsed points (optional)

Specifies whether to create an output point feature class to store the centers of polygons that are removed because they are smaller than the Minimum area parameter. The point output is derived; it will use the same name and location as the Output feature class parameter but with a _Pnt suffix.

1. Checked—Record the centers of polygons that are removed because they are below the minimum area in a derived output point feature class. This is the default.
2. Unchecked—Do not create a derived output point feature class.

8. Input Barriers Layers (optional)

The inputs containing features to act as barriers for simplification. Resulting simplified polygons will not touch or cross barrier features. For example, when simplifying forested areas, the resulting simplified forest polygons do not cross road features defined as barriers.