The document provides an overview of the Arcpy package used for geographic data analysis, data management, and map automation with Python, highlighting its structure and functionalities within the mapping module and data management toolbox. It discusses various classes and functions available in Arcpy, including how to create and manipulate map documents, layers, and data frames, as well as perform tasks like copying and merging datasets. Additionally, it includes examples of Python scripts that demonstrate the application of these functionalities for real-world GIS tasks.

1. Analytics with ArcPy
Package; some
functionalities within
Mapping Module and
Data Management
Toolbox
-By
Soumik Chakraborty
(M.Tech GIS)
Neemrana

2. Table of Contents:
 Basics about ArcPy Package
 ArcPy Structure
 Introduction to Mapping Module & Spatial Analyst Module
 Map Document Class
 Active Data Frame object and Data Frame class
 Create a Layer Object using Layer Class
 Add Layer Function, List Layer Function

3. Basics about ArcPy Package
 ArcPy is a site package that builds on the successful arcgis-scripting module. Its goal
is to create a useful and productive way to perform geographic data analysis, data
conversion, data management, and map automation with Python.
 ArcPy provides access to geoprocessing tools as well as additional functions, classes,
and modules that allow you to create simple or complex workflows quickly and
easily.
 ArcPy provides access to geoprocessing tools as well as additional functions, classes,
and modules that allow you to create simple workflows.

4. WHY arcpy?
 ArcGIS applications and scripts written using ArcPy benefit from being able to access and
work with the numerous Python modules developed by GIS professionals and
programmers from many different disciplines.
 The additional power of using ArcPy within Python is the fact that Python is a general-
purpose programming language that is easy to learn and use.
 It is interpreted and dynamically typed, which provides you with the ability to quickly
prototype and test scripts in an interactive environment while still being powerful
enough to support the writing of large applications.
 The software has integrated Python, the open source programming language, and at
ArcGIS 10 introduced ArcPy, a Python site package, to simplify and automate Python
scripting.

5. ArcPy Structure:
 The reason of this uncommon structure is that ESRI uses classes and tools from their C++
ArcObjects library.
 This structure is quite different from other Python Packages. For example Class remains inside
Module and Module inside Package whereas in ArcPy you can have Class directly under package.
 Arcpy package can e called in ArcMap, ArcCatalog and IDLE; to run in IDLE we need to create
separate (.py) files whereas in others it is one line at a time.

6. Map Document Class
 ArcPy package  mapping module  Map Document Class
 import arcpy
 mD = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument (‘C:/Users/userName/project.mxd’)
 mD2 = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(‘CURRENT’)
 Print(mD.author)
 mD.author = ‘Soumik’
 Print(mD.filePath)
 mD.filePath = ‘C:/temp/test.mxd’
 mD.saveACopy(‘D:/backup/city_3_30_16.mxd’)
 mD.saveACopy(D: :/backup/city_3_30_16.mxd’, ‘8.3’)
String indicating pre-
opened mxd
Read/write Property of
the object
Method examples one with
compulsory parameter and
one with optional

8. Active Data Frame object & Data Frame Class
 The active Data Frame is a property of the Map Document class.
 mD.activeDataFrame  returns a Data Frame oject.
 Similarly, MD.author  it returns a string.
 Data Frame object is based on the Data Frame class.
 We can further use Data Frame class properties and methods.
 aDF = mD.activeDataFrame
 aDF.name = ‘Main’
= original “DataFrame” Class called.
Object Declaration.
Property used; type = Read/Write
By default “Layers”  Changed to “Main”

9. Insert New Data Frame
And Print it’s Name
Rename the new data frame
and Refresh Table of Contents
Changes
Reflected
in TOC

10. Create a Layer Object using Layer Class
 Import arcpy
 parksShapeLayer = arcpy.mapping.Layer(‘D:/data/parks.shp’)
 parksFClassLayer = arcpy.mapping.Layer(‘D:/data/input.gdb/parks’)
 parksDotLayer = arcpy.mapping.Layer(‘D:/data/parks.lyr’)
 print(parksShapeLayer.visible)
 parksShapeLayer.visible = False
 Print(parksShapeLayer.isFeatureLayer)
 parksShapeLayer.saveACopy(‘D:/backup/parks.lyr’)
 Arcpy.CopyFeatures_management(parkShapeLayer, ‘D:/backup/’ +
parkShapeLayer.name + ‘.shp’)
Read/write property
; assign a value to
the property
No requirement of
writing file in case
of Feature class
but geodatabse
extension must be
specified
Lyr extension used
to save the
symbology of a file
Representation
of objects/
variables
Read property ;
return a boolean
value (True/False) A method with a
compulsory
parameter

11. Add Layer Function example of “entire script”
 Arcpy package  mapping.module  AddLayer Function. The AddLayer function needs
both a “layer” and a “DataFrame” objects to operate.
 import arcpy
 mD = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(‘C:/Users/someuser/Desktop/proj.mxd’)
 dF = mD.activeDataFrame
 buildingsLayer = arcpy.mapping.Layer(‘C:/data/buildings.shp’)
 roadsLayer = arcpy.mapping.Layer (‘C:/data/roads.shp’)
 Arcpy.mapping.AddLayer(dF, buildingsLayer, ‘TOP’)
 Arcpy.mapping.AddLayer(dF, roadsLayer, ‘TOP’)
 mD.save()
Process is called creating an object out of another object using a class
Optional parameter required to
indicate position of layer in TOC
Opening a Map
Document
Defining the data
frame object
Defining two
shape files as
Layers
Adding the
layers
Saving the
document

12. List Layer Function
 The List Layers function returns a list of the layers in an mxd document or in a specific
dataframe.
 import arcpy
 mD = arcpy.mapping.MapDocument(‘C:/Users/someuser/Desktop/proj.mxd’)
 dF = mD.activeDataFrame
 allLayers = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mD)
 firstDFLayers = arcpy.mapping.ListLayers(mD,None,dF)
List all the layers within that object “mD”
which may contain many data frames
“dF” indicates only those layers within
active data frame
“None” represents the syntax showing no
additional filtering criteria is given

13. To show first layer of list indicated by [0] position
Optional Parameters

14. Create a .mxd  declare
Hospital Layer  declare
active data frame  add
hospital layer to the
active data frame  save

15. Tool structure: Copy Management tool
 Tools are arc object Functions written in C++. Tool comes under a toolset which falls
under a toolbox.
 Copy management tool is used to copy shapefiles or geodatabase feature classes. Easy for
backup data creation. Important Note:- both input and output should be of same data
format eg. Shapefiles/geodatabses.
 arcpy.Copy_management(‘D:/myData/lake.shp’, ‘D:/myProj/lakes.shp’)
 To copy from a .lyr file, we need another tool:
 arcpy.CopyFeatures_management(riversLayer,’D:/myProj/lakes.shp’)
Syntax of Copy Management
; keeping in same format
for shapefile and layer as
input and output

16. Merge Management script
 Tool used to merge two or more datasets into one.
 Arcpy.Merge_management([‘C:/data/parcels1.shp’,’C:/data/parcels2.shp’],’C:/data
/mergedParcels.shp’ )
 import arcpy
 arcpy.env.workspace = ‘C:/users/name/desktop/sampleData.gdb’
 arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True
 arcpy.Merge_management([‘hospitals1’, ‘hospitals2’], ‘allHospitals’)
 arcpy.Intersect_analysis([‘allHospitals’,’DC’],’DCHospitals’)
 print(“Successfully finished”)
Syntax of Merge Management ;having 2
input shapefiles/layers as list items
and then output shapefile separate.
Fixing environment
variables ; pre-requisite
before running scripts.
Combining two list items
hospitals using merge

17. Input & Output Results:

18. How many schools are there within 5000 meters
of Toxic Release Inventory?
 Input data- Shape file of Toxic Release Inventory; Schools
 Import arcpy
 arcpy.env.workspace = “C:/username/Folder Path”
 arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True
 tri = “tri92.shp”
 schools = “schools.shp”
 tri_layer = arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(tri, “tri_lyr”)
 schools_layer = arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(schools, “sch_lyr”)
 myself = arcpy.SelectLayerByLocation_management (school_layer,
“WITHIN_A_DISTANCE”, tri_lyr,”5000 meters”, “NEW_SELECTION” )
 Print arcpy.GetCount_management (myself)
Function in Data Management
Toolbox which converts shape
files to Feature Layers
{Input layer}
{Overlap type}
{Select Layer}
{Search Distance}
{Selection Type}

19. How many schools are there within 5000 meters
of one particular Toxic Release Inventory?
 import arcpy
 arcpy.env.workspace = “C:/username/Folder Path”
 arcpy.env.overwriteOutput = True
 tri = “tri92.shp”
 schools = “schools.shp”
 tri_layer = arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(tri, “tri_lyr”)
 schools_layer = arcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management(schools, “sch_lyr”)
 factory = arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management(tri_lyr, “NEW_SELECTION”, “NAME =
‘LINDAU CHEMICAL’”)
 myself = arcpy.SelectLayerByLocation_management (school_layer, “WITHIN_A_DISTANCE”,
factory,”5000 meters”, “NEW_SELECTION” )
 Print arcpy.GetCount_management (myself)
Creating factory variable
containing another tool and
inputting it into the previous
variable as Select Layer parameter

21. THANK YOU