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Multiple Ring Buffer (Analysis)
Release 9.3 Last modified January 11, 2011	Print all topics in : "Tools"

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NOTE: This topic was updated for 9.3.1.

Creates a new feature class of buffer features using a set of buffer distances. The new features may be dissolved using the distance values or as a set of individual features.

Illustration

Multiple Ring Buffer illustration

Usage tips

The tool creates scratch data in the scratch workspace if it is defined in the geoprocessing environment settings; otherwise, it uses the location defined by the TEMP system variable.
If Field Name is not set, the default name for the field containing the distance value is "distance". The field type is double.
Buffer Unit is not used if the Input Features has no defined spatial reference.
The Buffer tool is used to create buffered features, with each specified distance being a new invocation of the tool. The Calculate Field, Union, and Dissolve tools merge the buffered results to create rings if Dissolve Option is set to ALL. Append is used to aggregate the buffered results if Dissolve Option is set to NONE.
The following environments affect this tool: configKeyword, extent, MDomain, outputCoordinateSystem, outputMFlag, outputZFlag, scratchWorkspace, spatialGrid1, spatialGrid2, spatialGrid3, workspace, XYDomain, and ZDomain.

Command line syntax
An overview of the Command Line window
MultipleRingBuffer_analysis <Input_Features> <Output_Feature_class> <Distances;Distances...> {Default | Centimeters | DecimalDegrees | Feet | Inches | Kilometers | Meters | Miles | Millimeters | NauticalMiles | Points | Yards} {Field_Name} {All | None} {FULL | OUTSIDE_ONLY}

Parameter	Explanation	Data Type
<Input_Features>	The input feature class containing points, lines, or polygons to be buffered.	Feature Layer
<Output_Feature_class>	The new polygon feature class to be created.	Feature Class
<Distances;Distances...>	The distances, in ascending size, used to create buffer zones around the Input Features.	Double
{Default \| Centimeters \| DecimalDegrees \| Feet \| Inches \| Kilometers \| Meters \| Miles \| Millimeters \| NauticalMiles \| Points \| Yards}	The units used with the Distance values. Default Centimeters DecimalDegrees Feet Inches Kilometers Meters Miles Millimeters NauticalMiles Points Yards If the units are not specified, or are entered as Default, the units of the Input Features are used (or if the Output Coordinate System environment has been set, its units will be used).	String
{Field_Name}	The name of the field in the Output Feature Class that will store the buffer distance used to create each feature. If no value is specified, the name will be distance. The type of the field is double.	String
{All \| None}	ALL — The features will be merged and dissolved using the distance value. This results in a set of features that resemble rings in the Output Feature Class. This is the default. NONE — Each buffer for each feature in the Input Features is maintained as an individual feature in the Output Feature Class, regardless of overlap.	String
{FULL \| OUTSIDE_ONLY}	Valid only for input polygon features. FULL — Input polygon features will be given a complete buffer. This is the default. OUTSIDE_ONLY — The area inside the input polygon features will be excluded from the resulting buffer.	Boolean

Data types for geoprocessing tool parameters

Command line example

MultipleRingBuffer d:\data.mdb\wapnts\water_points d:\data.mdb\wapnts\waterpnts_buff 100;200;500 buff_dist

Scripting syntax
About getting started with writing geoprocessing scripts
MultipleRingBuffer_analysis (Input_Features, Output_Feature_class, Distances, Buffer_Unit, Field_Name, Dissolve_Option, Outside_Polygons_Only)

Parameter	Explanation	Data Type
Input_Features (Required)	The input feature class containing points, lines, or polygons to be buffered.	Feature Layer
Output_Feature_class (Required)	The new polygon feature class to be created.	Feature Class
Distances (Required)	The distances, in ascending size, used to create buffer zones around the Input Features.	Double
Buffer_Unit (Optional)	The units used with the Distance values. Default Centimeters DecimalDegrees Feet Inches Kilometers Meters Miles Millimeters NauticalMiles Points Yards If the units are not specified, or are entered as Default, the units of the Input Features are used (or if the Output Coordinate System environment has been set, its units will be used).	String
Field_Name (Optional)	The name of the field in the Output Feature Class that will store the buffer distance used to create each feature. If no value is specified, the name will be distance. The type of the field is double.	String
Dissolve_Option (Optional)	ALL — The features will be merged and dissolved using the distance value. This results in a set of features that resemble rings in the Output Feature Class. This is the default. NONE — Each buffer for each feature in the Input Features is maintained as an individual feature in the Output Feature Class, regardless of overlap.	String
Outside_Polygons_Only (Optional)	Valid only for input polygon features. FULL — Input polygon features will be given a complete buffer. This is the default. OUTSIDE_ONLY — The area inside the input polygon features will be excluded from the resulting buffer.	Boolean

Data types for geoprocessing tool parameters

Script example

# Create the Geoprocessor Object
import arcgisscripting
gp = arcgisscripting.create()

# Define the scratch workspace for the temporary files created by the multiple ring buffer tool
gp.scratchworkspace = "d:\temp"

# Buffer the features
gp.workspace = "d:\data.mdb\wapnts"
gp.multipleringbuffer("water_points", "water_buff", "100;250;500")

# Intersect the buffered features with point feature class to create a
#  new point feature class with the distance values from the results of
#  the multiple ring buffer.
gp.intersect("water_buff;d:\data.mdb\sepnts\structure_point", "struct_by_water")

Multiple Ring Buffer (Analysis)

Command line example

Script example