Show Navigation | Hide Navigation
You are here:
Extensions > Spatial Analyst > Spatial Analyst functional reference > Surface (Spatial Analyst)

Contour
Release 9.3
Last modified September 7, 2011		 E-mail This Topic Printable Version Give Us Feedback

Print all topics in : "Surface (Spatial Analyst)"


Related Topics

Creates contours or isolines from a raster surface.

Learn more about how Contour works


Usage tips

Command line syntax
An overview of the Command Line window
Contour_sa <in_raster> <out_polyline_features> <contour_interval> {base_contour} {z_factor}

Parameter Explanation Data Type
<in_raster>

Input raster.

 Composite Geodataset
<out_polyline_features>

Output contour polyline features.

 Feature Class
<contour_interval>

Interval of contours.

This can be any positive number.

 Double
{base_contour}

Base contour value.

Contours are generated above and below this value as needed to cover the entire value range of the input raster. The default is zero.

 Double
{z_factor}

Number of ground x,y units in one surface z unit.

The z-factor adjusts the units of measure for the z units when they are different from the x,y units of the input surface. The z-values of the input surface are multiplied by the z-factor when calculating the final output surface.

If the x,y units and z units are in the same units of measure, the z-factor is 1. This is the default.

If the x,y units and z units are in different units of measure, the z-factor must be set to the appropriate factor, or the results will be incorrect.

For example, if your z units are feet and your x,y units are meters, you would use a z-factor of 0.3048 to convert your z units from feet to meters (1 foot = 0.3048 meter).

Double
Data types for geoprocessing tool parameters


Command line example

Contour_sa C:/data/dem C:/data/contour.shp 10 0

Scripting syntax
About getting started with writing geoprocessing scripts
Contour_sa (in_raster, out_polyline_features, contour_interval, base_contour, z_factor)

Parameter Explanation Data Type
in_raster (Required)

Input raster.

 Composite Geodataset
out_polyline_features (Required)

Output contour polyline features.

 Feature Class
contour_interval (Required)

Interval of contours.

This can be any positive number.

 Double
base_contour (Optional)

Base contour value.

Contours are generated above and below this value as needed to cover the entire value range of the input raster. The default is zero.

 Double
z_factor (Optional)

Number of ground x,y units in one surface z unit.

The z-factor adjusts the units of measure for the z units when they are different from the x,y units of the input surface. The z-values of the input surface are multiplied by the z-factor when calculating the final output surface.

If the x,y units and z units are in the same units of measure, the z-factor is 1. This is the default.

If the x,y units and z units are in different units of measure, the z-factor must be set to the appropriate factor, or the results will be incorrect.

For example, if your z units are feet and your x,y units are meters, you would use a z-factor of 0.3048 to convert your z units from feet to meters (1 foot = 0.3048 meter).

Double

Data types for geoprocessing tool parameters


Script example

# Contour_sample.py
# Description: 
#   Creates contours or isolines from a raster surface.
# Requirements: None
# Author: ESRI
# Date: Sept 6, 2005
# Import system modules
import arcgisscripting

# Create the Geoprocessor object
gp = arcgisscripting.create()

try:
    # Set local variables
    InRaster = "C:/data/dem"
    OutPolylineFeatures = "C:/data/contour.shp"
    InContourInterval = "10"
    InBaseContour = "0"

    # Check out ArcGIS Spatial Analyst extension license
    gp.CheckOutExtension("Spatial")

    # Process: Contour
    gp.Contour_sa(InRaster, OutPolylineFeatures, InContourInterval, InBaseContour)

except:
    # If an error occurred while running a tool, then print the messages.
    print gp.GetMessages()

Map Algebra syntax
Contour(<grid>, <INTERVAL>, <interval>, {base})

Contour(<grid>, <LIST>, <z, z, z, ..., z>)

Parameter Explanation
<grid> The raster to be contoured.
<INTERVAL> Contours will be generated at regular intervals.
<interval> The contour interval to be used.
This can be any positive number.
{base} The value from which to begin generation of contours.
Contours are generated above and below this value as needed to cover the entire value range of the <grid>. The default is zero.
<LIST> Contours will be generated at the listed values only.
<z, z, z, ..., z> The comma-delimited list of values at which to generate contours.

Map Algebra example

contour(elev_grd, interval, 20)
contour(elev_grd, interval, 100, 15)
contour(depth, list, -200,-50, -20, -10, 0)
contour(precipitation, list, .25, 1, 6, 12, 24, 60)

ArcObjects syntax
ISurfaceOp::Contour (geoDataset As IGeoDataset, Interval As Double, [base As Variant]) As IGeoDataset

Parameter Explanation
geoData An input Raster, RasterDataset, RasterBand, or RasterDescriptor to be contoured.
Interval The contour interval to be used.
This can be any positive number.
[base] The value from which to begin generation of contours.
Contours are generated above and below this value as needed to cover the entire value range of the geoData. If none is specified, the contouring will begin at zero.

ArcObjects example

' Create the RasterSurfaceOp object
Dim pSurfaceOp As ISurfaceOp
Set pSurfaceOp = New RasterSurfaceOp

' Declare the input raster object
Dim pInputDataset As IGeoDataset

' Calls function to open a raster dataset from disk
Set pInputDataset = OpenRasterDataset("D:\SpatialData", "inputraster")

' Declare the output raster object
Dim pOutputRaster As IGeoDataset

' Calls the method
Set pOutputRaster = pSurfaceOp.Contour(pInputDataset, 50)

Please visit the Feedback page to comment or give suggestions on ArcGIS Desktop Help.
Copyright © Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.