Skip to main content

VfCos

Summary

Defines the relationship between the vertical cost factor and the vertical relative moving angle through a cosine function.

VfCos vertical factor graph

Graph of the cosine vertical factor.

Discussion

This object is used in the Distance Accumulation and Distance Allocation Spatial Analyst tools, as well as the Path Distance, Path Distance Allocation, and Path Distance Back Link Legacy Distance tools.

The vertical factor (VF) object defines the relationship between the vertical cost factor and the vertical relative moving angle (VRMA).

VF defines the vertical difficulty encountered in moving from one cell to the next.

VRMA identifies the slope angle between the FROM or processing cell and the TO cell.

The VF is determined by the cosine function of the VRMA.

Syntax

VfCos({lowCutAngle}, highCutAngle, {cosPower})

Name Explanation Data type

lowCutAngle

(Optional)

The VRMA degree defining the lower threshold, below which (less than) the VFs are set to infinity.

The default value is -90.0.

Double

highCutAngle

The VRMA degree defining the upper threshold, beyond which (larger than) the VFs are set to infinity.

The default value is 90.0.

Double

cosPower

(Optional)

The power to which the values in the cosine VRMA function will be raised. The VF is determined by:

\(VF = \cos(VRMA)^{Power}\)

The default value is 1.0.

Double

Properties

Name Explanation Data type

lowCutAngle

(Read and Write)

The VRMA degree defining the lower threshold, below which (less than) the VFs are set to infinity.

Double

highCutAngle

(Read and Write)

The VRMA degree defining the upper threshold, beyond which (larger than) the VFs are set to infinity.

Double

cosPower

(Read and Write)

The power to which the values in the cosine VRMA function will be raised.

Double

Code sample

VfCos example 1 (Python window)

Demonstrates how to create a VfCos class and use it in the DistanceAccumulation tool within the Python window.

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
from arcpy.sa import *
env.workspace = "C:/sapyexamples/data"
myVerticalFactor = VfCos(-15, 15, 1.5)
outDistAccum = DistanceAccumulation("Source.shp", "", "elev.tif",
                                   "cost.tif", "elev.tif",
                                    myVerticalFactor)
outDistAccum.save("C:/sapyexamples/output/distAccumVfC.tif")
VfCos example 2 (stand-alone script)

Performs a distance accumulation analysis using the VfCos class.

# Name: VfCos_Ex_02.py
# Description: Uses the VfCos object to run the
#              DistanceAccumulation tool
# Requirements: Spatial Analyst extension

# Import system modules
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
from arcpy.sa import *

# Set environment settings
env.workspace = "C:/sapyexamples/data"

# Set local variables
inSourceData = "source.shp"
inCostRaster = "costraster.tif"
inElevation = "elev.tif"

# Create the VfCos Object
lowCutAngle = -15
highCutAngle = 45
cosPower = 2
myVerticalFactor = VfCos(lowCutAngle, highCutAngle, cosPower)

# Run PathDistance
outDistAccum = DistanceAccumulation(inSourceData, "", inElevation,
                                    inCostRaster, inElevation,
                                    myVerticalFactor)

# Save the output
outDistAccum.save("C:/sapyexamples/output/distaccumvfC2.tif")