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Generate Grids and Hexagons (Business Analyst Tools)

Summary

Creates features with vector-based square grid cells, hexagons, or H3 hexagons for a given area.

Usage

  • Hexagons are preferable when the analysis includes aspects of connectivity or movement paths and to reduce sampling bias due to the edge effects of the grid shape.

  • When the Cell Geometry Type parameter is set to H3 Hexagon, the Cell Size parameter will become inactive, and the H3 Resolution parameter will become active.

  • The Cell Geometry Type parameter's H3 Hexagon option is based on H3: Uber's Hexagonal Hierarchical Spatial Index.

  • Hexagons vary in size, from 0 (largest) to 15 (smallest). The different size is called resolution. Using smaller resolution hexagons (such as resolution 1) is useful for analysis of larger geographic areas, such as hemispheric or large country-wide analysis. See Hexagons reference for more information.

  • When the Enrichment Type parameter is set to Enrich Cell, the Buffer and Network Parameters categories will become inactive.

  • When the Distance Type parameter is set to Straight Line, the Network Parameters category will become inactive.

  • The output feature class inherits the coordinate system of the Area of Interest parameter value by default. You can override this by specifying the Output Coordinate System environment setting.

Parameters

Label Explanation Data type

Area of Interest

The input feature class that will be used to define the extent of the grid or hexagon layer.

Feature Layer

Output Feature Class

The feature class that will contain the grid or hexagon features.

Feature Class

Cell Geometry Type

(Optional)

Specifies the cell type that will be created in the output.

  • Square—Regular four-sided polygons with equal side lengths will be created. This is the default.

  • Hexagon—Regular six-sided polygons with equal side lengths will be created.

  • H3 Hexagon—Regular six-sided polygons with equal side lengths based on H3: Uber's hexagonal hierarchical spatial index will be created.

String

Enrichment Type

(Optional)

Specifies the method that will be used for variable enrichment.

  • Enrich Cell—Enrichment will be performed on the Cell Geometry Type parameter value.

  • Enrich Buffer—Enrichment will be performed on a buffer around the centroid of the grid or hexagon.

String

Cell Size

(Optional)

The size of the cell to generate squares or hexagons. The default value is 1 square mile.

Areal Unit

H3 Resolution

(Optional)

The resolution that will be used to generate the H3 hexagons. A value of 15 represents the finest resolution. The default value is 7.

Long

Variables

(Optional)

A list of variables that will be appended to the output.

String

Distance Type

(Optional)

Specifies the method of travel that will be used for the buffer calculation.

String

Distance

(Optional)

The distance that will be used for the buffer calculations.

Double

Distance Units

(Optional)

The units that will be used for the Distance parameter.

String

Output Enriched Buffers

(Optional)

The feature class that will contain the enriched buffers.

Feature Class

Travel Direction

(Optional)

Specifies the direction of travel that will be used between the center of the cell and the buffer boundary.

  • Toward Input Features—The direction of travel will be from location points to input features. This is the default.

  • Away from Input Features—The direction of travel will be from input features to location points.

String

Time of Day

(Optional)

The time at which the travel will begin.

Date

Time Zone

(Optional)

Specifies the time zone that will be used for the Time of Day parameter.

  • UTC—Coordinated universal time (UTC) will be used. Choose this option if you want the best location for a specific time, such as now, but aren't certain of the time zone.

  • Local time at locations—The time zone in which the Area of Interest value is located will be used. This is the default.

String

Search Tolerance

(Optional)

The maximum distance that input points can be from the network. Points located beyond the search tolerance will be excluded from processing.

Linear Unit

Polygon Detail

(Optional)

Specifies the level of detail that will be used for the output drive time polygons.

  • Standard—The optimal setting that combines processing speed with overall accuracy will be used. This is the default.

  • Generalized—The fastest method will be used.

  • High—The highest level of detail will be used.

String

Centroids Output Feature Class

(Optional)

The feature class that will contain the cell centroids.

Feature Class

Environments

Current Workspace, Data Source, Network Source, Geographic Transformations, Output Coordinate System

Licensing information

  • Basic: Requires Business Analyst and Network Analyst
  • Standard: Requires Business Analyst and Network Analyst
  • Advanced: Requires Business Analyst and Network Analyst