Stream to Feature (Spatial Analyst Tools)

Summary

Converts a raster representing a linear network to features representing the linear network.

Learn more about how Stream to Feature works

Usage

The input stream raster linear network should be represented as values greater than or equal to one on a background of NoData.
The results of the Flow Accumulation tool can be used to create a raster stream network by applying a threshold value to select cells with a high accumulated flow. For example, cells that have more than 100 cells flowing into them are used to define the stream network. Use the Con or Set Null tool to create a stream network raster in which flow accumulation values of 100 or greater go to 1 and the remainder are put to the background (NoData). The resulting stream network can be used in the Stream Link and Stream to Feature tools.
There should be contiguous features with the same value, such as the results of the Stream Order or Stream Link tool. Stream to Feature should not be used on a raster in which there are few adjacent cells of the same value.
The direction of the output features will point downstream.
See Analysis environments and Spatial Analyst for additional details on the geoprocessing environments that apply to this tool.

Label	Explanation	Data type
Input stream raster	An input raster that represents a linear stream network.	Raster Layer
Input flow direction raster	The input raster that shows the direction of flow out of each cell. The flow direction raster can be created using the Flow Direction tool.	Raster Layer
Output polyline features	Output feature class that will hold the converted streams.	Feature Class
Simplify polylines (Optional)	Specifies whether weeding is used. By default, weeding is applied. Checked—The feature is weeded to reduce the number of vertices. The Douglas-Puecker algorithm for line generalization is used with a tolerance of `sqrt(0.5) * cell size`. Unchecked—No weeding is applied.	Boolean

StreamToFeature(in_stream_raster, in_flow_direction_raster, out_polyline_features, {simplify})

Name	Explanation	Data type
in_stream_raster	An input raster that represents a linear stream network.	Raster Layer
in_flow_direction_raster	The input raster that shows the direction of flow out of each cell. The flow direction raster can be created using the Flow Direction tool.	Raster Layer
out_polyline_features	Output feature class that will hold the converted streams.	Feature Class
simplify (Optional)	Specifies whether weeding is used. By default, weeding is applied. `SIMPLIFY`—The feature is weeded to reduce the number of vertices. The Douglas-Puecker algorithm for line generalization is used with a tolerance of `sqrt(0.5) * cell size`. `NO_SIMPLIFY`—No weeding is applied.	Boolean

Code sample

StreamToFeature example 1 (Python window)

This example converts a raster representing a linear network to features.

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
from arcpy.sa import *
env.workspace = "C:/sapyexamples/data"
StreamToFeature("stream", "flowdir", "c:/sapyexamples/output/outstrm01.shp",
                "NO_SIMPLIFY")

StreamToFeature example 2 (stand-alone script)

This example converts a raster representing a linear network to features.

# Name: _Ex_02.py
# Description:
# 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
inStreamRaster = "stream"
inFlowDir = "flowdir"
outStreamFeats = "c:/sapyexamples/output.gdb/outstrm02"

# Run
StreamToFeature(inStreamRaster, inFlowDir, outStreamFeats,
                 "NO_SIMPLIFY")

Environments

Auto Commit, Current Workspace, Default Output Z Value, Extent, Geographic Transformations, Mask, M Resolution, M Tolerance, Output CONFIG Keyword, Output Coordinate System, Output has M values, Output has Z values, Output M Domain, Output XY Domain, Output Z Domain, Scratch Workspace, Snap Raster, XY Resolution, XY Tolerance, Z Resolution, Z Tolerance

Licensing information