Intersect (Coverage)

Summary

Computes the geometric intersection of two coverages. Only those features in the area common to both coverages will be preserved in the output coverage.

Learn more about how Intersect works

Illustration

Intersect Illustration

Usage

Syntax

Intersect_arc (in_cover, intersect_cover, out_cover, {feature_type}, {fuzzy_tolerance}, {join_attributes})
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_cover

The coverage whose polygon, line, or point features will be intersected with the intersect coverage.

Coverage
intersect_cover

The intersect coverage. This coverage must contain polygon features.

Coverage
out_cover

The coverage that will be created to contain the results.

Coverage
feature_type
(Optional)

The input coverage feature class to be overlaid and preserved in the output coverage.

  • POLYThe input coverage's polygon feature class will be used as input. This is the default option.
  • LINEThe input coverage's line (arc) feature class will be used as input.
  • POINTThe input coverage's point feature class will be used as input.
String
fuzzy_tolerance
(Optional)

The minimum distance between coordinates in the output coverage. By default, the minimum fuzzy tolerance value from the input and erase coverages is used.

Learn more about how the default fuzzy tolerance is calculated

Double
join_attributes
(Optional)

Specifies whether all items in both the input coverage feature attribute and identity coverage will be joined to the output coverage feature attribute table.

  • JOINAll feature attribute items from both coverages will appear in the output coverage feature attribute table. If a duplicate item is encountered, the item in the input coverage will be maintained and the one in the join file will be dropped. This is the default option.
  • NO_JOINOnly the feature's internal number (cover#) from the input coverage and the intersect coverage are joined in the output coverage feature attribute table. This option is useful in reducing the size of the output coverage feature attribute table. The Add Join tool can then be used to get the attributes to the output coverage features.
Boolean

Code Sample

Intersect example (stand-alone script)

The following stand-alone script demonstrates how to intersect two coverages.

# Name: Intersect_Example.py
# Description: Intersects two coverages
# Requirements: ArcInfo Workstation
# Author: ESRI

# Import system modules
import arcpy
from arcpy import env

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

# Set local variables
inCover = "stream"
intersectCover = "citylim"
outCover = "C:/output/citystreams"
featureType = "LINE"
joinAttributes = "NO_JOIN"

# Execute Intersect
arcpy.Intersect_arc(inCover, intersectCover, outCover, featureType, "", 
                    joinAttributes)

Environments

Related Topics

Licensing Information

ArcView: No
ArcEditor: No
ArcInfo: Requires ArcInfo Workstation installed

Published 6/8/2010