Curvature (Spatial Analyst)

Summary

Calculates the curvature of a raster surface, optionally including profile and plan curvature.

Learn more about how Curvature works

Usage

Syntax

Curvature (in_raster, {z_factor}, {out_profile_curve_raster}, {out_plan_curve_raster})
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_raster

The input surface raster.

Raster Layer
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
out_profile_curve_raster
(Optional)

Output profile curve raster dataset.

This is the curvature of the surface in the direction of slope.

Raster Dataset
out_plan_curve_raster
(Optional)

Output plan curve raster dataset.

This is the curvature of the surface perpendicular to the slope direction.

Raster Dataset

Return Value

NameExplanationData Type
out_curvature_raster

The output curvature raster.

Raster

Code Sample

Curvature example 1 (Python window)

This example creates a curvature raster from an input surface raster and also applies a z-factor.

import arcpy
from arcpy import env
from arcpy.sa import *
env.workspace = "C:/sapyexamples/data"
outCurve = Curvature("elevation", 1.094)
outCurve.save("C:/sapyexamples/output/outcurv01")
Curvature example 2 (stand-alone script)

This example creates a curvature raster from an input surface raster and also applies a z-factor.

# Name: Curvature_Ex_02.py
# Description: Calculates the curvature of a raster surface, 
#     optionally including profile and plan curvature.
# Requirements: Spatial Analyst Extension
# Author: ESRI

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

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

# Set local variables
inRaster = "elevation"
zFactor = 1.094

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

# Execute Curvature
outCurve = Curvature(inRaster, 1.094)

# Save the output 
outCurve.save("C:/sapyexamples/output/outcurv02")

Environments

Related Topics

Licensing Information

ArcView: Requires Spatial Analyst or 3D Analyst
ArcEditor: Requires Spatial Analyst or 3D Analyst
ArcInfo: Requires Spatial Analyst or 3D Analyst

6/29/2011