Slope (3D Analyst)
Summary
Identifies the slope (gradient, or rate of maximum change in z-value) from each cell of a raster surface.
Illustration
Usage
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Slope is the rate of maximum change in z-value from each cell.
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The use of a z-factor is essential for correct slope calculations when the surface z units are expressed in units different from the ground x,y units.
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The range of values in the output depends on the type of measurement units.
- For degrees, the range of slope values is 0 to 90.
- For percent rise, the range is 0 to essentially infinity. A flat surface is 0 percent, a 45 degree surface is 100 percent, and as the surface becomes more vertical, the percent rise becomes increasingly larger. See how Slope works for a more detailed explanation of the range of output values with this option.
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If the center cell in the immediate neighborhood (3 x 3 window) is NoData, the output is NoData.
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If any neighborhood cells are NoData, they are assigned the value of the center cell; then the slope is computed.
Syntax
Parameter | Explanation | Data Type |
in_raster |
The input surface raster. | Raster Layer |
out_raster |
The output slope raster. | Raster Dataset |
output_measurement (Optional) |
Determines the measurement units (degrees or percentages) of the output slope data.
| String |
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 |
Code Sample
This example determines the slope values of the input surface raster.
import arcpy from arcpy import env env.workspace = "C:/data" arcpy.Slope_3d("elevation", "C:/output/outslope01", "DEGREE", 0.3043)
This example determines the slope values of the input surface raster.
# Name: Slope_3d_Ex_02.py # Description: Identifies the rate of maximum change # in z-value from each cell. # Requirements: 3D Analyst Extension # Import system modules import arcpy from arcpy import env # Set environment settings env.workspace = "C:/data" # Set local variables inRaster = "elevation" outRaster = "C:/output/outslope02" outMeasurement = "DEGREE" zFactor = 0.3043 # Check out the ArcGIS 3D Analyst extension license arcpy.CheckOutExtension("3D") # Execute Slope arcpy.Slope_3d(inRaster, outRaster, outMeasurement, zFactor)