Creating a buffered bearing

The Bearing Buffer function creates a polygon feature that is based on a single input coordinate.

Steps:

1. Start ArcMap.
2. On the menu bar, click Customize > Toolbars > Production Feature Builder.
3. Click the Launch Feature Builder button on the Production Feature Builder toolbar.

   The Feature Builder window appears in ArcMap.

   The Feature Builder window

   Tip:

   The Feature Builder window can be placed anywhere in ArcMap, or in the TOC, with the aid of the arrows showing the possible placement positions.

4. Choose Bearing Buffer in the list on the Functions tab.

5. Define a coordinate for the start point of the polyline by doing one of the following:
   • Clicking the Pinprick button on the Production Feature Builder toolbar, then clicking on the map
   • Typing the coordinates in the cells on the Input tab in the Coordinates area
   Tip:

   To view the input coordinates on the map, double-click the row headers for each coordinate.

6. Click the cell next to Azimuth and type the azimuth value.

   The Azimuth value is the angle at which the polygon is going to be created. The default unit is degrees.

Tip:

You can right-click the parameter name and change the unit of measurement. If you change the unit of measurement after defining a value, the value is converted to the new unit of measurement, and you may need to redefine the value.

7. Click the cell next to Distance and type the distance value.

   The Distance value represents the amount of space between the input coordinate and the buffer. The default unit is Nautical Miles.

Tip:

You can right-click the parameter name and change the unit of measurement. If you change the unit of measurement after defining a value, the value is converted to the new unit of measurement, and you may need to redefine the value.

8. Click the cell next to Left Buffer and type the value for the left buffer.

   This is the amount of space that should exist to the left of the input coordinate. The default unit is Nautical Miles.

   Tip:

   You can right-click the parameter name and change the unit of measurement. If you change the unit of measurement after defining a value, the value is converted to the new unit of measurement, and you may need to redefine the value.

9. Click the cell next to Right Buffer and type the value for the right buffer.

   This is amount of space that should exist to the right of the input coordinate. The default unit is Nautical Miles.

   Tip:

   You can right-click the parameter name and change the unit of measurement. If you change the unit of measurement after defining a value, the value is converted to the new unit of measurement, and you may need to redefine the value.

10. Click the drop-down arrow next to Buffer End Type and choose a style for the ends of the buffer.

    This is the type of corners added to the ends of the buffer segments. There are two options for this:

    • Clipped—The corners of the buffer are squared, so the geometry is rectangular.
    • Elliptic—The corners of the buffer are round, so the geometry is an oval.
11. If necessary, click the cell next to MagVar Value and type a value for the magnetic variation.

    This can be a specified value or from a field defined in the MagVar Source parameter. The default unit is degrees.

    Learn more about the magnetic variation value

Tip:

You can right-click the parameter name and change the unit of measurement. If you change the unit of measurement after defining a value, the value is converted to the new unit of measurement, and you may need to redefine the value.

12. If necessary, click the drop-down arrow next to MagVar Source and choose a source for the magnetic variation.

    This is the source of the magnetic variation value.

    Learn more about the magnetic variation source

13. If necessary, click the drop-down arrow next to MagVar Year and choose a different year for the World Magnetic Model.

    This is the year associated with the magnetic variation value.

    Learn more about the magnetic variation year

14. Click the Execute button .

A polygon is created based on bearing line and buffer distances.

Tip:

If the polygon does not appear, click the Add Scratch Data Layers button at the top of the Feature Builder window.