ArcGIS Help 10.2 - Select Layer By Location (Data Management) (2024)

License Level:BasicStandardAdvanced

Summary

Selects features in a layer based on a spatial relationship to features in another layer.

Each feature in the Input Feature Layer is evaluated against the features in the Selecting Features layer or feature class; if the specified Relationship is met, the input feature is selected.

Graphic examples of relationships

Usage

• The input must be a feature layer; it cannot be a feature class.

• Valid inputs for this tool are layers in the ArcMap, ArcGlobe, or ArcScene table of contents, and also on layers created in ArcCatalog or in scripts using the Make Feature Layer tool.

• The coordinate system in which the spatial relationship is evaluated may affect the result. Features that intersect in one coordinate system may or may not intersect in another.

  • This tool evaluates spatial relationship in the coordinate system of the Input Feature Layer's data source (the feature class on disk). Set the output coordinate system environment to evaluate the spatial relationship in a different coordinate system.
  • The Select By Location tools available in the Selection menu in ArcMap, ArcScene, and ArcGlobe evaluate spatial relationship in the coordinate system of that application's display (the current data frame). For the geoprocessing tool to match this behavior (and get identical results), set output coordinate system environment to Same as Display.

• This tool can be used to select features based on their spatial relationships to other features within the same layer. For some examples, see: Select by location within a layer.

  See Also

  Layer lagebezogen auswählen (Data Management)—ArcGIS ProSelect Layer By Location (Data Management)—ArcGIS ProArcGIS Help 10.1 - Layer lagebezogen auswählen (Data Management)Layer lagebezogen auswählen (Data Management)—ArcMap

• The Get Count tool can be used to find the number of features selected by the Select Layer By Location tool. This can be useful for determining if any features matched the desired spatial relationship before proceeding to further analysis as part of an automated workflow (that is, script or model).

• For more information about using the three-dimensional spatial relationships (INTERSECT_3D and WITHIN_A_DISTANCE_3D), see Select by location 3D relationships.

Syntax

SelectLayerByLocation_management (in_layer, {overlap_type}, {select_features}, {search_distance}, {selection_type})

Code Sample

import arcpy# First, make a layer from the feature classarcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management("c:/kamsack.gdb/parcel", "parcel_lyr")# Then add a selection to the layer based on location to features in another feature class arcpy.SelectLayerByLocation_management ("parcel_lyr", "have_their_center_in", "c:/kamsack.gdb/city_limits")

# Name: ExtactFeaturesByLocationAndAttribute.py# Description: Extract features to a new feature class based on a Location and an attribute query# Import arcpy and set path to dataimport arcpyarcpy.env.workspace = "c:/data/mexico.gdb"# Make a layer and select cities which overlap the chihuahua polygonarcpy.MakeFeatureLayer_management('cities', 'cities_lyr') arcpy.SelectLayerByLocation_management('cities_lyr', 'intersect', 'chihuahua') # Within the previous selection sub-select cities which have population > 10,000arcpy.SelectLayerByAttribute_management('cities_lyr', 'SUBSET_SELECTION', '"population" > 10000')# If features matched criteria write them to a new feature classmatchcount = int(arcpy.GetCount_management('cities_lyr').getOutput(0)) if matchcount == 0: print('no features matched spatial and attribute criteria')else: arcpy.CopyFeatures_management('cities_lyr', 'chihuahua_10000plus') print('{0} cities that matched criteria written to {0}'.format( matchcount, chihuahua_10000plus))

Environments

Related Topics

Licensing Information

ArcGIS for Desktop Basic: Yes

ArcGIS for Desktop Standard: Yes

ArcGIS for Desktop Advanced: Yes