A buffer analysis resulting in a new layer with 1000 feet areas around high schools.
What is a buffer analysis? A buffer analysis is the process of creating an area at a distance around a point, line, or polygon feature. To execute the analysis, use the spatial analysis service and the Create
Real-world examples of this analysis include the following:
Creating a buffer around schools. Creating a buffer around transit lines. Generating a buffer around points of interest. After calculating a buffer area, you can use the resulting polygon for further analysis to answer questions such as: how many points of interest are within a mile of a specific location, or what buildings are within 500 feet of a school?
How to create a buffer The general steps to create a buffer are as follows:
Review the parameters for the Create operation. Send a request to get the spatial analysis service URL. Execute a job request with the following URL and parameters: URL: https: Parameters:input: Your points dataset as a hosted feature layer or feature collection.distances or field: The value containing the buffer distance. Use distances if you want multiple distances with which to calculate buffers. output: A string representing the name of the hosted feature layer to reutrn with the results. Check the status . Get the output layer results . To see examples using ArcGIS API for Python, ArcGIS REST JS, and the ArcGIS REST API, go to Examples below.
URL request
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http : //<YOUR_ANALYSIS_SERVICE>/arcgis/rest/services/tasks/GPServer/CreateBuffers/submitJob?<parameters>
Required parameters Name Description Examples fThe format of the data returned. f=json f=pjsontokenAn OAuth 2.0 access token . Learn how to get an access token in Security and authentication . token=<inputThe point, line, or polygon features to be buffered. {"url":"https:distancesIf not using field. The value with which the buffer will be calculated.1fieldIf not using distances. A field within the input containing a buffer distance.ATTRIBUTE_
Key parameters Name Description Examples unitsThe unit to be used with the specified distance values. Meters, Kilometers, MilesdissolveDetermines whether overlapping buffers are split, dissolved, or kept. None, Dissolve, SplitoutputA string representing the name of the hosted feature layer to return with the results. NOTE : If you do not include this parameter, the results are returned as a feature collection (JSON). {"servicecontextA bounding box or output spatial reference for the analysis. "extent":{"xmin:
Code examples Bike routes (lines) This example uses the Create operation to create areas 200 feet around bike routes.
Buffer analysis showing 200 ft areas around bike routes.
APIs ArcGIS API for Python ArcGIS API for Python ArcGIS REST JS
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input_layer = "https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Portland%20Bike%20Routes/FeatureServer/0"
results = create_buffers(
input_layer=input_layer,
dissolve_type= "Dissolve" ,
distances=[ 200 ],
units= "Feet" ,
ring_type= "Rings" ,
context={
"extent" : {
"xmin" : - 13727534.4477 ,
"ymin" : 5604395.5062 ,
"xmax" : - 13547856.7377 ,
"ymax" : 5741928.7477 ,
"spatialReference" : { "wkid" : 102100 },
}
},
#Outputs results as a hosted feature layer.
output_name= "Create buffer results"
)
Service requests 1. Get the analysis service URL 2. Submit job 3. Check job status 4. Get results
Request HTTP HTTP cURL
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POST arcgis.com/sharing/rest/portals/self HTTP/1.1
Content-Type : application/x-www-form-urlencoded
&f=json
&token= < ACCESS_TOKEN >
Response (JSON)
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{
"helperServices" : {
// Other parameters
"analysis" : {
"url" : "https://<YOUR_ANALYSIS_SERVICE>/arcgis/rest/services/tasks/GPServer"
},
"geoenrichment" : {
"url" : "https://geoenrich.arcgis.com/arcgis/rest/services/World/GeoenrichmentServer"
}
}
}
Request HTTP HTTP cURL
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POST <YOUR_ANALYSIS_SERVICE> /arcgis/ rest /services/ tasks /GPServer/ CreateBuffers /submitJob HTTP/ 1.1
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
&f=json
&token=<ACCESS_TOKEN>
&inputLayer={ "url" : "https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Portland Bike Routes/FeatureServer/0" , "name" : "Portland Bike Routes" }
&dissolveType=Dissolve
&distances=[ 200 ]
&units=Feet
&ringType=Rings
&sideType=Full
&endType= Round
&outputName={ "serviceProperties" :{ "name" : "Create buffer results" }}
&context={ "extent" :{ "xmin" :- 13662729.567933429 , "ymin" : 5698255.281363884 , "xmax" :- 13646142.732795566 , "ymax" : 5708813.1458957605 , "spatialReference" :{ "wkid" : 102100 , "latestWkid" : 3857 }}}
Response (JSON)
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{
"jobId" : "<JOB_ID>" ,
"jobStatus" : "esriJobSubmitted" ,
"results" : {},
"inputs" : {},
"messages" : []
}
Request HTTP HTTP cURL
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POST <YOUR_ANALYSIS_SERVICE> /arcgis/ rest /services/ tasks /GPServer/ CreateBuffers /jobs/ <JOB_ID> HTTP/ 1.1
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
&f=json
&token=<ACCESS_TOKEN>
Response (JSON)
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// Executing job
{
"jobId" : "<JOB_ID>" ,
"jobStatus" : "esriJobExecuting" ,
"results" : {},
"inputs" : {},
"messages" : []
}
// Job succeeded
{
"jobId" : "<JOB_ID>" ,
"jobStatus" : "esriJobSucceeded" ,
"results" : {
"bufferLayer" : {
"paramUrl" : "results/bufferLayer"
},
},
"inputs" : {},
"messages" : []
}
Request HTTP HTTP cURL
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POST <YOUR_ANALYSIS_SERVICE> /arcgis/ rest /services/ tasks /GPServer/ CreateBuffers /jobs/ <JOB_ID> /results/ bufferLayer HTTP/ 1.1
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
&f=json
&returnType=data
&token=<ACCESS_TOKEN>
Response (JSON)
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{
"paramName" : "bufferLayer" ,
"dataType" : "GPString" ,
"value" : {
"url" : "<SERVICE_URL>" ,
"itemId" : "<ITEM_ID>"
}
}
Recreational parcels (polygons) This example uses the Create operation to create areas one mile around recreational parcels in the Santa Monica Mountains Parcels hosted feature layer.
Buffer analysis showing 1 mile areas around recreational parcels.
APIs ArcGIS API for Python ArcGIS API for Python ArcGIS REST JS
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input_layer = "https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels/FeatureServer/0/query?where=UseType='Recreational'"
results = create_buffers(
input_layer=input_layer,
dissolve_type= "Dissolve" ,
distances=[ 1 ],
units= "Miles" ,
ring_type= "Rings" ,
context={
"extent" : {
"xmin" : - 13241162.787695415 ,
"ymin" : 4029393.2145536076 ,
"xmax" : - 13208887.252502043 ,
"ymax" : 4049992.993676435 ,
"spatialReference" : { "wkid" : 102100 },
}
},
#Outputs results as a hosted feature layer.
output_name= "Create buffer results"
)
Service requests 1. Get the analysis service URL 2. Submit job 3. Check job status 4. Get results
Request HTTP HTTP cURL
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POST arcgis.com/sharing/rest/portals/self HTTP/1.1
Content-Type : application/x-www-form-urlencoded
&f=json
&token= < ACCESS_TOKEN >
Response (JSON)
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{
"helperServices" : {
// Other parameters
"analysis" : {
"url" : "https://<YOUR_ANALYSIS_SERVICE>/arcgis/rest/services/tasks/GPServer"
},
"geoenrichment" : {
"url" : "https://geoenrich.arcgis.com/arcgis/rest/services/World/GeoenrichmentServer"
}
}
}
Request HTTP HTTP cURL
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POST <YOUR_ANALYSIS_SERVICE> /arcgis/ rest /services/ tasks /GPServer/ CreateBuffers /submitJob HTTP/ 1.1
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
&f=json
&token=<ACCESS_TOKEN>
&inputLayer={ "url" : "https://services3.arcgis.com/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels/FeatureServer/0" , "filter" : "UseType = 'Recreational'" , "name" : "Santa_Monica_Mountains_Parcels" }
&dissolveType=Dissolve
&distances=[ 1 ]
&units=Miles
&ringType=Rings
&sideType=Full
&endType= Round
&outputName={ "serviceProperties" :{ "name" : "Create buffer results" }}
&context={ "extent" :{ "xmin" :- 13241162.787695415 , "ymin" : 4029393.2145536076 , "xmax" :- 13208887.252502043 , "ymax" : 4049992.993676435 , "spatialReference" :{ "wkid" : 102100 , "latestWkid" : 3857 }}}
Response (JSON)
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{
"jobId" : "<JOB_ID>" ,
"jobStatus" : "esriJobSubmitted" ,
"results" : {},
"inputs" : {},
"messages" : []
}
Request HTTP HTTP cURL
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POST <YOUR_ANALYSIS_SERVICE> /arcgis/ rest /services/ tasks /GPServer/ CreateBuffers /jobs/ <JOB_ID> HTTP/ 1.1
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
&f=json
&token=<ACCESS_TOKEN>
Response (JSON)
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// Executing job
{
"jobId" : "<JOB_ID>" ,
"jobStatus" : "esriJobExecuting" ,
"results" : {},
"inputs" : {},
"messages" : []
}
// Job succeeded
{
"jobId" : "<JOB_ID>" ,
"jobStatus" : "esriJobSucceeded" ,
"results" : {
"bufferLayer" : {
"paramUrl" : "results/bufferLayer"
},
},
"inputs" : {},
"messages" : []
}
Request HTTP HTTP cURL
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POST <YOUR_ANALYSIS_SERVICE> /arcgis/ rest /services/ tasks /GPServer/ CreateBuffers /jobs/ <JOB_ID> /results/ bufferLayer HTTP/ 1.1
Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
&f=json
&returnType=data
&token=<ACCESS_TOKEN>
Response (JSON)
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{
"paramName" : "bufferLayer" ,
"dataType" : "GPString" ,
"value" : {
"url" : "<SERVICE_URL>" ,
"itemId" : "<ITEM_ID>"
}
}
Tutorials Learn how to perform related analyses interactively with Map Viewer and programmatically with ArcGIS API for Python, ArcGIS REST JS, and ArcGIS REST API.
Services Process spatial datasets to discover relationships and patterns.
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