Introduction to ModelBuilder

Outline:

• Feature classes in the class geodatabase

• About this website (course materials)

• A tour of ArcGIS Pro’s interface

  • Maps and Scene,

  • Contents and Catalog Pane

  • Geoprocessing

  • Tools and Toolboxes

• Automation with ArcGIS ModelBuilder

What is ModelBuilder

ArcGIS Pro ModelBuilder is a visual programming language for building geoprocessing workflows.

• Build a model by adding and connecting data and tools

• Iteratively process every feature class, raster, file, or table in a workspace.

• Visualize your workflow sequence as an easy-to-understand diagram.

• Run a model step-by-step, up to a selected step, or run the entire model.

• Make your model into a geoprocessing tool that can be shared or can be used in Python scripting and other models.

Create a model

Step 1. Navigate to the Toolboxes section in the Catalog pane.

Step 2. Modify the model’s Name and Label by go to the Properties menu.

Note

• Name only supports alphanumeric characters.

• Label is what you see in ArcGIS Pro support all characters.

Step 3. Start to design the model’s workflow by adding data and geoprocessing functions.

Problem 1

Question:

Find census blockgroups that have at least one school within 2 miles of I-75

Solution

• Create a 2-mile buffer around I-75 (Buffer)

• Use this buffer to clip schools (Clip)

• Spatial Join the schools to blockgroups (Spatial Join)

• Select blockgroups that have at least one school (select by Location)

• Save the selected features as a separate layer (Copy Features)

Problem 2

Question:

Develop an index as a ratio of street length to the blockgroup area

Solution

• Intersect roads by blockgroups (Intersect)

• Spatial Join roads to blockgroups (Spatial Join)

  • Choose to Sum the length of the roads during spatial join

• Add and calculate a new field as the ratio of total road lengths by blockgroups area (Calculate Field)