Geography 465

Overview
Geoprocessing in ArcGIS

Geoprocessing as modeling
MODELING

Types of Models in GIS

(by function)

Descriptive models database

Change models before and after
Impact models what happens
Explanatory models process influence
Predictive models what will be like
Prescriptive models should be like

Example of Suitability Model

The core of Geoprocessing

building data processing chains in GIS:
data -> operation -> output

Geoprocessing Framework
in ArcGIS 9.x
Multiple ways to do geoprocessing in ArcGIS

Developing Geoprocessing
Procedures with Model Builder
Why use Model Builder?

Automates geoprocessing workflow

Portability
Extensibility
Reusability
Documentation

Developing Geoprocessing
Procedures (models) with Model
Builder

Identify the components of a model

Build and test models
Edit existing models
Simplify complex models using submodels
Set up a model to run from its dialog
model parameterization

Facilitate conditional processing (branching) with

scripts
Calibrate and validate

Model Components
In ModelBuilder, models are represented as flow
charts with distinct symbols for each type of
component

Elements are connected together via connector

lines that serve to create processes as well as show
processing flow

Model Components (elements)

Data
Tool
Derived data
Value
Derived value

Data Process
Models typically contain several processes,
and they can be chained together so that the
derived output from one process becomes
the input for another process

Variables
Any element in a model that isn't a tool is a
variable (project data, derived data, values,
derived values)
Variables can be thought of as placeholders for
datasets or tool parameters
Variable values can be easily changed, and they
can be shared between processes in a model

Running a Model in ModelBuilder

To run a model is to run all of the processes that
compose it. The readiness of a process to run
depends on the state of its elements.
A process can be in one of three states:
not ready to run,
ready to run, or
has been run.

Sources of Simple Errors in Models

A model's readiness to
run can be affected by
various factors. One
factor is connectivity.
A tool that is not
connected to an input
element will not be
ready to run.

In this example, there is

no input to the Buffer
tool operation; therefore,
it is not ready to run.

Sources of Simple Errors in Models

Another factor affecting to ability to execute a process in
ModelBuilder is specification.

Although the input data element is ready to run, the parameters

of the Add Field tool have not been defined; therefore, the
process as a whole is not

Sources of Simple Errors in Models

The third factor affecting the ability to run a process
is data accessibility.

In this example, the elements are connected and their

parameters are fully specified. The problem is that
ModelBuilder cannot find the input data it needs.

How to start building a model?

1. Identify functional relationships between the
phenomenon and its variables
2. Identify the initial input variables
3. Identify the intermediate input variables.
4. Choose appropriate tools for implementing
transformation functions as processes
5. Combine processes based on cause-effect
relationships

Parametrizing Geoprocessing Models

Model variables can serve as model

parameters. There are two purposes for
this:

first, to be able to run your model from a

dialog, and second,

to be able to incorporate submodels.

Parametrizing Geoprocessing Models

Declaring a model variable as a parameter is
called exposing the variable.

Any variable in a model (in other words, datasets and tool

values) may be exposed as a model parameter.

Running a model with parameters

Right-click a data element to make it a parameter
Input or output data can be parameters

Setting model properties

Choose Properties on a models context menu

Setting model properties: General

Modify the name, label,
description, and style sheet

Setting model properties: Parameters

Add, remove, or change the
order of exposed parameters

Setting model properties: Environments

Set values for all
environments; applied to
entire model

Models and Submodels

Using submodels allows you to divide parts of
a larger model into smaller, more manageable
pieces.
Before a submodel can be added to a primary
model, the output variable of the submodel
must be exposed as a model parameter. This
will allow the output variable to be shared
between models.

Models and Submodels

Creating the ESRI Geoprocessor object

three ways - from ArcGIS Desktop 9.3 help

three way comparison

- from ArcGIS Desktop 9.3 help

Turning a Script into a Tool

Another way of using a submodel in a
model is to:
1) export the submodel into a script,
2) turn script into a tool, and
3) use a script tool in a model

Turning a Script into a Tool

1) export the submodel into a script

Script from previous export

Add a loop wrapper

Turning a Script into a Tool

Steps:
1) expose inputs and the output as model
parameters
2) export the model into a Python script
3) turn the script into a geoprocessing tool
4) use the script tool as a submodel in an
extended site suitability model

Geoprocessing Models as Simulation Tools

Using a model as a simulation tool requires
exposing the output data set as a model parameter
Dialogs provide a simplified view of a model and
allow the user to easily change parameter values
each time the model is run.
Once these model parameters are set, model users
can simply use the dialog for execution.
Running a model from its dialog allows for easy
testing of alternative scenarios.

Sequence Control and Conditional

Processing in ModelBuilder
You can control the sequence of processing
in your model by applying a precondition
(the output data from one tool must exist
before the tool can be executed)
You can build conditional processing
(branching) into your model with Python
scripts
Python Exercise time!