When you look at a map, you may start turning that map into information by finding patterns, assessing trends, or making decisions. This process is called spatial analysis.
Some patterns and relationships aren't obvious by looking at a map. There may be too much data to sift through to present coherently on a map. The way you display data on a map can change the patterns you see. Spatial analysis tools allow you to quantify patterns and relationships in the data and display the results as maps, tables, and charts. Using spatial analysis tools, you can answer questions and make decisions using more than a visual analysis.
Feature analysis
Feature analysis is performed on vector data sources, which is coordinate-based data that represents geographic features using points, lines, and polygons.
Feature analysis can be used to summarize features based on geographic location, measure distances around or between features, and quantify spatial patterns.
Feature analysis tools are identified in the Tools pane by the feature tool icon 
.
If you're a developer, you can access these tools through the ArcGIS REST API Spatial Analysis service and the ArcGIS API for Python arcgis.features.analysis module.
Raster analysis
Raster data consists of a matrix of cells (or pixels) organized into rows and columns (or a grid) where each cell contains a value representing information, such as temperature or elevation. Rasters can be digital aerial photographs, satellite imagery, digital pictures, or scanned maps.
Imagery and raster data contains information that can be used to identify patterns, find features, and understand change across landscapes. To extract information from imagery, you can process or analyze the data. For example, you can calculate a vegetation index to get an understanding of vegetation coverage from a multiband image or find suitable locations to build solar power plants using statewide elevation and land cover raster data.
Raster analysis tools are identified in the Tools pane by the raster tool icon 
.
Note:
Raster functions are not currently supported in Map Viewer. Raster functions can still be accessed in Map Viewer Classic.
If you're a developer, you can access these tools through the ArcGIS REST API Raster Analysis service and the ArcGIS API for Python arcgis.raster.analytics module.
Run the analysis tools
To access and use analysis tools in Map Viewer, complete the following steps:
- Confirm that you are signed in and that you have the required privileges to perform analysis.
- In Map Viewer, open the map containing the layers you want to analyze or add the layers directly.
- On the Settings (light) toolbar, click Analysis
.Note:
If you do not see the Analysis button in Map Viewer, contact your ArcGIS administrator. You may not have the privileges required to perform analysis.
Learn more about licensing requirements for spatial analysis
- Click Tools
. - Click a toolbox to expand the tools. Alternatively, use the search box to search for a tool or keyword.
- Select a tool.
The tool pane appears.
- Update the tool parameters, including selecting input layers, naming the output layers, and updating any required configurations.
Tip:
Hover over a parameter to view the help. You can also click Learn more to open the tool help topic.
- Click Environment settings to view and update the environments that are used by the tool.
- Click Estimate credits to calculate the number of credits that will be consumed when the tool is run.
- Click Run.
The tool runs and the output datasets are added to the web map. Information about the tool operation, including unsuccessful runs, is added to the analysis history for the web map.
Supported data
One or more input datasets are required for analysis tools. Some tools only work with certain data types. For example, Aggregate Points requires an input layer containing point features, and the Aggregate Multidimensional Raster tool requires a multidimensional imagery layer. The data must be added to the map to be used in analysis tools.
The following data types are supported for feature inputs:
- Feature service
- Hosted feature layer
- Table
The following data types are supported for raster inputs:
- Image service
- Hosted imagery layer
- Deep learning package file (.dlpk)
Note:
Feature services, map services, and image services must be publicly accessible; that is, the URL to the service must be a public URL, not one only accessible behind a firewall.
ArcGIS Server feature services that you add to ArcGIS Online must contain fewer than 100,000 features to be used in analysis. As the complexity of the features in the service increases, the number of features you can analyze decreases. For example, if the service contains polygon features that have thousands of vertices each, you may only be able to analyze a few hundred features. If the number or complexity of features exceeds what the tool can support, you receive an error message.
Analysis outputs
Analysis tools produce one or more outputs. When a tool runs successfully, the output will be added to the Layers pane. When the tool produces a table output, it will be added to the Tables pane. The results can also be accessed from the analysis history on the Results tab of the analysis details.
Note:
Output names cannot include the following special characters: <, >, #, %, :, ;, ", ?, &, +, =, |, /, \, *, or @Tool comparison
The following table lists new tools, tools that have been renamed, and tools that are not yet supported in Map Viewer. Tools that are not listed are supported in both Map Viewer and Map Viewer Classic under the same name.
| Map Viewer Classic | Map Viewer |
|---|---|
Not available | |
Not available | |
Not available | |
Not available | |
Not available | |
Not available | |
Not available | |
Not available | |
Not available | |
Create Viewshed (raster analysis) | |
Not available | |
Not available | |
Not available | |
Not available | |
Not available |
Resources
Use the following resources to learn more: