Create Range Fans

Available in real-time and big data analytics.

The Create Range Fans tool generates range fans for incoming event record point data using a specified range distance, bearing, and arc angle. A range fan is a two-dimensional feature in the shape of a wedge that can be used to represent a visual or contextual range of a feature.

Example

The following is an example use case for the tool:

A transportation department monitors vehicle movement in real time and wants to calculate and display the approximate visual range of a moving vehicle. As the vehicle is in transit, the intersection between the vehicle's range fan (field of view) and an asset on the ground can be used to send a notification.

Usage notes

Consider the following when working with the tool:

• The size of the range fan's extent can be set using one of the following options:
  • Distance—Uses a constant value, that is, all fans have the same range extent.
  • Field—Uses values from a field, that is, different features can have different-sized range extent.
  • Expression—Applies an expression to each feature, that is, different features can have different values based on the expression.
• The range fan's bearing value can be set using one of the following options:
  • Value—Uses a constant value, that is, all fans have the same bearing.
  • Field—Uses values from a field, that is, different features can have different bearing values.
  • Expression—Applies an expression to each feature, that is, different features can have different values based on the expression.
• The range fan's arc angle can be set using one of the following options:
  • Value—Uses a constant value, that is, all range fans have the same arc angle.
  • Field—Uses values from a field, that is, different features can have different arc angle values.
  • Expression—Applies an expression to each feature, that is, different features can have different values based on the expression.
• The tool processes an event record to match the spatial reference and coordinate system of the input point features, meaning that the spatial reference of the output polygon feature layer is the same as the input layer.
• If Field is chosen for the Input layer parameter to obtain the range distances, the field's values can be either a numeric value or can include a linear unit of measurement. If a field value is only a numeric value, it is assumed to be using the linear unit of measurement as the input layer spatial reference. If the input layer is in a geographic coordinate system, the value is assumed to be in meters. If the linear unit specified in the field values is invalid or not recognized, the same linear unit of measurement as the input features' spatial reference is used by default.

Parameters

The following are the parameters for the tool:

Parameter	Description	Data type
Input layer	The point layer used as the source of the range fan's anchor point.	Features
Range distance by	Specifies a value to calculate the range fan's extent. The range is the length or distance the range fan extends forward from the anchor point. The range can be defined using a constant value, the name of an attribute field, or an expression that evaluates to a positive numeric value. A value is required. The options are as follows: Distance—Uses a constant value. Field—Uses values from a field. If a numeric field is specified, the units are in the linear unit of the event's spatial reference. If a string field is specified with units, the specified units are used for the range. For example, an event with a field value of 50 miles creates a range fan for that event using 50 miles, regardless of the event's spatial reference. Expression—Applies an expression to each feature. The default is Meters. The options are as follows: Meters Kilometers Millimeters Centimeters Decimeters Feet Inches Yards Miles Nautical Miles	String
Bearing by	Specifies the bearing in degrees greater than zero and less than 360 measured clockwise from north. The bearing can be specified as a constant value, the name of an attribute field, or an expression that evaluates to a positive numeric value. The bearing bisects the range fan's arc. A value is required. The options are as follows: Value—Uses a constant value. Field—Uses values from a field. Expression—Applies an expression to each feature.	String
Arc angle by	Specifies the arc angle of the range fan in degrees greater than zero and less than 360. The arc angle can be specified as a constant value, the name of an attribute field, or an expression that evaluates to a positive numeric value. A value is required. The options are as follows: Value—Uses a constant value. Field—Uses values from a field. Expression—Applies an expression to each feature.	String

Output layer

The output layer is a polygon layer and retains the same schema as the input layer.

Considerations and limitations

Consider the following when working with the tool:

• A range fan can only be constructed forward of a two-dimensional point. Other geometry types such as multipoint, polyline, polygon, and envelope are not supported.
• The Range distance by, Bearing by, and Arc angle by parameter values must all evaluate to positive numeric values.
• The Arc angle by parameter value must be greater than zero degrees and less than 360 degrees. Depending on the range, map scale, projection, and feature symbology, the polygonal range fan can display as a line if an extremely small arc angle is specified.