GIS Skills: Align Features in ArcGIS Pro

[@mountainsman]

I have been zooming and snapping for a good part of my career! I was even adept at splitting polygons to re-align them using trace, but this is so much better. Thanks so much for putting this out there.

[@GISChops]

Same here! I’m not sure why it took me so long to find this tool.

[@GISChops]

Same here, but instead of splitting, I would reshape one of the polygons so that the offending edge had a large gap, zoom in on the corners, move the vertices so they snapped at the corners, then reshape again using the trace tool.

[@DylanAnderson-kh2wo]

I'm here for the comedy. Well done sir, the GIS is just supplement to your entertainment.

[@GISChops]

Ha ha. That's a lot of pressure.

[@Fraid-Knot]

What a great video and tool discovery. If I had a nickel for every mile I've rolled that mouse wheel checking for gaps, I would be rich. Thanks for passing this along.

[@GISChops]

Thanks for such a kind comment. I’m glad it was helpful.

[@stillinorbit1]

Very useful. Additionally, ArcGIS Pro has the "Integrate" tool, which will snap shut polygon gaps within a single layer when there is no second layer to act as a reference (which this tutorial uses). For example, Integrate would close the gaps shown at timestamp 0:10.

[@GISChops]

Thanks for the comment. I have been wanting to do a follow up to this video for a while. I’ll include the Integrate tool in that one.

[@mildmayheadless5217]

You're foul for that cut at 0:31 😂😂😂 but I get it plus you still came through for a brother. God bless you, King 👑

[@GISChops]

Ha ha, I had to go watch it to see what you were talking about. I forgot I did that. Thanks for taking the time to comment. Be sure to subscribe!

[@mildmayheadless5217]

@@GISChops Liked and subscribed, sir!!!!

[@tarynbrickner219]

This was so helpful. Saved me from having to manually fix 70+ polygon boundaries. Thanks!

[@GISChops]

I’m glad I was able to save you some time. Thanks for the wonderful comment.

[@GISChops]

I don’t know if you have seen any of my videos asking for interviews with people in GIS. I’m still doing those and I would love to chat with you.

[@tarynbrickner219]

@@GISChops Hey! I just saw this. I would love to chat!

[@GISChops]

If you do Instagram, send me your email in a DM and I can send you my schedule.

[@alexthompson9403]

I’ve been looking for this tool and I didn’t even know it! Another great video.

[@GISChops]

It’s very useful, I’m glad the video was helpful.

[@nagardiptesh300]

Great tips, its super usefull and making work easy and quick. Thank you so much.

[@GISChops]

You are very welcome! Thanks for the kind comment.

[@cicinomaden]

THANK YOU! Spent at least a couple of hours straight yesterday editing a couple of vertices for 60 polygons manually, this saved me so much time instead!!

[@GISChops]

I’m glad it helped you out!

[@alexbullock3010]

I hate those gaps and overlaps!! Thanks for the tip!!

[@GISChops]

Me too! Thanks for watching!

[@helenmoore6557]

We were never told about this in the early years that's for sure!!! Awesome video

[@GISChops]

Thanks for the comment! How long have you been in GIS?

[@helenmoore6557]

@@GISChops Since 1999 original user here at City Hall. Boy has this been a fun ride! I am a graphics person and technical illustrator who made the transition to GIS. Now I'm working on learning to gravitate to to Pro and Portal and learning to code. We have a wonderful GIS director here now.

[@GISChops]

I replied to your other comment asking this, but I’ll ask here as well. Would you be willing to chat with me for 45 minutes or so over a zoom meeting as part of a class I’m taking?

[@vishalvighne3747]

Im new at Arc pro its good for me im happy, I like to learn advance, please make more videos Thanks From Vishal Mumbai India

[@GISChops]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@555JB]

ha ha very funny stuff, you got to be Canadian! Thanks for the informative videos, even though they are an average of 7 minutes.

[@GISChops]

Thanks for taking the time to comment! Is seven minutes too long or too short?

[@aubydauby]

Thanks. I never used the tool to much satisfaction in ArcMap, but my belated switch to Pro has been riddled with minor pain points. These videos help a lot.

[@GISChops]

It does get better, trust me. I hated it at first.

[@patrickchristie82]

Boom! This is right on point for what I need. Liked, submitted and thank you. !

[@GISChops]

Thanks! Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment. Now tell all your friends. 😉

[@FlowFidelity]

YOOOOO! That right click replace sketch THO! That's legit.

[@GISChops]

I know! That saves me so much time. I use it with more tools than just this one too.

[@FlowFidelity]

@@GISChops That makes sense. That right there is a game changer! I'm working on aligning an Addis Ababa file with the older 2007 Kebele file for the rest of the country, but then I need to do Dire Dawa, then the Somali Region, so this is going to help me so much! Thanks again GIS Chops!

[@GISChops]

Good luck! Let me know if you discover any other time savers.

[@FlowFidelity]

@@GISChops I can't remember if you mentioned it in the video, but I had to uncheck "Allow aligning features without a selection" It kept moving things I didn't want it too, and I remembered you talking about selection around 1:11, so I went back to watch this again. I could not see the selection options though until I unchecked the box. Now it is not longer moving polygons that I don't want it too :) Maybe I should have named them "Do Not Move This Layer" haha

[@GISChops]

Hmm, I did mention it, but I didn’t demonstrate it. It’s weird that it was switched on by default for you. I like using the selection, it gives me more control.

[@user-ey4rc5tu4t]

This took me a minute, even with the video. But, thank you, and I was able to make this work today!

[@GISChops]

Awesome!

[@droneviewgis6699]

Very nice tool and great explanation. I do most of my edits with AutoCAD Map, but this might be more efficient. I train newbies to enter 1 polygon that encompasses the entire area of interest. Then, use the Split tool, with snapping turned on, to cut the individual polygons out and that ultimately prevents slivers and gaps in the first place. Great channel!!

[@GISChops]

That’s a great method to make boundaries coincident. You could also use the auto-complete sketch tool to construct polygon that share a boundary.

[@johnguilfoyle3073]

I have to cut counties into Service Areas for Network Analyst Routing. When I encounter this problem with trying to cut down the road, I would drag the vertexes across the street and then use the Split Polygon Tool to trace the street edge. For large areas that need to be split by an Interstate, I would use Network Analyst Routing to draw a route line from one end of the county to the other and back. Once that looped path was exported to another feature class, I would split the line into North and South and then use Collapse Dual Lines To Centerline. By tracing the Split Polygon Tool along that centerline,, the entire county gets cut into North and South areas.

[@GISChops]

I like your process! Thanks for commenting! You could actually right click your newly constructed centerline and choose Replace geometry, then you wouldn’t have to trace it. It can be a little finicky if your centerline has overlapping polygons, you might have to turn off polygon layers. I go into detail about the Replace Geometry trick in this video - Editing in ArcGIS Pro - Replace Geometry kzbin.info/www/bejne/eKXadn-ZgJ2Zj7M

[@johnguilfoyle3073]

@@GISChops This would not help in my situation. My process is to Cut the Polygons along the centerline. I don't have a polygon to replace it with. Thanks.

[@GISChops]

@johnguilfoyle3073 You could use the split edit tool and right click on your line and choose replace sketch. I don’t know if you have seen my 5 tips to transition to ArcGIS Pro video, but one of those tips is to right click everything - layers, while using tools etc. just to see what is available to you. The same tip works in ArcMap.

[@evilmorty4052]

Dang I didn’t know the key to beauty was finishing a GIS chops video

[@GISChops]

Not many know!

[@tityra]

Many thanks. Your methods will save me a lot of time :)

[@GISChops]

You are very welcome, I wish someone would have shown me this trick early in my editing career.

[@CyrusNu]

Thank you ... this is very helpful

[@GISChops]

You’re welcome! Thanks for the kind comment.

[@rdcogissupport8418]

great video, thanks. I just discovered the 'replace geometry' which completely disregards previous geometry and allows to draw (trace) a new polygon. combine this with specifying only one layer to snap to and you can quickly reshape a bunch of polygons. In my case re-creating parcel boundaries based on newly acquire building footprints

[@GISChops]

Replace geometry is great especially when you pair it with right clicking and choosing “Replace Sketch”.

[@curtistyler9991]

Align Edge is another excellent tool for topological editing in the same vein.

[@GISChops]

I’ll look into a video on that one too! Thanks for the tip, and thanks for watching!

[@curtistyler9991]

@@GISChops Thanks for this video, by the way, it's helped quite a bit in the last two days.

[@GISChops]

@@curtistyler9991 That is good to hear. Thanks so much for commenting and watching. I'm working on another one about the geoprocessing tool that can make it automated if the circumstances are right. Don't forget to subscribe!

[@FlorinTudor-h7e]

Thanks mate!

[@GISChops]

You are welcome! Thanks for taking the time to comment!

[@sambennett6893]

This is super helpful, thank you!

[@GISChops]

You are very welcome! Thanks for commenting.

[@amyward8013]

That’s a great tool!

[@GISChops]

It’s extremely useful, thanks for watching!

[@mulaukaraoke]

Very useful

[@GISChops]

Thank you! Thanks for taking the time to comment.

[@tonystowe9772]

Thank you!

[@GISChops]

You’re very welcome! Glad it was helpful.

[@personalexperience4707]

My project is on highway alignment . From where should i start ?

[@GISChops]

Student project?

[@mapmanlxii1715]

Nice needed this to extend tax parcels to the centerline of roads!!!!

[@GISChops]

Glad it was helpful!

[@semo-s1m]

Nifty!

[@GISChops]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@MrPaopen]

Is it not easier and faster using the "Align Edge" tool with the "Map Topology" selected in the "Manage Edits" ribbon?

[@GISChops]

It can be, depending on the situation. I have a video covering that method as well. GIS Fundamentals - the Align Edge Tool kzbin.info/www/bejne/r16whYRog8eIf9E Thanks for watching, and thanks for your input!

[@jacksonward4363]

Gotta keep everything aligned.

[@GISChops]

You know it!

[@AzBat360]

what about us plebs still using ArcMap 8.2? :(

[@GISChops]

Isn’t the latest version 10.8?

[@AzBat360]

@@GISChops oops lol, yes 10.8.2

[@GISChops]

There is this - desktop.arcgis.com/en/arcmap/latest/manage-data/editing-existing-features/aligning-features-to-a-shape.htm

[@jazzmann1984]

OMG this is exactly what DoorDash does with their delivery zones! 😂 every time I start dashing it annoys the crap out of me because I know it's easy to fix. What is frustrating is after talking to their talented tech workers in San Francisco, they don't see the need to fix it.

[@GISChops]

It’s lazy digitizing. It sounds like a potential side hustle opportunity to get them fixed.

[@AdamVogt-j3r]

🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

[@GISChops]

One of my favorite tools!