Writing Python script to give multiple buffers of different sizes in ArcGIS for Desktop?

Question

I want to write a loop that will cause the output to be multiple buffer shapefiles.

For example, I want a circle buffer of 50ft, 100ft, 150ft, etc.

Can anyone help?

I'm new to this and am trying to figure it out myself.

• George Diamond: I know there is a tool that can do this (Multiple Ring Buffer) but I want to know how to write a loop.

Answer 1

The ArcGIS Resource Center has the following sample script demonstrating how to do multiple ring buffers using Python

# Name: MultipleRingBuffer_Example2.py
# Description: Create multiple buffers for the input features
# Author: ESRI
# Import system modules
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
# Set environment settings
env.workspace = "C:/data/airport.gdb"
# Set local variables
inFeatures = "schools"
outFeatureClass = "c:/output/output.gdb/multibuffer1"
distances = [10,20,30]
bufferUnit = "meters"
# Execute MultipleRingBuffer
arcpy.MultipleRingBuffer_analysis(inFeatures, outFeatureClass, distances, bufferUnit, "", "ALL")

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Here's how to do it if you insist on having a for loop

import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/data" 
distances =[50, 100, 150]
for distance in distances:
 outfile = "C:/output/majorrdsBuffered%s" % distance 
 arcpy.Buffer_analysis("roads", outfile, distance, "FULL", "ROUND", "LIST", "Distance")

• sgrieve: Would that for loop code not overwrite it's own outputs? It could be altered to say out_file = "C:/output/majorrdsBuffered" + str(distance) to put the buffersize in the filename.
• George Diamond: arcpy.Buffer_analysis(clipoutfile, buffered + "_" + str(x) + ".shp", str(x)+" "+buff_unit) this is what I ended up doing as a call.
• R.K.: Did it work? Good to know. The file names are your call in the end.
• user37199: Interesting! But what if I want the buffers to be on different layers e.g. 50 meters on roads, 100 meters on schools, 200 meters on bars?
• nmpeterson: @user37199 an answer to that is too long for comments. Why don't you post a separate question? :)