How to build a model creating shp polygonal objects using for that the parameters of xls file?

Question

Could somebody advise which instrument I can use in ModelBuilder (ArcGIS10) for build a model which will create shp polygonal objects from a table (created previously in Excel) with necessary parameters (that include coordinates of latitude and longitude and distances).

Some details.
I need to create many polygonal objects by 4 steps:

1. Create 2 circles with the same center (with coordinates X1, Y2 – they will be in the table) and radiuses Rmax and Rmin (they will be in the table);
2. Create a new polygonal object ("bagel") = Circle (max) – Circle(min);
3. Create a polygon triangle by coordinates of 3 their vertexes (all coordinates will be in the table);
4. Find a resulting polygonal object (as a shapefile) that will be equal a space of intersection of "bagel" and that triangle.

• Paul: Having a model do all of that off of 1 file would be extremely difficult. If you want to automate that, you'd be better off scripting it.
• natalia: Thank you, Paul. But is it possible to create polygonal objects in ArcGIS (I think by ModelBuilder) by dint of parameters of a table? Not necessary to do it in one file or at one step. If I’ll know the way how I can do it, maybe I can do it by some steps in ModelBuilder or by script.

Answer 1

1. To draw a circle, you could use the Create Ellipse tool (Just specify the major and minor axes to have the same radius) or take a look at this post.
2. The Erase tool can be used to create a "bagel" polygon.
3. For creating the polygons, you can use arcpy.Polygon() which takes an array of vertices to create your polygon. I don't think you have access to it in Model Builder, though.
4. I think you'll want the Intersect tool to compute the area of overlap between your bagel and triangle.

Another option for steps 1/2 would be to create points for the center of your circles and run the Multiple Ring Buffer tool with both of the radii as inputs. You can then delete the smaller circles, thereby giving you your bagels.

Answer 2

Thank you Paul, your answers were very helpful!

On another resource people advised me two more ways for create polygonal objects (no circle) from coordinates in a table, I put them here:

1. http://arcscripts.esri.com/details.asp?dbid=15974

Script: Convert Points to Polygons - Generic Tool

Creates an output polygon feature class based on point features and a field representing unique output features. An optional parameter can be used to control the order in which the input points are used. Version ArcGIS = 9.3-10 (maybe later as well) I tested – it works (creates polygonal objects using a shp theme of points for it (so I had to prepare this point shp theme from my xls table at first)

2.ET Geo Wizard

http://www.ian-ko.com/

I didn’t test it yet. But I suppose it’s a free operation "Point to Polygon".