transferPolygonAttributes

Transfers the attributes from one polygon layer (source) to another (target) based on their spatial location (overlay). The user specifies the method for transferring the attributes of each field of the source polygon attribute table.

Inputs:

Target layer - a polygon layer that will receive the attributes
Source layer - a polygon layer which attributes will be transferred to the target layer
Fields which values will be transferred
The method that will be used to transfer the values for each field. The methods are discussed below
- Count (only for numeric fields)
- Value (only for numeric fields)
- Type

Outputs:

New Polygon feature class.
- All the attributes of the Target layer are preserved
- The fields of the Source layer selected for transfer will be added to the attribute table and their values will be calculated based on the transfer method specified

Transfer Methods:

The Source dataset has two polygons A and B. The Target dataset has a single polygon - Z. The portion of the Target polygon that intersects with polygon "A" of the Source layer is polygon X, and the portion that intersects with polygon B is polygon Y.

Count (sum proportion) - Typical application - transferring census data.

population_Z = population_A * area_X / area_A + population_B * area_Y / area_B

Value (weighted average) - Typical application - transferring rainfall data

rainfall_Z = (rainfall_A * area_X + rainfall_B * area_Y ) / area_Z

Type (majority) - Typical application - transferring text data (soil type etc.)

IF area_X / area_Z > area_Y / area_Z THEN soiltype_Z = soiltype_A

IF area_X / area_Z < area_Y / area_Z THEN soiltype_Z = soiltype_B

Notes:

In order correct results to be obtained both Source and Target datasets should be clean from overlaps
The procedure performs cleaning of both Source and Target datasets to avoid incorrect results. The cleaning is performed on temporary datasets. No changes are applied to the input data. If the target dataset has overlapping polygons, a new polygon representing the overlap will be created in the output polygon dataset
The spatial references of the Source and the Target datasets must have the same geographic coordinate system

Example:

Source Data

Transfer Methods

County - Type
Population - Count
Rainfall - Value

Results

ToolBox implementation
(Go to TOP)

Command line syntax

ET_GPTransferAttributes <target_dataset> <source_dataset> <out_feature_class> <Field {Transfer Method};Field {Transfer Method}...>

Parameters

Expression	Explanation
<target_dataset>	A Polygon feature class or feature layer
<source_dataset>	A Polygon feature class or feature layer.
<out_feature_class>	A String - the full name of the output feature class (A feature class with the same full name should not exist)
<Field {Transfer Method};Field {Transfer Method}...>	A list of the fields to be transferred and the transfer method for each field.

Scripting syntax

ET_GPTransferAttributes (target_dataset, source_dataset, out_feature_class, fields to transfer)

See the explanations above:
<> - required parameter
{} - optional parameter