Advanced Analysis Topics

ArcGIS for Desktop extensions benefit from the power of Python and ArcPy. In this chapter we'll explore two important examples of extensions, the Network Analyst and Spatial Analyst modules. Each of these modules have ArcPy wrapper tools to access ArcToolbox. They also have ArcPy access modules for improved control of available tools, methods, and properties. Using the extensions and ArcPy scripting, advanced analysis workflows such as modeling traffic or planning bus routes using a streets dataset can be automated.

This chapter will cover the following topics:

• Creating a simple network dataset
• Checking out the extensions
• The ArcPy Network Analyst module
• The ArcPy Spatial Analyst module