Summarize Nearby

Summarize Nearby


This tool finds and summarizes features that are within a specified distance of features in the first input layer. Distance can be measured as a straight-line distance or by using a selected travel mode. Travel mode options are driving distance, driving time, trucking distance, trucking time, walking distance, or walking time. Statistics are then calculated for the nearby features. For example

If Use current map extent is checked, only the features in the input layer and the layer to be summarized that are visible within the current map extent will be analyzed. If unchecked, all features in both the input layer and the layer to be summarized will be analyzed, even if they are outside the current map extent.

Choose layer from which distances will be measured to features in the layer to summarize


The point, line, or area layer that will be used as the starting locations to summarize nearby features.

In addition to choosing a layer from your map, you can select Choose Living Atlas Analysis Layer or Choose Analysis Layer found at the bottom of the drop-down list. This opens a gallery containing a collection of layers useful for many analyses.

The tool supports up to 1,000 features in this layer.

Choose layer to summarize


Features in this layer that are within the specified distance to features in the layer specified above will be summarized.

In addition to choosing a layer from your map, you can select Choose Living Atlas Analysis Layer or Choose Analysis Layer found at the bottom of the drop-down list. This opens a gallery containing a collection of layers useful for many analyses.

Summarize nearest features using a


You can define what kind of distance measurement you want to use, either a straight-line distance or a selected travel mode. Travel modes are only enabled when the first input layer (the layer from which distances are measured) contains points. The available travel modes are determined by the administrator of your organization. When using one of the travel modes, the measurements are made along roads or walkways and they honor applicable rules, such as one-way streets, illegal turns, and so on. Driving time honors your choice of travel speeds, either those based on live traffic or typical traffic. Live speeds are gathered through current sensor readings and typical speeds are calculated from historical averages.

You can enter multiple distances. Features that are within (or equal to) the distances you enter will be summarized.

The Return bounding areas check box, if checked, will return a result layer of areas defined by the specified distance measurement. The result layer will include all the requested summarized information. For example, when summarizing nearby points, if using a Line distance of 5 miles, your result will contain areas with a 5 mile radius around the input features and all summarized information such as count of points and any added statistics. If unchecked, the resulting layer will return the same features of the first input layer with all requested summary information.

Add statistics from the layer to summarize


You can optionally calculate statistics of any numerical attributes of the nearby points.

The Count of points check box, if checked, will calculate the total number of nearby points. In addition, you can calculate statistics for numerical fields of the nearby points.

  • Sum—The total value for the specified field
  • Average—The average or mean for the specified field
  • Minimum—The smallest value in the specified field
  • Maximum—The largest value in the specified field
  • Std. Deviation—The standard deviation of the values in the specified field

Add statistics from the layer to summarize


You can optionally calculate statistics of any numerical attributes of the nearby lines.

The Total length check box, if checked, will calculate the total length of nearby lines. In addition, you can calculate statistics for numerical fields of the nearby lines.

  • Sum—The total value for the specified field
  • Average—The average or mean for the specified field
  • Minimum—The smallest value in the specified field
  • Maximum—The largest value in the specified field
  • Std. Deviation—The standard deviation of the values in the specified field

Add statistics from the layer to summarize


You can optionally calculate statistics of any numerical attributes of the nearby areas.

The Total area check box, if checked, will calculate the total area of nearby features. In addition, you can calculate statistics for numerical fields of the nearby features.

  • Sum—The total value for the specified field
  • Average—The average or mean for the specified field
  • Minimum—The smallest value in the specified field
  • Maximum—The largest value in the specified field
  • Std. Deviation—The standard deviation of the values in the specified field

Add statistics from the layer to summarize


Once you choose a layer to summarize, you can optionally calculate statistics of any numerical attributes of the nearby points, lines, or areas.

  • Sum—The total value for the specified field
  • Average—The average or mean for the specified field
  • Minimum—The smallest value in the specified field
  • Maximum—The largest value in the specified field
  • Std. Deviation—The standard deviation of the values in the specified field

Depending on the types of features you are summarizing, you can calculate total count of nearby points, total length of nearby lines, or total area of nearby area features.

Choose field to group by


This is an attribute of the nearby features you can use to calculate statistics separately for each unique attribute value. For example, suppose your first input layer (the layer from which distances are measured) contains vacant land parcels for sale and your nearby features are building footprints. One of the attributes of the building footprints is UseType, which contains values such as RETAIL, RESIDENTIAL, MANUFACTURING, PUBLIC, and so on. To characterize the mix of building uses near each vacant parcel, you could calculate the total area of each unique type of building use within two kilometers of the vacant parcels using UseType as the group by attribute. The statistics for each group, as well as the count of nearby features, will be displayed in the result layer's pop-up.

Add minority, majority


This check box is enabled when you choose a field to group by. If you want to find out which attribute values within each group are the minority (least dominant) or the majority (most dominant) within the distance or time you specified, select Add minority, majority. When you select Add minority, majority, two new fields are added to your result layer. If you also select Add percentages, two additional fields are added to the result layer containing the percentages of the minority and majority attribute values within each group.

  • If you are summarizing nearby points, minority and majority values are calculated based on the count of points within the distance or time you specified.
  • If you are summarizing nearby lines, minority and majority values are calculated based on the lengths of lines within the distance or time you specified.
  • If you are summarizing nearby areas, minority and majority values are calculated based on the areas within the distance or time you specified.

Add percentages


This check box is enabled when you choose a field to group by. Select Add percentages if you want to find the percentage of each attribute value within each group. A new field is added to the result table containing the percentages of each attribute value within each group. If Add minority, majority is also checked, two additional fields are added to the result layer containing the percentages of the minority and majority attribute values within each group.

Result layer name


This is the name of the layer that will be created in My Content and added to the map. The default name is based on the tool name and the input layer name. If the layer already exists, you will be asked to provide another name.

Using the Save result in drop-down box, you can specify the name of a folder in My Content where the result will be saved.