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Hello FME community, I would like to identify all locations that are within a 300m-perimeter around a polygon, taking into account barriers (large roads, rivers etc.). In ArcGIS there is a tool called “Distance Accumulation” that does just this, but I don’t want to depend on it. 

Thanks!

Several ways to do this. I like to use the NeighborFinder. Polygon is Candidate, locations are Base. Set distance to 300 meter.


Thank you for your reply. However, I believe it doesn't take barriers into account. Also, I don’t have a specific location input. To clarify: I would like to create a 300-meter buffer around a polygon, but the buffer should not extend beyond barriers such as roads or rivers, only if there’s a bridge or a passway.


In that case you’ll need a network (with proper topology) and the NetworkCostCalculator. The network should be all the paths you can use (so if roads are a barrier, don’t include them)


In that case you’ll need a network (with proper topology) and the NetworkCostCalculator. The network should be all the paths you can use (so if roads are a barrier, don’t include them)

From what I’ve read the Distance Accumulation tool is more of a raster calculation tool? I do not have these type of challenges so no real experience.


In that case you’ll need a network (with proper topology) and the NetworkCostCalculator. The network should be all the paths you can use (so if roads are a barrier, don’t include them)

From what I’ve read the Distance Accumulation tool is more of a raster calculation tool? I do not have these type of challenges so no real experience.

I don’t use ESRI, so I wouldn’t know either. There’s also a DEMDistanceCalculator though, which sounds like the raster version.

 


The NetworkCostCalculator seems like a good idea. However, I have to reproduce the same result as when using the Distance Accumulation tool, which takes a rasterfile with travel costs per pixel as input...


The NetworkCostCalculator seems like a good idea. However, I have to reproduce the same result as when using the Distance Accumulation tool, which takes a rasterfile with travel costs per pixel as input...

In that case the DEMDistanceCalculator is your best bet. But I can’t guarantee it will give the exact same results as in ArcGIS (as they may use different algorithms under the hood)


I tried the DEMDistanceCalculator, however, it does not account for the additional time or distance required to go around barriers. It essentially creates a buffer around the polygon with equal distances. Other suggestions are highly appreciated.


I tried the DEMDistanceCalculator, however, it does not account for the additional time or distance required to go around barriers. It essentially creates a buffer around the polygon with equal distances. Other suggestions are highly appreciated.

What if you put the barriers in the DEM as null values?


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