Partitioning Line into Segments using ArcGIS Desktop?

Question

I have a shapefile of U.S. states. I extracted the boundary between two states, resulting in a line segment. For example, the boundary between Georgia and North Carolina.

Is there a way to further divide this boundary into, say, units of 25 mile segments?

Similarly, is there a way to segment the line into equal length segments. For example, taking this border segment, and dividing it into 3 segments of equal length.

I use ArcGIS 10.1 and ArcMap.

And if we have several lines to split (a few thousands)?

Answer 1

The solution to the first part of your question is "Splitting a line into an equal number of parts":

The Split command on the Editor toolbar allows you to split a line into an equal number of new features. For example, you can use this Split option to break a line into pieces that are the same length. This functionality is similar to the Divide command available in previous ArcGIS releases.

Further down on the same page is a section on "Splitting lines proportionally". This should help you with the second part of your question, although you will need at least a Standard (ArcEditor) license to do this.

The Proportion command Proportion on the COGO toolbar splits a selected line feature into a number of segments, based on specified distance values. If there is a difference between the feature length and the entered values, this difference is proportioned between all the new segments. Proportion is useful when you are working with exact measurements, such as COGO or survey data.

For example, you have line features that need to be split into specific lengths. The example below shows a line feature that needs to be split into four parts: 13.79 feet, 48 feet, 60 feet, and 60 feet. The Proportion command is used to split this feature into the four new features.

As stated above, in previous versions of ArcGIS, dividing lines into segments was accomplished using the Divide command.

Answer 2

Regarding the latest edit ("And if we have several lines to split (a few thousands)?")...

A geoprocessing approach that requires an ArcInfo license is described here: Splitting lines proportionally (ArcGIS Forums)

This uses Create Random Points to first create points along line features, followed by Split Line at Point.

Another approach would be to use linear referencing (as in this answer).

Still another would be to use ArcObjects (as in this answer) or arcpy Geometry objects (not seen an example in the wild but it should be possible).

Answer 3

To split multiple lines at a set distance using ArcGIS Desktop (ArcMap or ArcGIS Pro), the following two steps work:

1. Generate Points Along Lines tool. It's in the Data management toolbox under "sampling". You can set a specific distance between points along the lines.

2. Split Line at Point tool. It's in the Data Management toolbox under "Features". Use the points from the previous step to split your lines.

Hint: Ensure you provide some value in the search radius, sometimes the tool will take a long time to execute and would not provide intended results.

There is an easier and quicker way to do this in QGIS too.

Answer 4

The accepted answer in fact lacks covering the second part, splitting lines (i.e., more than one line feature). Another approach would be using "Densify" with DISTANCE parameter in Editing Tools, which again requires at least a Standard licence, and then "Split Line At Vertices" tool in Data Management>Features toolset. This approach however does not keep the original object IDs.

Answer 5

You also use COGO tool to divide polyline equally

You can enter length of part to divide

Here clip for you https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TQUPvubG98

Answer 6

This answer applies to 10.3. Have you tried using the Editing tool "Split" for all these tasks? Start editing your line, select the relevant section, and then go to the Editor dropdown and select "Split". This lets you split a line or line segment into parts based on distance from start or end of the line, into equal parts, or by a percentage. You don't need an advanced license or the Spatial Analyst extension, just the basic license.

See ESRI help topic here:Splitting a line into an equal number of parts