Summary
Network Common Data Form (netCDF) is a file format used to store multidimensional scientific data such as temperature, humidity, pressure, wind speed, and direction. In ArcGIS Pro, each of these variables can be displayed in a dimension, such as time, by creating a raster layer from the netCDF file using the Make NetCDF Raster Layer tool. The polygon feature class can then be created from the raster layer and exported to GeoJSON format using the Features To JSON tool. This method enables web maps and apps to visualize and integrate geographical data, simplify feature geometry, reduce complexity, and retain spatial information while reducing file size. This article provides the workflow to convert netCDF data to GeoJSON in ArcGIS Pro. The image below shows the netCDF data used for converting to GeoJSON.
Procedure
- Open the project in ArcGIS Pro.
- Create a raster layer from the netCDF file using the Make NetCDF Raster Layer tool.
- On the Analysis ribbon tab, in the Geoprocessing group, click Tools.
- In the Geoprocessing pane, search for and click Make NetCDF Raster Layer (Multidimension Tools).
- In the Make NetCDF Raster Layer pane, for Input netCDF File, click Browse
and select the netCDF file from the local folder. - For Variable, select the desired variable of the netCDF file used to assign cell values to the output raster from the drop-down list. In this example, the water temperature variable named water_temp is selected.
- For X Dimension, select the netCDF dimension used to define the longitude of the output layer from the drop-down list.
- For Y Dimension, select the netCDF dimension used to define the latitude of the output layer from the drop-down list.
- For Output Raster Layer, specify a name for the output raster layer.
- Click Run.

- Convert the floating-point raster to an integer using the Copy Raster tool.
- On the Analysis ribbon tab, in the Geoprocessing group, click Tools.
- In the Geoprocessing pane, search for and click Copy Raster (Data Management Tools).
- In the Copy Raster pane, for Input Raster, select the raster layer created in Step 2 from the drop-down list.
- For Output Raster Dataset, click Browse
and specify a location and name for the output raster dataset. - For Pixel Type, select the preferred bit depth from the drop-down list. In this example, 32 bit signed is selected. Refer to ArcGIS Pro: Parameters for more information.
- For Format, select the preferred format for the output raster dataset.
- Click Run.
Note:
Alternatively, use the Int tool to convert each cell value of the raster dataset to an integer by truncation. This tool requires a Spatial Analyst, Image Analyst, or 3D Analyst license.
- Convert the integer raster to polygon features using the Raster to Polygon tool.
- On the Analysis ribbon tab, in the Geoprocessing group, click Tools.
- In the Geoprocessing pane, search for and click Raster to Polygon (Conversion Tools).
- In the Raster to Polygon pane, for Input raster, select the output raster layer in Step 3 from the drop-down list.
- For Output polygon features, click Browse
and specify a location and name for the output polygon features. - Uncheck the Simplify polygons check box.
- Click Run.
- Convert the polygon feature layer to a GeoJSON format using the Features To JSON tool.
- On the Analysis ribbon tab, in the Geoprocessing group, click Tools.
- In the Geoprocessing pane, search for and click Features To JSON (Conversion Tools).
- In the Features To JSON pane, for Input Features, select the polygon feature layer from the drop-down list.
- For Output JSON, click Browse
and specify a location and name for the output GeoJSON file. - Check the Output to GeoJSON check box.
- Click Run.
The image below shows the GeoJSON file converted from the netCDF file in the local folder.