HOW TO

Create centerlines from polygons in ArcGIS Pro

Last Published: April 25, 2020

Summary

Centerlines are created from polygons to symbolize polygons at finer scales by defining the center locations of features. For example, to create centerlines of a pavement system for routing purposes, to trace an archaeological water system across a canal network, and to define road centerlines from cadastral data within a certain geographic extent.

The image below shows the pavement network of a neighborhood in Naperville, Illinois. In the following example, centerlines for the pavement network are created.

The pavement network.

Procedure

In ArcGIS Pro, centerlines are created using the Polygon To Centerline tool. Follow the steps below to create centerlines from polygons:

Note:
This tool is available with the Esri Production Mapping Standard or Advanced licence. 

In ArcMap 10.5 onwards, the equivalent tool is the Production Centerline tool, which is available with the Esri Production Mapping Standard or Advanced license. For an alternative that does not require Esri Production Mapping license and for versions prior to ArcMap 10.5, refer to How To: Create centerlines from polygon features.
  1. In ArcGIS Pro, open the desired project.
  2. In the Geoprocessing pane, search for Polygon To Centerline. Click the tool.
  3. In the Polygon To Centerline pane, specify Input Features as the polygon in which centerlines are created. In this example, the input feature is Pavement Schedules.
  4. Click Run.
The Polygon To Centerline pane.
The image below shows centerlines are created within the pavement network.
Centerlines created in the pavement network.
Note:
If a line feature class (rivers, roads) is available instead of a polygon feature class, use the Graphic Buffer tool to show the appearance of the line feature class as centerlines and the buffer extent as the centerlines casing.
A line feature class of trails. The line feature as centerlines.

Article ID: 000022240

Software:
  • ArcGIS Pro 2 x

Receive notifications and find solutions for new or common issues

Get summarized answers and video solutions from our new AI chatbot.

Download the Esri Support App

Related Information

Discover more on this topic

Get help from ArcGIS experts

Contact technical support

Download the Esri Support App

Go to download options