Exercise-9: Overlay Operation

Overlay operation computes a geometric intersection of the Input features. The output feature class has the
attribute from the Input features of the same data types which it overlaps. These overlay operations include
Union, Intersect, Clip, Merge and Extract by Mask.

Prepare for exercise

1. Open ArcMap
2. Add data layers (KMC_Ward_boundary and KMC_LandCover) in your Arc Map from
D:\GIS_TRN_CPC\Training_Data\Ex09_Overlay_Operation

Task1: Union feature

The union command combines features from different layers into one feature while maintaining the
original features and attributes. For instance, we can create a new Union feature overlapping the
KMC_LandCover and KMC_Ward_boundary feature.

1. Click Union tool from the

Geoprocessing menu
2. Add input features as
KMC_LandCover and
KMC_Ward_boundary
3. save the Output feature class
as Landcover_ward_Union.shp
4. Click OK.

1
S. Prajapati
 Task2: Intersect feature

The Intersect command creates a new feature from the area where two features overlaps. We can find
the intersection between features of different layers, but the layers must be of the same type. For
instance, we can create a new Intersect feature overlapping the KMC_LandCover and
KMC_Ward_boundary feature.

1. Click Intersect tool from the

Geoprocessing menu
2. Add input features as
KMC_Ward_boundary and
KMC_LandCover
3. Save the Output feature class as
Landcover_Ward_Intersect.shp
4. Click OK.

Task3: Clip feature

The Clip command extracts input features that overlay the clip feature. Clip command extracts the
feature based on the other layer. For instance, we can extract the Landcover data for the Ward 31 and
Ward 32 of KMC Municipality.

1. Point to Selection menu and click select by attribute

2. Select Layer as KMC_Ward_boundary Attribute select as Ward No equals to 31
and click OK
3. Click Clip tool from the Geoprocessing menu
4. Add input features as KMC_LandCover and Clip Features as
KMC_Ward_boundary
5. Save the Output feature class as Landcover_Ward_31.shp
6. Click OK.
7. Repeat the step 1 to 7 for the Ward 32 and save output as Landcover_Ward_32.

2
S. Prajapati
 Task4: Merge feature

The Merge command combines input features from multiple input sources (of the same
data type) into a new single output feature class. The input data sources may be point,
line, or polygon feature classes or tables. For instance, we can merge clipped landcover
features of Ward31 and Ward32 to make a single feature.

1. Click Merge tool from the Geoprocessing menu

2. Add input Datasets as Landcover_Ward31 and Landcover_Ward32
3. Save the Output dataset as Landcover_Ward31_32.shp
4. Click OK.

Task5: Extract by Mask

The Extract by Mask command extracts the cells of the raster that correspond to the areas defined by a
mask. For instance, we can extract the raster file for Kathmandu Metropolitan from the geo-referenced
topographical map.

1. Add the layers Kathmandu_Topo.tif and Kathmandu_Metropolitan.shp from the Location

D:\GIS_TRN_CPC\Training_Data\Ex09_Overlay_Operation
2. Click the Show/Hide ArcToolbox button on the Standard toolbar to show ArcToolbox.
3. Click Spatial Analyst Tools and point to Extraction and double click Extract by Mask
4. Add input raster as Kathmandu_Topo.tif
5. Add input feature mask data as Kathmandu_Metropolitan.shp
6. Save output raster as Extract_Ktm_Topo.tif
7. Click OK.
8. The geo-referenced Topo map and masking layer shown on left and the output extracted topo
map of Kathmandu is shown on right.

3
S. Prajapati