ArcGIS 9.2 Simplify Polygons

ArcGIS 9.2 Simplify Polygons (Generalization)

"Simplifies a polygon by removing small fluctuations or extraneous bends from its boundary while preserving its essential shape."

Simplify Polygon (Data Management) (ArcInfo only)

The process produces two output feature classes, a polygon feature class and a point feature class. The polygon output will stores the simplified polygons. The point output will store points, if any, representing polygons that are collapsed to zero-area.
This point feature class is used to transfer the attributes of the polygon.


The process is hidden but the polygon is transfered to a line then the simplification/generalization is applied to a line. The new polygon is the result of the simplified lines rebuilt into polygons with the point used as the attribute container between the process.








This method was created in ArcGIS 9.x prior to 9.2 using this exact method.
note the Append tool is used. This is because a Geodatabase template (with pre-defined Subtypes) is used. This method deletes all features then add (appends) all new generalised features back in to the correct subtypes. Therefore maintaining database control if topology rules are to be applied.
Tip: Save out Topology rules (.rul) delete all topology as this prevents editing feature classes that have topology. Load topology rules back into the Geodatabase and validate to complete the process.

Web help
Simplifying and smoothing features

Mapperz uses this frequently