JALBTCX/PFEBackground

Profile Feature Extraction: Background

The Profile Feature Extraction Toolbox is an Python based toolbox for use in ESRI’s ArcGIS Pro software. Similar to the other tools that make up the JALBTCX Toolbox framework, it can be easily loaded into ArcGIS Pro via the “Add Toolbox” functionality in ArcGIS Pro as it is a self-contained “toolbox” file (file extension .tbx). The toolbox has gone through many version iterations as updates have been made and additional functionalities added. As of this report writing, the current version of the toolbox being used is version 4a and it is recommended to use ArcGIS Pro version 3.2 and above, although future versions of the toolbox will likely require the most recent version of ArcGIS Pro.

Users that are familiar with ArcGIS Pro geoprocessing should be able to easily leverage each step of the Profile Feature Extraction Toolbox as the user interface is nearly identical and each step is considered a geoprocessing function. Additionally, steps in the toolbox leverage ArcGIS Pro file structures (e.g., geodatabases), file types (e.g., shapefiles), and behind-the-scenes geoprocessing tools whenever possible for further integration into ArcGIS Pro projects.

The toolbox was created so that each subsequent step in the toolbox builds from previous completed steps, so it is recommended that the toolbox is completed in order of steps as outlined in the workflow overview below. Each step can be independently run multiple times in a row to account for multiple datasets or corrections in input parameters. The independence of steps also allows for flexibility along the workflow path; for example, a user who does not wish to calculate the CERI values for their profiles may complete their workflow prior to Step 3: Calculate CERI values as the remaining steps all revolve around CERI calculations and summary.