How To: Create points representing the highest or lowest

elevations within polygon features

Summary
Using a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) raster and the Spatial Analyst extension, the location of the
highest or lowest elevation can be identified for polygon features of interest. This procedure
describes a basic workflow that generates a point feature class of the highest point within each
polygon feature. In this example, highest elevations are used, but method this also works for
lowest elevations.

Procedure
The three general steps of the procedure are to identify the maximum elevation values within
each polygon, identify which specific cells in the DEM correspond to the maximum values, and
then convert those cells to a point feature class.

Note:
Apolygonfeatureclass,aDEM,andtheSpatialAnalystextensionarerequiredforthis
procedure.

1. Identify the value of the highest elevation within each polygon feature using the Zonal
Statistics tool: Open ArcMap and navigate to ArcToolbox > Spatial Analyst Tools > Zonal >
Zonal Statistics. This generates a new raster that changes all the cell values in each polygon
feature to the value of the highest elevation within that polygon feature. For example
purposes, name this raster 'Max_Elev.' The input and output parameters are as follows:
A. The 'Input raster or feature zone data' is the polygon feature class.
B. The 'Zone field' is a field in the polygon feature class that contains a unique value for each
polygon feature, such as OBJECTID.
C. The 'Input value raster' is the DEM.
D. Select a name (Max_Elev) and location for the 'Output raster' that is generated.
E. For 'Statistics type', select 'Maximum'.
F. Make sure that 'Ignore NoData in calculations' it is checked.
2. Compare the DEM to the Max_Elev raster to determine which cells in the DEM correspond to
the highest elevation found within each polygon feature. This is done using a conditional
statement in the Raster Calculator: ArcToolbox > Spatial Analyst Tools > Map Algebra Raster
Calculator. The output is a raster depicting only the DEM cells with the highest elevation
values and all other cells set to NoData. The input and output of the Raster Calculator is as

follows:
A. Use the conditional statement: <Con("DEM" == "Max_Elev","DEM")>, which states that if a
cell in a DEM is equal to the corresponding cell in Max_Elev, then set the cell value of the
output raster to what is in DEM. If the cell value in the DEM is not equal to the value in
Max_Elev, it is set to NoData in the output raster.

B. Provide a location and name for the Output Raster. For example, call this raster 'Cell_Loc'.

Note:
Theoutputraster,Cell_Loc,mayappeartonotdisplaybutthisisbecauseonlythecellswiththe
highestelevationsactuallycontainvalues.Thesecellsmaybebarelyvisibleuntilzoomedin.
TheremainingcellscontainNoDatavaluesandthereforebydefaultarenotsymbolized.

3. Convert the Cell_Loc raster to a point feature class using the Raster to Point tool: ArcToolbax >
Conversion Tools > From Raster > Raster to Point. The input and output parameters are as
follows:
A. The 'Input raster' is Cell_Loc.
B. The 'Field' is 'Value'. This carries over the elevation value from the cell to the point feature.
C. Select a name and location for the 'Output point features'.

Note:
Afterthetoolcompletesitmaybenecessarytochangethesymbologyoftheoutputpoint