Creating Distance Rasters from Points
This tutorial reviews how to create a simple (Euclidean, straight-line) distance raster from vector point inputs using the Distance Accumulation tool in ArcGIS Pro. The resulting raster layer contains values that indicate the distance from each raster cell to the nearest point in the vector layer.
Included in this tutorial:
Accessing the Distance Accumulation tool
Reviewing the tool’s basic parameters and options
Running one example and examining results
Software version in examples: ArcGIS Pro 3.5.1
Tutorial Data: The tutorial includes demonstration with sample data available here.
Credits: L. Meisterlin (2025)
The Distance Accumulation tool can be used to create distance rasters with either vector or raster inputs. The tool can also calculate or model more complex distances that account for vertical change in surfaces as well as barriers, costs, and other considerations. For more information about the Distance Accumulation tool, see Esri’s documentation here.
Related:
This tool requires the Spatial Analyst extension/license. See this tutorial on how to check your software’s licenses.
Note that the Distance Accumulation Tool replaces the legacy Euclidean Distance tool, while adding new functionality.
Accessing the Distance Accumulation Tool
Access the Distance Accumulation from the Geoprocessing Pane by either
Navigating through the toolboxes via Spatial Analyst Tools > Distance > Distance Accumulation, or
Using the Geoprocessing Pane’s search bar.
accessing the tool
Basic Distance Accumulation Parameters and Options
You will notice that the Distance Accumulation tool offers several options for more complex distance calculations than we need to produce a Euclidean (straight-line) distance raster from point inputs. Here, we review the basic parameters. More information about the tool’s functionality is available here.
basic parameters and environment options to generate a simple, straight-line distance raster
The fundamental Parameters are
Input Raster or Feature Sources: Specify the input vector (or raster) from which distances will be calculated and represented as values in the output raster.
Output Distance Accumulation Raster: Specify the name (and location) of the output raster.
Distance Method: Specify whether the tool should calculate planar (projected, 2D) distances or geodesic (ellipsoidal, regardless of projection) distances.
Additionally, the Environments settings include important options. These are
Cell Size (under Raster Analysis options): Specify the cell size of the Output Distance Accumulation Raster (in the units of the Output Coordinate System).
Output Coordinate System: By default (if left blank), the output CRS will match that of the Input Raster or Feature Sources.
Processing Extent: If your project’s geoprocessing extents are not established, you can set the extent for running this tool here. See the Geoprocessing Extents tutorial for more information.
Example: Creating a Distance Raster from Points
For this tutorial demonstration,
We have generated a distance raster using a point vector layer as the input feature sources. (In the images below, it is called “Points1_Table1_join.”)
The output is named “Distanc_Poin1” (the software’s default naming convention was used) and has a cell size of 25 feet.
Because this is a locally scaled distance calculation, using projected input data, the distance method is planar.
Further, the processing extents were limited to an approximately square area larger than that covered by the input points.
Examining Results
The resulting distance raster is symbolized twice below.
First (on the left), using unclassified (stretched) symbology, we see that the values of the raster’s cells range from 0 (the cells containing an input point) to approximately 6,520 feet at the farthest locations from any input points. Cells nearer one or more input point features have smaller values reflecting the smaller distance to the nearest point.
the example distance raster with unclassified “stretched” color ramp
the example distance raster with classified color ramp
To help illustrate the distance values (in feet) per cell, the same layer is symbolized again with 20 equal-interval classes on the right.