Identity

In GIS, Identity is a overlay operation commonly used in GIS software. It allows the user to combine the attributes of one overlapping feature into another. The Identity overlay takes two or more layers and gives any intersecting areas of layers with a target or "identity" layer, the characteristics of the identity layer. In other words, the Identity method preserves only the features that fall in the the area extent of the input layer. Also included is the attribute information in the database of the overlapped portion of identity feature over the input feature will be merge with the input's attributes.

The Identity method produces an output that has the same extent as the input layer, but the output also contains the geometry and attribute data from the identity layer.

Usage Tips

In ArcGIS, the Identity operation is found in the Overlay toolbox. The Identity operation needs an input and an identity feature. The input feature can either be a point, multipoint, line, or a polygon. As for the identity feature, the feature can only be a polygon unless the input and identity features have the same geometry type.

Examples

An example of Identity includes a road that is in two different counties. The results would be two different features and both would include the attributes of the road and the county it passes through.