Overlay Operations

These operations combine two spatial layers together for a variety of purposes.

Union

Combine two areas together to find the "union" or "combined" area.

Examples:

• Find the area of habitat for deer and elk

Intersection

Combines two ares together to find where they intersect or overlapping. This is also called "clipping" one area with another area

XOR

Combines the two areas together to find where they do not intersect or overlap.

Examples: this is not used as often as union and intersection (anyone have an example?)

Activity

Click in the box or the circle in the "Original" (upper-left) box below and move the mouse to see how these operations work.

Original	Union (Dissolve)
Intersection (Clip)	XOR