contours · Arcmap MCP: Risk & Policy

WHAT IT DOES

What contours does on Arcmap

AI agents invoke contours to trigger actions in Arcmap. What it does depends on the arguments the agent supplies, and its effects often reach beyond the immediate call — builds kicked off, notifications sent, workflows started.

WHY IT NEEDS A POLICY

Why contours needs a policy

This tool executes a 3D Analyst geoprocessing operation (contour generation) via arcpy, which triggers an external computation and writes output files to disk. It is more than a simple Read, as it runs a spatial analysis function and produces new datasets. It falls under Execute as it triggers an external operation (arcpy geoprocessing), though it also has Write characteristics since it creates new layer files.

From the tool's definition 'Genera curvas de nivel desde un MDT (3D Analyst)' — generates contour lines from a DTM using ArcPy/3D Analyst, which runs a geoprocessing tool that creates new data on disk

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

Recommended rule Ready

Verdict

contours Rate-limited

contours stays usable, but rate-capped — a runaway agent can't fire it dozens of times a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "contours": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "contours_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

RATE-LIMIT THIS TOOL →

Instant setup, no code required.

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: every tool call is checked against your rule before it reaches Arcmap, so you can run agents against it safely.

FAQ

Questions about contours

What does the contours tool do? +

Genera curvas de nivel desde un MDT (3D Analyst). intervalo = equidistancia. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Arcmap MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.

How do I enforce a policy on contours? +

Register the Arcmap MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for contours: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Arcmap. Nothing to install.

What risk level is contours? +

contours is a Execute tool with high risk. Execute tools should be rate-limited and have argument validation enabled.

Can I rate-limit contours? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the contours rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.

How do I block contours completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for contours. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.

What MCP server provides contours? +

contours is provided by the Arcmap MCP server (pedralcg/arcmap-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.