When using "are within a distance of," what does this method create?

When utilizing the concept of "are within a distance of," this method essentially creates buffers around the source layer, which subsequently allows for the selection of features that are located within those buffer areas. Buffers are zones created around a feature, with a specified distance extending outward from that feature. In the context of GIS, this spatial analytical method is useful for identifying areas of influence, determining proximity, and spatial relationships between features.

In this case, the source layer would be the main feature around which a zone of interest is defined through buffering. Features that fall within this defined buffer are then selected for analysis, which helps in understanding how close other features are to the source layer, thus providing valuable spatial insights for GIS applications and decision-making processes.

The creation of buffers does not mean that the selected features are entirely contained within the target layer or just intersecting with it, which would require different spatial operations. The focus on selecting only features that exist within the given buffer created from the source layer is key to this method's purpose.