Buffer 3D (3D Analyst)—ArcGIS Pro

Summary

Creates a 3-dimensional buffer around points or lines to produce spherical or cylindrical multipatch features.

Illustration

Usage

The output of this tool is closed multipatch features which can be used in volumetric computations and other 3D set operator tools.
Consider specifying a Simplification value to improve performance with complex line features, such as curved lines with a large number of vertices.
This tool may not be able to generate a closed multipatch for certain line features if the geometry of the line and the buffer distance produces overlapping regions with dense vertices. As a general rule, it is best to avoid buffer distances that may result in the creation of overlapping regions within the same feature.

Parameters

Label	Explanation	Data Type
Input Features	The line or point features to be buffered.	Feature Layer
Output Feature Class	The output multipatch containing the 3D buffers.	Feature Class
Distance	The distance of the buffer around the input features, which can be provided as either a linear distance or be derived from a numeric field in the input feature's attribute table. If the buffer distance is specified from an input field, its unit of measurement will be derived from the feature's spatial reference. If the linear distance is specified as a numeric value, the following units of measure are supported: Unknown —Unknown Inches —Inches Feet —Feet Yards —Yards Miles —Miles Millimeters —Millimeters Centimeters —Centimeters Decimeters —Decimeters Meters —Meters Kilometers —Kilometers	Linear Unit; Field
Joint Type (Optional)	The shape of the buffer between the vertices of the line segments. This parameter is only valid for input line features. Straight — The shape of connections between vertices will be straight. This is the default. Round — The shape of connections between vertices will be round.	String
Buffer Quality (Optional)	The number of segments used to represent the resulting multipatch features. The default is 20, but any number between the range of 6 to 60 can be entered. A higher Buffer Quality value produces smoother 3D features, but also lengthens the processing time.	Long
Simplification (Maximum Allowable Offset) (Optional)	Simplifies the input lines by maintaining their shape within the specified offset of its original form. Simplification will not take place if no value is specified. The following units of measurement are supported: Unknown —Unknown Inches —Inches Feet —Feet Yards —Yards Miles —Miles Millimeters —Millimeters Centimeters —Centimeters Decimeters —Decimeters Meters —Meters Kilometers —Kilometers	Linear Unit

arcpy.ddd.Buffer3D(in_features, out_feature_class, buffer_distance_or_field, {buffer_joint_type}, {buffer_quality}, {simplification_tolerance})

Name	Explanation	Data Type
in_features	The line or point features to be buffered.	Feature Layer
out_feature_class	The output multipatch containing the 3D buffers.	Feature Class
buffer_distance_or_field	The distance of the buffer around the input features, which can be provided as either a linear distance or be derived from a numeric field in the input feature's attribute table. If the buffer distance is specified from an input field, its unit of measurement will be derived from the feature's spatial reference. If the linear distance is specified as a numeric value, the following units of measure are supported: UNKNOWN —Unknown INCHES —Inches FEET —Feet YARDS —Yards MILES —Miles MILLIMETERS —Millimeters CENTIMETERS —Centimeters DECIMETERS —Decimeters METERS —Meters KILOMETERS —Kilometers	Linear Unit; Field
buffer_joint_type (Optional)	The shape of the buffer between the vertices of the line segments. This parameter is only valid for input line features. STRAIGHT —The shape of connections between vertices will be straight. This is the default. ROUND —The shape of connections between vertices will be round.	String
buffer_quality (Optional)	The number of segments used to represent the resulting multipatch features. The default is 20, but any number between the range of 6 to 60 can be entered. A higher Buffer Quality value produces smoother 3D features, but also lengthens the processing time.	Long
simplification_tolerance (Optional)	Simplifies the input lines by maintaining their shape within the specified offset of its original form. Simplification will not take place if no value is specified. The following units of measurement are supported: UNKNOWN —Unknown INCHES —Inches FEET —Feet YARDS —Yards MILES —Miles MILLIMETERS —Millimeters CENTIMETERS —Centimeters DECIMETERS —Decimeters METERS —Meters KILOMETERS —Kilometers	Linear Unit

Code sample

Buffer3D example 1 (Python window)

The following sample demonstrates the use of this tool in the Python window.

arcpy.env.workspace = 'C:/data'
arcpy.Buffer3D_3d('lineFC.shp', 'buffer3d.shp', '15 Meters', 
                 'Round', 30, '1 Meters')

Buffer3D example 2 (stand-alone script)

The following sample demonstrates the use of this tool in a stand-alone Python script.

'''****************************************************************************
Name: Buffer 3D Example
Description: This script demonstrates an application of
             the Buffer 3D and Inside 3D tools.
****************************************************************************'''
# Import system modules
import arcpy

# Set environment settings
arcpy.env.workspace = 'C:/data'

# Set Local Variables
inFC = 'lineFC.shp'
bufferOut = 'buffer3d.shp'

# Execute Buffer 3D
arcpy.Buffer3D_3d(inFC, bufferOut, '15 Meters', 'Round', '30', '1 Meters')
arcpy.Inside3D_3d(bufferOut, 'survey_pts.shp', 'inside_analysis.dbf')

Environments

Current Workspace, Extent, Output Coordinate System, Geographic Transformations, Output CONFIG Keyword, Output XY Domain, Output Z Domain

Licensing information

Basic: Requires 3D Analyst
Standard: Requires 3D Analyst
Advanced: Requires 3D Analyst