TIN Node (3D Analyst)

Summary

Exports the nodes of a triangulated irregular network (TIN) dataset to a point feature class.

Illustration

TIN Node illustration

Usage

  • Populating a name for the Spot Field parameter results in the creation of 2D point feature class. Omitting the name creates 3D points.

  • If the TIN has tag values assigned to its triangles, the points can be attributed with these values by specifying a name in the Tag Value Field parameter. Any nodes that do not have explicitly assigned tag values will assume a value of 0.

Parameters

LabelExplanationData Type
Input TIN

The TIN dataset that will be processed.

TIN Layer
Output Feature Class

The feature class that will be produced.

Feature Class
Spot Field
(Optional)

The name of the elevation attribute field of the output feature class. If a name is given, the feature class will be 2D; otherwise, it will be 3D. No name is provided by default, which results in the creation of 3D point features.

String
Tag Value Field
(Optional)

The name of the field storing the tag attribute in the output feature class. By default, no tag value field is created.

String

arcpy.ddd.TinNode(in_tin, out_feature_class, {spot_field}, {tag_field})
NameExplanationData Type
in_tin

The TIN dataset that will be processed.

TIN Layer
out_feature_class

The feature class that will be produced.

Feature Class
spot_field
(Optional)

The name of the elevation attribute field of the output feature class. If a name is given, the feature class will be 2D; otherwise, it will be 3D. No name is provided by default, which results in the creation of 3D point features.

String
tag_field
(Optional)

The name of the field storing the tag attribute in the output feature class. By default, no tag value field is created.

String

Code sample

TinNode example 1 (Python window)

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

arcpy.env.workspace = 'C:/data'
arcpy.ddd.TinNode('tin', 'elevation_node.shp', spot_field='Elevation')
TinNode example 2 (stand-alone script)

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

"""****************************************************************************
Name: Create Terrain from TIN
Description: This script demonstrates how to create a terrain dataset using
             features extracted from a TIN. It is particularly useful in
             situations where the source data used in the TIN is not available,
             and the amount of data stored in the TIN proves to be too large
             for the TIN. The terrain's scalability will allow improved
             display performance and faster analysis. The script is designed
             to work as a script tool with 5 input arguments.
****************************************************************************"""
# Import system modules
import arcpy

# Set local variables
tin = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(0) # TIN used to create terrain
gdbLocation = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(1) # Folder that will store terran GDB
gdbName = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(2) # Name of terrain GDB
fdName = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(3) # Name of feature dataset
terrainName = arcpy.GetParameterAsText(4) # Name of terrain

try:
    # Create the file gdb that will store the feature dataset
    arcpy.management.CreateFileGDB(gdbLocation, gdbName)
    gdb = '{0}/{1}'.format(gdbLocation, gdbName)
    # Obtain spatial reference from TIN
    SR = arcpy.Describe(tin).spatialReference
    # Create the feature dataset that will store the terrain
    arcpy.management.CreateFeatureDataset(gdb, fdName, SR)
    fd = '{0}/{1}'.format(gdb, fdName)
    # Export TIN elements to feature classes for terrain
    arcpy.AddMessage("Exporting TIN footprint to define terrain boundary...")
    boundary = "{0}/boundary".format(fd)
    # Execute TinDomain
    arcpy.ddd.TinDomain(tin, tinDomain, 'POLYGON')
    arcpy.AddMessage("Exporting TIN breaklines...")
    breaklines = "{0}/breaklines".format(fd)
    # Execute TinLine
    arcpy.ddd.TinLine(tin, breaklines, "Code")
    arcpy.AddMessage("Exporting TIN nodes...")
    masspoints = "{0}/masspoints".format(fd)
    # Execute TinNode
    arcpy.ddd.TinNode(sourceTIN, TIN_nodes)
    arcpy.AddMessage("Creating terrain dataset...")
    terrain = "terrain_from_tin"
    # Execute CreateTerrain
    arcpy.ddd.CreateTerrain(fd, terrainName, 10, 50000, "",
                            "WINDOWSIZE", "ZMEAN", "NONE", 1)
    arcpy.AddMessage("Adding terrain pyramid levels...")
    terrain = "{0}/{1}".format(fd, terrainName)
    pyramids = ["20 5000", "25 10000", "35 25000", "50 50000"]
    # Execute AddTerrainPyramidLevel
    arcpy.ddd.AddTerrainPyramidLevel(terrain, "", pyramids)
    arcpy.AddMessage("Adding features to terrain...")
    inFeatures = "{0} Shape softclip 1 0 10 true false boundary_embed <None> "\
             "false; {1} Shape masspoints 1 0 50 true false points_embed "\
             "<None> false; {2} Shape softline 1 0 25 false false lines_embed "\
             "<None> false".format(boundary, masspoints, breaklines)
    # Execute AddFeatureClassToTerrain
    arcpy.ddd.AddFeatureClassToTerrain(terrain, inFeatures)
    arcpy.AddMessage("Building terrain...")
    # Execute BuildTerrain
    arcpy.ddd.BuildTerrain(terrain, "NO_UPDATE_EXTENT")
    arcpy.GetMessages()

except arcpy.ExecuteError:
    print(arcpy.GetMessages())
except Exception as err:
    print(err)

Licensing information

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

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