ArcMap

TIN Edge

Summary

Creates 3D line features using the triangle edges of a triangulated irregular network (TIN) dataset.

Illustration

TIN Edge illustration

Usage

  • Use the Edge Type parameter to extract a specific type of triangle edge.

  • Output feature contains a field named EdgeType that uses integer values to represent the type of edge that each line represents:

    • 0—A regular edge, or one that was not specifically defined as a hard or soft edge. This edge type is produced by the triangulation of the TIN data points.
    • 1—A soft edge, or one that represents a gradual transition in slope values.
    • 2—A hard edge, or one that represents a more abrupt transition in slope values.

Syntax

TinEdge_3d (in_tin, out_feature_class, {edge_type})
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_tin

The TIN dataset to process.

TIN Layer
out_feature_class

The feature class that will be produced by this tool.

Feature Class
edge_type
(Optional)

The triangle edge that will be exported.

  • DATA —Edges representing the interpolation zone. This is the default.
  • SOFT —Edges representing gradual breaks in slope.
  • HARD —Edges representing distinct breaks in slope.
  • ENFORCED —Edges that were not introduced by the TIN's triangulation.
  • REGULAR —Edges that were created by the TIN's triangulation.
  • OUTSIDE —Edges that are excluded from the interpolation zone.
  • ALL —All edges, included those that were excluded from the interpolation zone.
String

Code sample

TinEdge example 1 (Python window)

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

import arcpy
from arcpy import env

arcpy.CheckOutExtension('3D')
env.workspace = 'C:/data'
arcpy.TinEdge_3d('tin', 'tin_edge.shp', 'ENFORCED')
TinEdge 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
import exceptions, sys, traceback
from arcpy import env

# 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:
    arcpy.CheckOutExtension("3D")
    # 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:
    # Get the traceback object
    tb = sys.exc_info()[2]
    tbinfo = traceback.format_tb(tb)[0]
    # Concatenate error information into message string
    pymsg = "PYTHON ERRORS:\nTraceback info:\n{0}\nError Info:\n{1}"\
          .format(tbinfo, str(sys.exc_info()[1]))
    msgs = "ArcPy ERRORS:\n {0}\n".format(arcpy.GetMessages(2))
    # Return python error messages for script tool or Python Window
    arcpy.AddError(pymsg)
    arcpy.AddError(msgs)
finally:
    arcpy.CheckInExtension("3D")

Environments

Licensing information

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

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