Point File Information—Help

Summary
Illustration
Usage
Syntax
Code sample
Environments
Licensing information

Summary

Generates statistical information about one or more point files in a polygon or multipatch output.

Illustration

Usage

When a folder containing point data files is selected as input, the File Suffix must be entered. However, this is not needed for file inputs.
When the summarize option is not used, the statistical information presented in the feature attribute table consists of the point count, average point spacing, z minimum, and z maximum of each point file entered. A separate row is created for each input file encountered. The point spacing is an estimate that assumes the points within the input file are evenly spaced over the XY extent of each input file.
Each resulting feature will encompass the XY extent of an input file. The features can be created as 2D polygons or extruded multipatch features that provide a 3D bounding box whose z-values at the base and top reflect the range of elevation values found in the file. The multipatch can be visualized in 3D using ArcScene or ArcGlobe.
The summarize option is useful to statistically summarize information for each class code in the input file, but is expensive, as each file must be scanned and analyzed.
The point spacing reported by Point File Information is not exact; it is an estimate. The point spacing given is a summary when looking at trends for collections of files. The tool uses a rough estimate that simply compares the area of the file's bounding box with the point count. It is most accurate when the rectangular extent of the file being examined is filled with data. Files with points over large water bodies or on the perimeter of a study area, only partially occupied with data, will not produce accurate estimates.

Syntax

PointFileInformation_3d (input, out_feature_class, in_file_type, {file_suffix}, {input_coordinate_system}, {folder_recursion}, {extrude_geometry}, {decimal_separator}, {summarize_by_class_code}, {improve_las_point_spacing})

Parameter	Explanation	Data Type
input [input,...]	One or more point data files or folders that will be analyzed. In the tool dialog window, a folder can also be specified as an input by selecting the desired folder in Windows Explorer and dragging it into the parameter's input box.	Folder; File
out_feature_class	The feature class that will be produced by this tool.	Feature Class
in_file_type	The format of the input files. LAS —Airborne lidar format defined by the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS). XYZ —XYZ file. XYZI —XYZI file. GENERATE —GENERATE file.	String
file_suffix (Optional)	The suffix of the files to import when a folder is specified in the input. This parameter is required if an input folder is provided.	String
input_coordinate_system (Optional)	The coordinate system of the input data.	Coordinate System
folder_recursion (Optional)	Scans through subfolders when an input folder is selected containing data in a subfolders directory. The output feature class will be generated with a row for each file encountered in the directory structure. NO_RECURSION —Only the data found in the input folder will be used to generate the results. This is the default. RECURSION —Any data found in the input folder and its subdirectories will be used to generate results.	Boolean
extrude_geometry (Optional)	Specifies whether to create a 2D polygon or multipatch feature class with extruded features that reflect the elevation range found in each file. NO_EXTRUSION —The output will be created as a 2D polygon feature class. This is the default. EXTRUSION —The output will be created as a multipatch feature class.	Boolean
decimal_separator (Optional)	The decimal character used in the text file to differentiate the integer of a number from its fractional part. DECIMAL_POINT —A point is used as the decimal character. This is the default. DECIMAL_COMMA —A comma is used as the decimal character.	String
summarize_by_class_code (Optional)	Specifies if the results will summarize LAS files per class code or LAS file. NO_SUMMARIZE —Each output feature will represent all the class codes found in a lidar file. This is the default. SUMMARIZE —Each output feature will represent a single class code found in a lidar file.	Boolean
improve_las_point_spacing (Optional)	Provides enhanced assessment of the point spacing in LAS files that can reduce over-estimation caused by irregular data distribution. LAS_SPACING —Regular point spacing estimate is used for LAS files, where the extent is equally divided by the number of points. This is the default. NO_LAS_SPACING —Binning will be used to obtain a more precise point spacing estimate for LAS files. This may increase the tool's execution time.	Boolean

Derived Output

Name	Explanation	Data Type
min_point_spacing

Code sample

PointFileInformation 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.PointFileInformation_3d(env.workspace, "Test.gdb/two_las", "LAS", "las", "Coordinate Systems/Projected Coordinate Systems/UTM/NAD 1983/NAD 1983 UTM Zone 17N.prj", True, True, "DECIMAL_POINT", True)

PointFileInformation example 2 (stand-alone script)

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

'''****************************************************************************
Name: PointFileInformation Example
Description: This script demonstrates how to use the 
             PointFileInformation tool to create an output file that contains
             all LAS files under a parent folder.
****************************************************************************'''
# Import system modules
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
import exceptions, sys, traceback

try:
    # Obtain a license for the ArcGIS 3D Analyst extension
    arcpy.CheckOutExtension("3D")
    # Set environment settings
    env.workspace = "C:/data"
    lidarList = arcpy.ListFiles("*.las")
    if lidarList:
        # Set Local Variables
        outputFC = "Test.gdb/output_las_info"
        prj = "Coordinate Systems/Geographic Coordinate Systems/World/WGS 1984.prj"
        extrudeGeom = True # Indicates whether to create extruded geometry shapes
        sumClass = True # Indicates whether to summarize output by class code
        decSep = "DECIMAL_POINT" # Identifies the decimal separator
        #Execute PointFileInformation
        arcpy.PointFileInformation_3d(lidarList, outputFC, "LAS", "las", prj, 
                                    "", extrudeGeom, decSep, sumClass)
        print "Finished executing Point File Information."
    else:
        print "There are no LAS files in {0}.".format(env.workspace)

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)

Environments

Licensing information

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

ArcMap

Point File Information