Summary
Adds one or more feature classes to a terrain dataset.
Usage
Input features must reside in the same feature dataset as the terrain dataset.
Terrain dataset must already have one or more pyramid levels defined.
Depending on the surface type associated with features added to a terrain, the terrain dataset may need to be rebuilt using Build Terrain. The terrain dataset's Properties dialog box in ArcCatalog and the terrain layer's Properties dialog box in ArcMap both provide an indication as to whether the dataset needs to be rebuilt.
Consider enabling the overview option for breakline and polygon surface feature types only if the features contain simplified geometry and are visually relevant for the anticipated display scale. For example, breaklines may not be visible enough to matter at an overview display, whereas a clip polygon would be useful. If the boundary feature is detailed, consider generalizing it and use the coarser representation for the overview. The detailed version should be used at display scales more suited for its resolution of detail.
For terrain datasets stored in an enterprise geodatabase:
- The target terrain cannot be registered as versioned.
- The input feature class cannot be registered as versioned.
Syntax
AddFeatureClassToTerrain(in_terrain, in_features)
Parameter | Explanation | Data Type |
in_terrain | The terrain to which feature classes will be added. The terrain dataset must already have one or more pyramid levels created. | Terrain Layer |
in_features [[in_features, height_field, SF_type, group, min_resolution, max_resolution, overview, embed, embed_name, embed_fields, anchor],...] | Identifies features being added to the terrain. Each feature must reside in the same feature dataset as the terrain and have its role defined through the following properties:
| Value Table |
Derived Output
Name | Explanation | Data Type |
derived_out_terrain | The updated terrain. | Terrain Layer |
Code sample
AddFeatureClassToTerrain 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"
params = "terrain.gdb/terrainFDS/points2 SHAPE masspoints 2 0 10 true false "\
"points_embed <None> false"
arcpy.AddFeatureClassToTerrain_3d("test.gdb/featuredataset/terrain", params)
AddFeatureClassToTerrain 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
- Basic: Requires 3D Analyst
- Standard: Requires 3D Analyst
- Advanced: Requires 3D Analyst
Related topics
- An overview of the Data Management toolset
- Fundamentals of Surfaces
- Surface formats
- What is a terrain dataset?
- Benefits of using terrain datasets
- Building a terrain dataset with geoprocessing tools
- Types of source data supported in terrain datasets
- Data import and load tools for terrain datasets
- Surface feature type (SFType)
- Anchor points
- Embedded feature classes
- Pyramid resolution bounds
- Groups