When working with bathymetry data in the Compose Surface window, you may want to save the parameters that were used to create a composite surface as a surface model. A surface model always includes sorting rules and specific bathymetry datasets.
A surface model is saved in the active BIS geodatabase. If you save the surface model in an archive-enabled, versioned enterprise geodatabase, any time a surface model is edited and saved a new version will be created. All users who work with the surface model need access to the BIS geodatabase that contains the surface model, as well as access to the overviews storage location.
The Save Surface Model dialog box allows you to save a composite surface along with the sorting rules and data. When the surface model is saved, the sorting rules and the list of bathymetry surfaces used to create the composite surface are also saved. When the surface model is reloaded into the Compose Surface window, the sorting rules, ordered bathymetry datasets, and composite surface will be loaded automatically, and a temporary mosaic dataset will be generated from the surface model and be added to the Table of Contents window in ArcMap.
To visualize the composite surface in ArcMap, you will need to generate the mosaic dataset manually using the Preview button or load the surface model using the Load Surface Model tool.
In cases when you want to modify an existing surface model or save the model with a new name, you can rename the model and write a new model description using the Save Surface Model As dialog box.
There may be times when you want to remove a surface model that is loaded into the Compose Surface window, or cases when you do not want to save the model that was created. Closing a surface model will remove the active model from the Compose Surface window; this is similar to closing a document in a word processing application.
You can also delete a surface model from your list of active models using the Manage Surface Model dialog box.