Surface geoprocessing functions

Available with Spatial Analyst license.

Available with 3D Analyst license.

With the Surface geoprocessing functions, you can quantify and visualize a terrain landform represented by a digital elevation model.

Starting with a raster elevation surface as input, with these geoprocessing functions, you can gain information by producing a new dataset that identifies a specific pattern within an original dataset. You can derive patterns that were not readily apparent in the original surface, such as contours, angle of slope, steepest downslope direction (Aspect), shaded relief (Hillshade), and visibility.

Each Surface geoprocessing function provides insights into a surface that can be used as an end in itself or as input into additional analysis.

The following table lists the available geoprocessing functions and provides a brief description of each.

Geoprocessing FunctionDescription

Add Surface Information

Attributes features with spatial information derived from a surface.

Aspect

Derives the aspect from each cell of a raster surface.

Contour

Creates a feature class of contours from a raster surface.

Contour List

Creates a feature class of selected contour values from a raster surface.

Contour with Barriers

Creates contours from a raster surface. The inclusion of barrier features allows you to independently generate contours on either side of a barrier.

Curvature

Calculates the curvature of a raster surface, optionally including profile and plan curvature.

Cut Fill

Calculates the volume change between two surfaces. This is typically used for cut and fill operations.

Hillshade

Creates a shaded relief from a surface raster by considering the illumination source angle and shadows.

Interpolate Shape

Creates 3D features by interpolating z-values from a surface.

Observer Points

Identifies which observer points are visible from each raster surface location.

Slope

Identifies the slope (gradient or steepness) from each cell of a raster.

Surface Parameters

Determines parameters of a raster surface such as aspect, slope and curvatures.

Viewshed

Determines the raster surface locations visible to a set of observer features.

Viewshed 2

Determines the raster surface locations visible to a set of observer features using geodesic methods

Visibility

Determines the raster surface locations visible to a set of observer features, or identifies which observer points are visible from each raster surface location.

Geoprocessing functions in the Surface category

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