Geostatistical layers in 3D

Available with Geostatistical Analyst license.

Geostatistical layers created by 3D interpolation methods can predict values at any location within the 3D extent of the layer. To allow you to explore the predicted values within this 3D volume, the layer is rendered as a horizontal slice at a given elevation. The layer automatically configures range properties so that the current elevation of the layer can be changed at any time with the range slider. When the elevation is changed, the layer updates and renders to reflect the predicted values at the new elevation. This allows you to use the range slider to iterate through different elevation values and see how the predictions change. Once an elevation value is specified, these layers are no different than any other geostatistical layer and support all of the options supported by geostatistical layers, including symbology, export options, and the ability to be edited in the Geostatistical Wizard.

The following image shows the same geostatistical layer before (left) and after (right) changing the elevation with the range slider:

The geostatistical layer is rendered at two elevations.

Note:

Because geostatistical layers require a single elevation value, if a span interval is defined for the range slider, the largest value of the span will be used as the elevation.

Visualize in a scene

If a geostatistical layer created from a 3D interpolation method is added to a scene, the layer will render at the current elevation of the layer. Changing the elevation of the layer will shift the layer vertically to the new elevation. A wireframe box is drawn around the 3D extent of the layer to show the elevations that can be used. This box can be turned on and off on the Appearance ribbon tab of the layer.

A geostatistical layer in a Scene view is shown.

Export options

Geostatistical layers in 3D can be exported to voxel layers, rasters, feature contours, and points.

Export to voxel layer

A 3D geostatistical layer can be exported to a netCDF (*.nc) file using the GA Layer 3D To NetCDF tool. The output netCDF file can then be used as the source for a voxel layer in a scene.

A voxel layer exported from a 3D geostatistical layer is shown.

Export to raster slices

A raster of the horizontal slice at a given elevation can be exported using the GA Layer To Rasters tool. By default, the tool uses the current elevation of the geostatistical layer, but other elevations can be exported using the Output elevation parameter of the tool.

Export to a multidimensional raster dataset

Multiple rasters at different elevations can be exported simultaneously and saved as a multidimensional raster dataset in Cloud Raster Format (*.crf) using the GA Layer 3D To Multidimensional Raster tool. You can provide the desired elevations using an iterator or a list. Multidimensional rasters can be analyzed by tools in the Multidimensional Analysis toolset of the Image Analyst toolbox. These tools are designed to work efficiently with multidimensional rasters and are aware of the 3D nature of the data.

Export to contour slices

Contour lines or filled contour polygons can be exported from a given elevation using the GA Layer To Contour tool. By default, the tool uses the current elevation of the geostatistical layer, but other elevations can be exported using the Output elevation parameter of the tool.

Export to 3D points

Geostatistical layers in 3D can also predict to a 3D point feature class with the GA Layer To Points tool. This allows you, for example, to predict to target points in 3D and symbolize the points by their predicted values. If the target points store their elevations in an attribute field (rather than Shape.Z), you must provide the Elevation field and Elevation field units values.

A geostatistical layer and predictions to gridded points in 3D are shown.