Edit data contributing to a TIN with geoprocessing tools

The process of editing TIN surfaces with geoprocessing tools can involve adding new feature classes to an existing TIN, reducing TIN nodes, or redefining the data area. The existing TIN may already have features in it, or it may be an empty TIN with no features. Editing TIN surfaces using geoprocessing does not involve changing attributes or values of nodes or triangle faces. You can edit a TIN from the map or scene view in ArcGIS Pro.

For an overview of the TIN Management geoprocessing tools in the 3D Analyst toolset, see An overview of the Data Management toolset.

Add data to a TIN

To add features from one or more input feature classes to a TIN, complete the following steps:

1. Select a TIN layer in the Contents pane.
2. Under TIN Layer, on the Data tab, click Load Data in the Management group.
3. The Edit TIN geoprocessing tool opens in the Geoprocessing pane.
4. Browse to the Input TIN.
5. Set the Input Feature class and related parameters that you want to edit the TIN with.
6. Set Constrained Delaunay if you want the TIN to use this type of triangulation.
7. Click Run to add features from one or more input feature classes to a TIN.

Redefine the data area of a TIN

You can redefine the data area or interpolation zone of a TIN based on its triangle edge length.

1. Select a TIN layer in the Contents pane.
2. Under TIN Layer, on the Data tab, click Delineate Data Area in the Management group.
3. The Delineate TIN Data Area geoprocessing tool opens in the Geoprocessing pane.
4. Browse to the Input TIN.
5. Choose a value for Maximum Edge Length.
6. Optionally, Choose a Method.
7. Click Run.

Decimate nodes of a TIN

You can create a TIN dataset using a subset of nodes from a source TIN.

1. Select a TIN layer in the Contents pane.
2. Under TIN Layer, on the Data tab, click Decimate Nodes in the Management group.
3. The Decimate TIN Nodes geoprocessing tool opens in the Geoprocessing pane.
4. Browse to the Input TIN.
5. Choose the Output TIN.
6. Choose the Decimation Method, either Z Tolerance or Count.
7. Optionally set the Maximum Number of Nodes.
8. Optionally choose to Copy Breaklines.
9. Click Run.