Terrain To Raster (3D Analyst)

Summary

Interpolates a raster using z-values from a terrain dataset.

Usage

  • To extract a subset of the terrain, define the extent using the geoprocessing environment settings.

Syntax

arcpy.3d.TerrainToRaster(in_terrain, out_raster, {data_type}, {method}, {sample_distance}, {pyramid_level_resolution}, sample_value)
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_terrain

The terrain dataset to process.

Terrain Layer
out_raster

The location and name of the output raster. When storing a raster dataset in a geodatabase or in a folder such as an Esri Grid, no file extension should be added to the name of the raster dataset. A file extension can be provided to define the raster's format when storing it in a folder, such as .tif to generate a GeoTIFF or .img to generate an ERDAS IMAGINE format file.

If the raster is stored as a TIFF file or in a geodatabase, its raster compression type and quality can be specified using geoprocessing environment settings.

Raster Dataset
data_type
(Optional)

Specifies the type of numeric values stored in the output raster.

  • FLOATOutput raster will use 32-bit floating point, which supports values ranging from -3.402823466e+38 to 3.402823466e+38. This is the default.
  • INTOutput raster will use an appropriate integer bit depth. This option will round z-values to the nearest whole number and write an integer to each raster cell value.
String
method
(Optional)

The interpolation method that will be used to calculate cell values.

  • LINEARApplies a distance based weight to the Z of each node in the triangle encompassing the center of a given cell, then sums the weighted values to assign the cell value. This is the default.
  • NATURAL_NEIGHBORSApplies an area based weighting scheme that uses Voronoi polygons to determine cell values.
String
sample_distance
sampling_method distance
(Optional)

The sampling method and distance used to define the cell size of the output raster.

  • OBSERVATIONSDefines the number of cells that divide the longest side of the output raster. This method is used by default with the value of 250.
  • CELLSIZEDefines the cell size of the output raster.
String
pyramid_level_resolution
(Optional)

The z-tolerance or window-size resolution of the terrain pyramid level that will be used by this tool. The default is 0, or full resolution.

Double
sample_value

The value that corresponds with the Sampling Distance for specifying the output raster's cell size.

Double

Code sample

TerrainToRaster example 1 (Python window)

The following sample demonstrates the use of this tool in the Python window.

arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/data"
arcpy.TerrainToRaster_3d("sample.gdb/featuredataset/terrain", "terrain.tif", 
                         data_type="FLOAT", method="LINEAR", 
                         sample_distance="CELLSIZE 10", pyramid_level_resolution=2.5)
TerrainToRaster example 2 (stand-alone script)

The following sample demonstrates the use of this tool in a stand-alone Python script.

'''*********************************************************************
Name: TerrainToRaster Example
Description: This script demonstrates how to use the 
             TerrainToRaster tool.
             
**********************************************************************'''
# Import system modules
import arcpy

# Set environment setting
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/data"

# Set Local Variables
terrain = "sample.gdb/featuredataset/terrain"
bitType = "INT"
method = "LINEAR"
sampling = "CELLSIZE 10"
pyrLvl = 2.5
outRas = arcpy.CreateUniqueName("terrain_level.img")

#Execute TerrainToRaster
arcpy.ddd.TerrainToRaster(terrain, outRas, bitType, 
                          method, sampling, pyrLvl)

Licensing information

  • Basic: Requires 3D Analyst
  • Standard: Requires 3D Analyst
  • Advanced: Requires 3D Analyst

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