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Create Point Cloud Scene Layer Package (Data Management)

In this topic

  1. Summary
  2. Usage
  3. Parameters
  4. Environments
  5. Licensing information

Summary

Creates a point cloud scene layer package (.slpk file) from LAS, zLAS, LAZ, or LAS dataset input.

Usage

  • The output coordinate system should match the coordinate system of the web scene in which it will be displayed. If the intended display environment will be a global web scene view, the output coordinate system must use GCS WGS 84 or China Geodetic Coordinate System 2000. A vertical coordinate system for a global scene must be ellipsoidal or EGM2008 Geoid or EGM96 Geoid.

  • All LAS, ZLAS, or LAZ files being processed must have the same spatial reference. If multiple spatial references are used by the desired collection of LAS or ZLAS files, consider using the Extract LAS tool to reproject the data to a common spatial reference. Datasets with an unknown coordinate system will be blocked as input to the tool.

  • A LAS, ZLAS, or LAZ file can have its spatial reference defined in its header or by a PRJ file with the same base name that is placed in the same location. The PRJ file will override the information in the header and can be used to correct missing or invalid spatial reference information. If all of the LAS, ZLAS, or LAZ files being processed have unknown coordinates but use the same spatial reference, only one file will need a PRJ defined for the tool to process the collection. A PRJ file can be generated using the Create LAS Dataset tool.

  • LAZ files with missing coordinate system information can be defined through the Input Coordinate System parameter.

  • A scene layer package with a file size of less than 1 GB can be uploaded directly in a browser to ArcGIS Online or Portal for ArcGIS. If it is larger than 1 GB, use the Share Package tool to upload it to ArcGIS Online or Portal for ArcGIS 10.5 or later for point cloud scene layer packages.

Parameters

DialogPython

LabelExplanationData Type
Input Dataset

The lidar data (LAS, zLAS, LAZ, or LAS dataset) that will be used to create a scene layer package. The lidar data can also be specified by selecting the parent folder that contains the desired files.

Layer File; LAS Dataset Layer; Folder; File
Output Scene Layer Package

The output scene layer package (.slpk).

File
Output Coordinate System
(Optional)

The coordinate system of the output scene layer package. It can be any projected or custom coordinate system. Supported geographic coordinate systems include WGS 1984 and China Geodetic Coordinate System 2000. WGS 1984 and EGM96 Geoid are the default horizontal and vertical coordinate systems, respectively. The coordinate system can be specified in any of the following ways:

  • Specify the path to a .prj file.
  • Reference a dataset with the desired coordinate system.
  • Use an arcpy.SpatialReference object.

Spatial Reference
Geographic Transformation
(Optional)

The datum transformation method that will be used when the input layer's coordinate system uses a datum that differs from the output coordinate system. All transformations are bidirectional, regardless of the direction implied by their names. For example, NAD_1927_to_WGS_1984_3 will work correctly even if the datum conversion is from WGS 1984 to NAD 1927.

Note:

ArcGIS coordinate system data is required for vertical datum transformations between ellipsoidal and gravity-related and two gravity-related datums.

String
Attributes to cache
(Optional)

Specifies the source data attributes to be included in the scene layer package. These values will be accessible when the content is consumed in other viewers. Select attributes that are required for the desired rendering and filtering options (for example, intensity, returns, class codes, RGB). To reduce storage, exclude unneeded attributes.

  • Intensity — The return strength of the laser pulse for each lidar point.
  • RGB —RGB imagery information collected for each lidar point.
  • LAS flags —Classification and scan direction flags.
  • Classification code —Classification code values.
  • Return value —Discrete return number from the lidar pulse.
  • User data —A customizable attribute that can be any number in the range of 0 through 255.
  • Point source ID —For aerial lidar, this value typically identifies the flight path that collected a given lidar point.
  • GPS time — The GPS time stamp at which the laser point was emitted from the aircraft. The time is in GPS seconds of the week, where the time stamp is between 0 and 604800 and resets at midnight on a Sunday.
  • Scan angle —The angular direction of the laser scanner for a given lidar point. The value range is from -90 through 90.
  • Near infrared —Near infrared records collected for each lidar point.
String
Point Size (m)
(Optional)

The point size of the lidar data. For airborne lidar data, the default of 0 or a value close to the average point spacing is usually best. For terrestrial lidar data, the point size should match the desired point spacing for the areas of interest. Values are expressed in meters. The default of 0 will automatically determine the best value for the input dataset.

Double
XY Max Error (m)
(Optional)

The maximum x,y error tolerated. A higher tolerance will result in better data compression and more efficient data transfer. Values are expressed in meters. The default is 0.01.

Double
Z Max Error (m)
(Optional)

The maximum z-error tolerated. A higher tolerance will result in better data compression and more efficient data transfer. Values are expressed in meters. The default is 0.01.

Double
Input coordinate System
(Optional)

The coordinate system of the input LAZ files. This parameter is only used for LAZ files that do not contain spatial reference information in their header or have a .prj file.

Coordinate System
Scene Layer Version
(Optional)

The Indexed 3D Scene Layer (I3S) version of the resulting point cloud scene layer package. Specifying a version supports backward compatibility and allows scene layer packages to be shared with earlier versions of ArcGIS.

  • 1.x —Supported in all ArcGIS clients.
  • 2.x —Supported in ArcGIS Pro 2.1.2 or later and can be published to ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS 10.6.1 or later. This is the default.
String

arcpy.management.CreatePointCloudSceneLayerPackage(in_dataset, out_slpk, {out_coor_system}, {transform_method}, {attributes}, {point_size_m}, {xy_max_error_m}, {z_max_error_m}, {in_coor_system}, {scene_layer_version})
NameExplanationData Type
in_dataset

The lidar data (LAS, zLAS, LAZ, or LAS dataset) that will be used to create a scene layer package. The lidar data can also be specified by selecting the parent folder that contains the desired files.

Layer File; LAS Dataset Layer; Folder; File
out_slpk

The output scene layer package (.slpk).

File
out_coor_system
(Optional)

The coordinate system of the output scene layer package. It can be any projected or custom coordinate system. Supported geographic coordinate systems include WGS 1984 and China Geodetic Coordinate System 2000. WGS 1984 and EGM96 Geoid are the default horizontal and vertical coordinate systems, respectively. The coordinate system can be specified in any of the following ways:

  • Specify the path to a .prj file.
  • Reference a dataset with the desired coordinate system.
  • Use an arcpy.SpatialReference object.

Spatial Reference
transform_method
[transform_method,...]
(Optional)

The datum transformation method that will be used when the input layer's coordinate system uses a datum that differs from the output coordinate system. All transformations are bidirectional, regardless of the direction implied by their names. For example, NAD_1927_to_WGS_1984_3 will work correctly even if the datum conversion is from WGS 1984 to NAD 1927.

Note:

ArcGIS coordinate system data is required for vertical datum transformations between ellipsoidal and gravity-related and two gravity-related datums.

String
attributes
[attributes,...]
(Optional)

Specifies the source data attributes to be included in the scene layer package. These values will be accessible when the content is consumed in other viewers. Select attributes that are required for the desired rendering and filtering options (for example, intensity, returns, class codes, RGB). To reduce storage, exclude unneeded attributes.

  • INTENSITY — The return strength of the laser pulse for each lidar point.
  • RGB —RGB imagery information collected for each lidar point.
  • FLAGS —Classification and scan direction flags.
  • CLASS_CODE —Classification code values.
  • RETURNS —Discrete return number from the lidar pulse.
  • USER_DATA —A customizable attribute that can be any number in the range of 0 through 255.
  • POINT_SRC_ID —For aerial lidar, this value typically identifies the flight path that collected a given lidar point.
  • GPS_TIME — The GPS time stamp at which the laser point was emitted from the aircraft. The time is in GPS seconds of the week, where the time stamp is between 0 and 604800 and resets at midnight on a Sunday.
  • SCAN_ANGLE —The angular direction of the laser scanner for a given lidar point. The value range is from -90 through 90.
  • NEAR_INFRARED —Near infrared records collected for each lidar point.
String
point_size_m
(Optional)

The point size of the lidar data. For airborne lidar data, the default of 0 or a value close to the average point spacing is usually best. For terrestrial lidar data, the point size should match the desired point spacing for the areas of interest. Values are expressed in meters. The default of 0 will automatically determine the best value for the input dataset.

Double
xy_max_error_m
(Optional)

The maximum x,y error tolerated. A higher tolerance will result in better data compression and more efficient data transfer. Values are expressed in meters. The default is 0.01.

Double
z_max_error_m
(Optional)

The maximum z-error tolerated. A higher tolerance will result in better data compression and more efficient data transfer. Values are expressed in meters. The default is 0.01.

Double
in_coor_system
(Optional)

The coordinate system of the input LAZ files. This parameter is only used for LAZ files that do not contain spatial reference information in their header or have a .prj file.

Coordinate System
scene_layer_version
(Optional)

The Indexed 3D Scene Layer (I3S) version of the resulting point cloud scene layer package. Specifying a version supports backward compatibility and allows scene layer packages to be shared with earlier versions of ArcGIS.

  • 1.X —Supported in all ArcGIS clients.
  • 2.X —Supported in ArcGIS Pro 2.1.2 or later and can be published to ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS 10.6.1 or later. This is the default.
String

Code sample

CreatePointCloudSceneLayerPackage example (Python window)

The following Python script demonstrates how to use the CreatePointCloudSceneLayerPackage function from the Python window.

import arcpy
arcpy.env.workspace = "c:/gis_data"
arcpy.management.CreateSceneLayerPackage(
    "Milan.lyrx", "Milan.slpk", arcpy.SpatialReference(4326), 
    ["ITRF_2000_To_WGS_1984 + WGS_1984_To_WGS_1984_EGM2008_2.5x2.5_Height"],
    ["INTENSITY", "RGB", "CLASS_CODE", "FLAGS", "RETURNS"], 0, 0.1, 0.1, None, 
    "1.X")

Environments

This tool does not use any geoprocessing environments.

Licensing information

  • Basic: Yes
  • Standard: Yes
  • Advanced: Yes

Related topics

  • An overview of the Package toolset
  • Find a geoprocessing tool
  • Create a scene layer
  • What is a scene layer?

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In this topic
  1. Summary
  2. Usage
  3. Parameters
  4. Environments
  5. Licensing information