Point File Information (3D Analyst)

Summary

Generates statistical information about one or more point files in a polygon or multipatch output.

Illustration

Usage

• When a folder containing point data files is selected as input, the File Suffix must be entered. However, this is not needed for file inputs.

• When the summarize option is not used, the statistical information presented in the feature attribute table consists of the point count, average point spacing, z-minimum, and z-maximum of each point file entered. A separate row is created for each input file encountered. The point spacing is an estimate that assumes the points within the input file are evenly spaced over the XY extent of each input file.

• Each resulting feature will encompass the XY extent of an input file. The features can be created as 2D polygons or extruded multipatch features that provide a 3D bounding box with z-values at the base and top reflecting the range of elevation values found in the file. The multipatch can be visualized in 3D using ArcScene or ArcGlobe.

• The summarize option is useful to statistically summarize information for each class code in the input file but is expensive, as each file must be scanned and analyzed.

• The point spacing reported by Point File Information is not exact; it is an estimate. The point spacing given is a summary when looking at trends for collections of files. The tool uses a rough estimate that compares the area of the file's bounding box with the point count. It is most accurate when the rectangular extent of the file being examined is filled with data. Files with points over large water bodies or on the perimeter of a study area, only partially occupied with data, will not produce accurate estimates.

Parameters

Dialog

Label	Explanation	Data Type
Point Data	Any combination of folders and files storing point records that will be analyzed. In the tool dialog box, a folder can also be specified as an input by selecting the folder in Windows Explorer and dragging it onto the parameter's input box.	File; Folder
Output Feature Class	The feature class that will be produced.	Feature Class
File Format	Specifies the format of the input files. LAS format lidar—Lidar data storage format defined by the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS). ASCII file with XYZ—XYZ file. ASCII file with XYZI—XYZI file. ASCII file in Generate format—GENERATE file.	String
File Suffix (Optional)	The suffix of the files to be imported when a folder is specified in the input. This parameter is required if an input folder is provided.	String
Coordinate System (Optional)	The coordinate system of the input data.	Coordinate System
Include Subfolders (Optional)	Specifies whether data in subfolders will be used to generate results. The tool scans subfolders when an input folder is selected containing data in a subfolders directory. The output feature class will be generated with a row for each file encountered in the directory structure. Unchecked—Only the data found in the input folder will be used to generate the results. This is the default. Checked—Any data found in the input folder and its subdirectories will be used to generate results.	Boolean
Extrude Geometry Shapes (Optional)	Specifies whether the output will be created as a 2D polygon or multipatch feature class with extruded features that reflect the elevation range found in each file. Unchecked—The output will be created as a 2D polygon feature class. This is the default. Checked—The output will be created as a multipatch feature class.	Boolean
Decimal Separator (Optional)	The decimal character that will be used in the text file to differentiate the integer of a number from its fractional part. Point—A point will be used as the decimal character. This is the default. Comma—A comma will be used as the decimal character.	String
Summarize by class code (Optional)	Specifies whether the results will summarize LAS files per class code or per LAS file. This option will require an intensive scan of the LAS file. Unchecked—Each output feature will represent all the data found in a lidar file. This is the default. Checked—Each output feature will represent a single class code found in a lidar file.	Boolean
Improve LAS files point spacing estimate (Optional)	Specifies whether enhanced assessment of the point spacing in LAS files, which can reduce over-estimation caused by irregular data distribution, will be used. Unchecked—Regular point spacing estimate is used for LAS files, where the extent is equally divided by the number of points. This is the default. Checked—Binning will be used to obtain a more precise point spacing estimate for LAS files. This may increase the tool's execution time.	Boolean

Derived Output

Label	Explanation	Data Type
Average Point Spacing	The average point spacing.	Double

Python

arcpy.ddd.PointFileInformation(input, out_feature_class, in_file_type, {file_suffix}, {input_coordinate_system}, {folder_recursion}, {extrude_geometry}, {decimal_separator}, {summarize_by_class_code}, {improve_las_point_spacing})

Name	Explanation	Data Type
input [input,...]	Any combination of folders and files storing point records that will be analyzed. In the tool dialog box, a folder can also be specified as an input by selecting the folder in Windows Explorer and dragging it onto the parameter's input box.	File; Folder
out_feature_class	The feature class that will be produced.	Feature Class
in_file_type	Specifies the format of the input files. LAS—Lidar data storage format defined by the American Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS). XYZ—XYZ file. XYZI—XYZI file. GENERATE—GENERATE file.	String
file_suffix (Optional)	The suffix of the files to be imported when a folder is specified in the input. This parameter is required if an input folder is provided.	String
input_coordinate_system (Optional)	The coordinate system of the input data.	Coordinate System
folder_recursion (Optional)	Specifies whether data in subfolders will be used to generate results. The tool scans subfolders when an input folder is selected containing data in a subfolders directory. The output feature class will be generated with a row for each file encountered in the directory structure. NO_RECURSION—Only the data found in the input folder will be used to generate the results. This is the default. RECURSION—Any data found in the input folder and its subdirectories will be used to generate results.	Boolean
extrude_geometry (Optional)	Specifies whether the output will be created as a 2D polygon or multipatch feature class with extruded features that reflect the elevation range found in each file. NO_EXTRUSION—The output will be created as a 2D polygon feature class. This is the default. EXTRUSION—The output will be created as a multipatch feature class.	Boolean
decimal_separator (Optional)	The decimal character that will be used in the text file to differentiate the integer of a number from its fractional part. DECIMAL_POINT—A point will be used as the decimal character. This is the default. DECIMAL_COMMA—A comma will be used as the decimal character.	String
summarize_by_class_code (Optional)	Specifies whether the results will summarize LAS files per class code or per LAS file. NO_SUMMARIZE—Each output feature will represent all the class codes found in a lidar file. This is the default. SUMMARIZE—Each output feature will represent a single class code found in a lidar file.	Boolean
improve_las_point_spacing (Optional)	Specifies whether enhanced assessment of the point spacing in LAS files, which can reduce over-estimation caused by irregular data distribution, will be used. LAS_SPACING—Regular point spacing estimate is used for LAS files, where the extent is equally divided by the number of points. This is the default. NO_LAS_SPACING—Binning will be used to obtain a more precise point spacing estimate for LAS files. This may increase the tool's execution time.	Boolean

Derived Output

Name	Explanation	Data Type
min_point_spacing	The average point spacing.	Double

Code sample

PointFileInformation example 1 (Python window)

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

arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/data"
arcpy.PointFileInformation_3d('las_files', "Test.gdb/two_las", 
                              in_file_type="LAS", file_suffix="las", 
                              input_coordinate_system="NAD 1983 UTM Zone 17N.prj", 
                              decimal_separator="DECIMAL_POINT")

PointFileInformation example 2 (stand-alone script)

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

'''****************************************************************************
Name: PointFileInformation Example
Description: This script demonstrates how to use the 
             PointFileInformation tool to create an output file that contains
             all LAS files under a parent folder.
****************************************************************************'''
# Import system modules
import arcpy

# Set environment settings
arcpy.env.workspace = "C:/data"
lidarList = arcpy.ListFiles("*.las")
if lidarList:
    # Set Local Variables
    outputFC = "Test.gdb/output_las_info"
    prj = "Coordinate Systems/Geographic Coordinate Systems/World/WGS 1984.prj"
    extrudeGeom = True # Indicates whether to create extruded geometry shapes
    sumClass = True # Indicates whether to summarize output by class code
    decSep = "DECIMAL_POINT" # Identifies the decimal separator
    
    #Execute PointFileInformation
    arcpy.PointFileInformation_3d(lidarList, outputFC, "LAS", "las", prj, 
                                "", extrudeGeom, decSep, sumClass)
    print("Finished executing Point File Information.")
else:
    print("There are no LAS files in {0}.".format(env.workspace))

Environments

Current Workspace, Scratch Workspace, Output Coordinate System, Extent, XY Resolution, XY Tolerance, Z Resolution, Z Tolerance, Output CONFIG Keyword, Auto Commit, Output XY Domain, Output Z Domain

Licensing information

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