An interactive elevation profile graph can be created in either a map or a scene using one of the following creation methods:
- Interactive Placement
- From Layer
Note:
When working in a 2D map, you must ensure you have added a ground elevation surface to enable the exploratory analysis Elevation Profile tool.
On the Analysis tab in the Workflows group, expand the Exploratory 3D Analysis drop-down list and choose Elevation Profile 
. The Exploratory Analysis pane appears and activates the tool in the default creation method, Interactive Placement. Both creation methods generate an elevation profile graph using the map's ground elevation surface and the result appears in an overlay window at the bottom of the active view.
After a profile graph has been created, the tool can be used to edit the path of the profile line interactively by dragging individual vertices in the view. To create a new profile graph, you must reactivate one of the creation methods.
Interactive Placement
A profile line can be digitized in the map or scene by interactively clicking to define the path's vertices and double-clicking to finish. This creation method is well suited for maps and scenes that do not contain existing line features, for example, exploratory investigation of elevation profile lines.
- In the Exploratory Analysis pane, under Creation Method, click Interactive Placement
. When selected, the option is highlighted blue.
When Interactive Placement is active, the pointer turns to crosshairs when you hover over the map or scene.
- Under Distance Units, review or update the units to be used by the elevation profile.
- Click in the map or scene to set the starting point of the profile line.
- Continue to add vertices to digitize the path.
- Double-click or press F2 to finish.
The elevation profile overlay window appears at the bottom of the active view.
From Layer
A profile line can be created from one or more selected line features in the map or scene. This creation method is well suited for creating elevation profiles along paths that already exist as data in the view, such as a hiking trail or a suggested driving route.
- In the Exploratory Analysis pane, under Creation Method, click From Layer
.When selected, the option is highlighted blue, and you can choose an input line layer.
- In the Line Layer text box, select the layer containing the line features you want to create the elevation profile along.
If a feature is not already selected, you will be prompted to make a selection. If multiple features are selected, the tool will attempt to merge the features into a single continuous line. If the selected line features make a multisegment line—for example, if vertices are separated or lines intersect each other—the profile graph will be generated from an arbitrarily chosen segment.
- Under Distance Units, review or update the units to be used by the elevation profile.
- Click Apply.
The elevation profile overlay window appears at the bottom of the active view.