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.

Parameters

Dialog

Label	Explanation	Data Type
Input Terrain	The terrain dataset to process.	Terrain Layer
Output 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, do not add a file extension 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
Output Data Type (Optional)	Specifies the type of numeric values stored in the output raster. Floating Point—The output raster will use 32-bit floating point, which supports values ranging from -3.402823466e+38 to 3.402823466e+38. This is the default. Integer—The output 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. Linear—Applies 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 Neighbors—Applies an area based weighting scheme that uses Voronoi polygons to determine cell values.	String
Sampling Distance (Optional)	The sampling method and distance used to define the cell size of the output raster. Observations—Defines the number of cells that divide the longest side of the output raster. This method is used by default with the value of 250. Cell Size—Defines 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. The default is 0, or full resolution.	Double
Sampling Value	The value that corresponds with the Sampling Distance for specifying the output raster's cell size.	Double

Python

arcpy.ddd.TerrainToRaster(in_terrain, out_raster, {data_type}, {method}, {sample_distance}, {pyramid_level_resolution}, sample_value)

Name	Explanation	Data 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, do not add a file extension 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. FLOAT—The output raster will use 32-bit floating point, which supports values ranging from -3.402823466e+38 to 3.402823466e+38. This is the default. INT—The output 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. LINEAR—Applies 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_NEIGHBORS—Applies 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. OBSERVATIONS—Defines the number of cells that divide the longest side of the output raster. This method is used by default with the value of 250. CELLSIZE—Defines 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. 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.ddd.TerrainToRaster("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)

Environments

Current Workspace, Output Coordinate System, Extent, Snap Raster, Pyramid, Compression, Output CONFIG Keyword, Auto Commit, Raster Statistics, Terrain Memory Usage

Licensing information

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