Add Terrain Pyramid Level (3D Analyst)

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Summary

Adds one or more pyramid levels to an existing terrain dataset.

Learn more about how Terrain Pyramid Level Definition works

Usage

  • Each pyramid level is entered as a space-delimited pair of the pyramid level resolution and reference scale (for example, "20 24000" for a window size of 20 and reference scale of 1:24000, or "1.5 10000" for a z-tolerance of 1.5 and reference scale of 1:10000).

  • The pyramid level resolution refers to the z-tolerance or window size value that will be used for the pyramid.

    • The z-tolerance specifies the maximum deviation that can occur from the elevation of the terrain at full resolution.
    • The window size defines the tile area used in thinning elevation points by selecting one or two points from the area based on the window size method specified at the creation of the terrain.
  • The reference scale represents the largest map scale in which the pyramid level will be displayed.

  • Adding a new pyramid level to a terrain invalidates it because the terrain needs to populate the pyramid with elevation points sampled from its preceding pyramid level. Use Build Terrain after adding a pyramid level.

  • When used in an SDE database, the input terrain cannot be registered as versioned.

Parameters

LabelExplanationData Type
Input Terrain

The terrain dataset that will be processed.

Terrain Layer
Pyramid Type
(Optional)

The pyramid type used by the terrain dataset. This parameter is not used in ArcGIS 9.3 and beyond, as its purpose is to ensure backward-compatibility with scripts and models written using ArcGIS 9.2.

String
Pyramid Levels Definition

The z-tolerance or window size and its associated reference scale for each pyramid level being added to the terrain. Each pyramid level is entered as a space-delimited pair of the pyramid level resolution and reference scale (for example, "20 24000" for a window size of 20 and reference scale of 1:24000, or "1.5 10000" for a z-tolerance of 1.5 and reference scale of 1:10000). The pyramid level resolution can be provided as a floating-point value, while the reference scale must be entered as a whole number.

The z-tolerance value represents the maximum deviation that can occur from the elevation of the terrain at full resolution, whereas the window size value defines the area of the terrain tile used in thinning elevation points by selecting one or two points from the area based on the window size method defined during the creation of the terrain. The reference scale represents the largest map scale at which the pyramid level is enforced. When the terrain is displayed at a scale larger than this value, the next highest pyramid level is displayed.

String

Derived Output

LabelExplanationData Type
Updated Input Terrain

The updated terrain.

Terrain Layer

Licensing information

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

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