The interactive Elevation Profile tool generates a graph of height values along a linear path in the view. The profile is calculated using the ground elevation surface in a map or a scene, and unlike other exploratory analysis tools, the values are derived from the data sources for the elevation surface rather than the level of detail of the map or scene.
The tool requires a line to generate the elevation profile. You can digitize a line interactively, or you can choose a line feature already in the map or scene. The profile graph is generated and added as an overlay window.
Characteristics of the profile window include the following:
- The width of the profile window is defined by the width of the active map or scene view.
- The resolution of the graph—that is, the number of samples along the line where height values have been calculated—is determined by the display width of the graph.
- You can move the pointer over the profile graph for feedback where the elevation information appears in the graph and a corresponding positional graphic appears on the map.
- The base of the profile window includes statistical information about the elevation and slope of the profile line.
In a map, you must add a ground elevation surface to the map; otherwise, the interactive elevation profile tool is not available. You can add an elevation surface to a map by clicking the Add Data drop-down menu on the Map tab and selecting Elevation Source 
. Browse to an elevation source, such as a DEM raster file, or use an elevation service layer hosted on ArcGIS Living Atlas. In 3D, the scene always has at least one elevation surface, named Ground, which cannot be deleted. Ensure in both maps and scenes that the Ground surface has at least one data source checked in the Contents pane. If the ground surface contains no elevation data sources, or if all the elevation data sources are unchecked, the elevation profile graph will be a horizontal line.
The profile graph is temporary and is not saved with the project, nor is it included in map packages. You can save the profile graph as an image file, convert the profile to a line feature class in the projects default geodatabase, or store it in a table format. Use the Interpolate Shape geoprocessing tool to generate z-aware features from a profile graph.
Create an interactive elevation profile
On the Analysis tab, in the Workflows group, in the Exploratory 3D Analysis drop-down menu, click the Elevation Profile tool 
to open the Exploratory Analysis pane and activate the tool with the Interactive Placement creation method. The pointer updates to crosshairs.
Creation parameter
An interactive profile graph creation parameter is described in the following table:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
Distance Units | The linear unit used to label the axes of the profile graph. |
Creation methods
There are two methods for creating an interactive profile graph:
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
Interactive Placement | Click in the view to digitize a linear path, and double-click to finish. This is the default method. |
Along a Line | Generate a profile graph from a selected set of connected line features. When multiple lines are selected, the tool attempts to collapse them into a single continuous line. If there are disconnected segments, the tool arbitrarily chooses one of the segments for the graph. Previously exported profile line features can be revisited using this method. |
Update a profile graph
Once a profile graph has been created, you can update it in the following ways:
- Change the profile path by dragging individual vertices within the map or scene.
- Flip the direction of the graph in the Elevation Profile window by clicking the Reverse Direction button
. - Change the units used to label the axis of an existing profile graph by changing the Distance Units property on the Create tab of the Exploratory Analysis pane.
- Control other aspects of its appearance on the Properties tab. Changes to these display properties are applied immediately to all open elevation profile graphs.
Note:
You can only have one active profile graph window per view. However, if you have multiple views open and each have an elevation profile overlay window, changing the properties updates all appearance elevation profiles.
Global properties
Global properties affect the display of all existing and future elevation profile graphs. Expand the Global Properties heading to modify the colors used to symbolize the chart, including the background color, the line color, the graph-fill color, and the interactive mouse-position highlight color. At any time, the Restore Defaults button can be used to return all color properties to their default values.
You can also define which elevation profile statistics appear in the chart window. By default, all statistics are shown.
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
Minimum Elevation | The lowest elevation value in the profile chart. |
Average Elevation | The average elevation in the profile chart. |
Maximum Elevation | The highest elevation value in the profile chart. |
Elevation Change | Two values are shown that help describe the vertical strenuousness of a path:
|
Maximum Slope | The steepest section of slope in the profile graph. Note that a profile graph with a single peak or valley contains a minimum slope of 0, so that value is not shown. |
Average Slope | The average slope of the profile graph. |
Export an elevation profile graph
You can export elevation profile graph results as an image file, geodatabase table, or CSV table, or convert the path to a line feature class. Export an image to use as an element on a layout or report. Export a table to generate any tabular chart type from the same profile. Export as a feature class to rerun the analysis location again at another time or with other tools.
Learn more about converting analysis results to features
To export an elevation profile graph, do the following:
- In the elevation profile graph window, click the Export Graph button
. - Choose from the following options:
- Image—On the Export Graph dialog box, set the destination for the image file and provide a name. You can save the image as a JPG (.jpg), TIF (.tif), PNG (.png) or BMP (.bmp) file. The elevation profile graph is saved as an image file using the current screen resolution of the graph window. For a higher-resolution image, increase the width of the view and the height of the graph window.
- Feature—Provide a name for the feature class and an optional description. The profile path exports to a line feature class saved to the default geodatabase of the project. This is the same command as clicking Convert To Features from the Menu button in the Exploratory Analysis pane. The feature class is added as a layer to the map or scene. If the feature class already exists, provide a Description to differentiate between results.
- Geodatabase Table—Provide a name for the output table. A new stand-alone file geodatabase table is saved to the default geodatabase of the project and added to the map or scene.
- CSV Table—On the CSV Table dialog box, set the destination and provide a name for the output .csv text file.
- Click OK.
Close an interactive profile graph
Click Close 
in the profile graph window to remove it from the view. The pointer switches back to the Explore tool, but the Exploratory Analysis pane remains open to perform a new elevation profile.