TIN Contour (3D Analyst)

Summary

Generates contours from a TIN surface.

Legacy:

This is a deprecated tool that has been superseded by the Surface Contour tool.

Illustration

TIN Contour illustration

Usage

  • Use the interval and base contour options to tailor the extent and resolution of the output feature class.

  • Use the out contour field data to convert the feature class to 3D.

  • In certain instances the last valid contour line may not be produced when creating contours using TIN surfaces. This is an algorithmic limitation common to computer contouring software. To ensure that all valid contours are generated, add a very small negative value to the base contour field to slightly shift the data.

Parameters

LabelExplanationData Type
Input TIN

The surface from which the contours will be interpolated.

TIN Layer
Output Feature Class

The output feature class.

Feature Class
Contour Interval

The interval between the contours.

Double
Base Contour
(Optional)

Along with the index interval, the base height is used to determine what contours are produced. The base height is a starting point from which the index interval is either added or subtracted. By default, the base contour is 0.0.

Double
Contour Field
(Optional)

The field containing contour values.

String
Contour Field Precision
(Optional)

The precision of the contour field. Zero specifies an integer, and the numbers 1–9 indicate how many decimal places the field will contain. By default, the field will be an integer (0).

Long
Index Interval
(Optional)

The difference, in Z units, between index contours. The value specified should be evenly divisible by the contour interval. Typically, it’s five times greater. Use of this parameter adds an attribute field to the output feature class that’s used to differentiate index contours from regular contours.

Double
Index Interval Field
(Optional)

The name of the field used to record whether a contour is a regular or an index contour. By default, the value is ‘Index’.

String
Z Factor
(Optional)

Specifies a factor by which to multiply the surface heights. Used to convert z units to x and y units.

Double

arcpy.ddd.TinContour(in_tin, out_feature_class, interval, {base_contour}, {contour_field}, {contour_field_precision}, {index_interval}, {index_interval_field}, {z_factor})
NameExplanationData Type
in_tin

The surface from which the contours will be interpolated.

TIN Layer
out_feature_class

The output feature class.

Feature Class
interval

The interval between the contours.

Double
base_contour
(Optional)

Along with the index interval, the base height is used to determine what contours are produced. The base height is a starting point from which the index interval is either added or subtracted. By default, the base contour is 0.0.

Double
contour_field
(Optional)

The field containing contour values.

String
contour_field_precision
(Optional)

The precision of the contour field. Zero specifies an integer, and the numbers 1–9 indicate how many decimal places the field will contain. By default, the field will be an integer (0).

Long
index_interval
(Optional)

The difference, in Z units, between index contours. The value specified should be evenly divisible by the contour interval. Typically, it’s five times greater. Use of this parameter adds an attribute field to the output feature class that’s used to differentiate index contours from regular contours.

Double
index_interval_field
(Optional)

The name of the field used to record whether a contour is a regular or an index contour. By default, the value is ‘Index’.

String
z_factor
(Optional)

Specifies a factor by which to multiply the surface heights. Used to convert z units to x and y units.

Double

Licensing information

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