3D Analyst Tools ArcToolbox

3D Analyst Tools

3D Analyst Toolset

The 3D Analyst toolbox provides a collection of geoprocessing tools that enable a wide variety  of analytical, data management, and data conversion operations on surface models and three-dimensional vector data.

The 3D analysis toolbox consists of groups of tools, in this article all the tools in the following groups will be explained:

3D Feautres Toolset:

Provides 3D analysis toolbox

A suite of geoprocessing tools that enable a variety of analysis, data management, and data transformation on surface models and 3D vector data. 3D analysis tools provide the ability to generate and analyze surface data represented in raster, topography, triangular irregular networks (TIN), and LAS dataset formats. 3D data can be converted from a rich variety of formats, including COLLADA, lidar, SketchUp, OpenFlight, and many other data types. Analysis of geometric relationships and feature properties, interpolation of raster and various trigonometric irregular network (TIN) models, and surface property analysis are just some of the many functions offered by 3D analysis tools:

Input Feature Class

The input features to process.

Output Property

The Z properties that will be added to the attribute table of the input feature class. The following options are available:

• Z—Spot elevation of single-point feature.
• POINT_COUNT—Number of points in each multipoint feature.
• Z_MIN—Lowest Z value found in each multipoint, polyline, polygon, or multipatch feature.
• Z_MAX—Highest Z value found in each multipoint, polyline, polygon, or multipatch feature.
• Z_MEAN—Average Z value found in each multipoint, polyline, polygon, or multipatch feature.
• LENGTH_3D—3-dimensional length of each polyline or polygon feature.
• SURFACE_AREA—Total area of the surface of a multipatch feature.
• VERTEX_COUNT—Total number of vertices in each polyline or polygon feature.
• MIN_SLOPE—Lowest slope value calculated for each polyline, polygon, or multipatch feature.
• MAX_SLOPE—Highest slope value calculated for each polyline, polygon, or multipatch feature.
• AVG_SLOPE—Average slope value calculated for each polyline, polygon, or multipatch feature.
• VOLUME—Volume of space enclosed by each multipatch feature.

Noise Filtering (optional)

An optional numeric value used to exclude portions of features from the resulting calculations. This can be useful when the 3D input contains relatively small features with extreme slopes which may bias statistical results. If the 3D input's linear units are meters, specifying a value of 0.001 will result in the exclusion of lines or polygon edges that are shorter than 0.001 meters. For multipatch features, the same value will result in the exclusion of its subparts that have an area less than 0.001 square meters. This parameter does not apply to point and multipoint features.

Add Z Information

Adds information about elevation properties of features in a Z-enabled feature class.

Each 3D shape is examined and the selected properties are appended to the attribute table of the input feature class. The output options vary based on the feature's geometry.

Buffer 3D

Creates a 3-dimensional buffer around points or lines to produce spherical or cylindrical multipatch features.

Difference 3D

Eliminates portions of multipatch features in a target feature class that overlap with enclosed volumes of multipatch features in the subtraction feature class.

Enclose Multipatch

Creates closed multipatch features from open multipatch features.

Feature To 3D By Attribute

Creates 3D features using height values derived from the attribute of the input features.

Inside 3D

Determines if 3D features from an input feature class are contained inside a closed multipatch, and writes an output table recording the features that are partially or fully inside the multipatch.

Intersect 3D

Computes the intersection of multipatch features to produce closed multipatches encompassing the overlapping volumes, open multipatch features from the common surface areas, or lines from the intersecting edges.

Intersect 3D Line With Multipatch

Returns the number of geometric intersections between 3D line and multipatch features and also provides optional features that represent points of intersection and also divide the 3D lines at such points.

Is Closed 3D

Evaluates multipatch features to determine whether each feature completely encloses a volume of space.

Minimum Bounding Volume

Creates multipatch features that represent the volume of space occupied by a set of 3D features.

Near 3D

Calculates the three-dimensional distance from each input feature to the nearest feature that resides in one or more near feature classes.

Regularize Building Footprint

Normalizes the footprint of building polygons by eliminating undesirable artifacts in their geometry.

Union 3D

Merges closed, overlapping multipatch features from an input feature class.

Update Feature Z

Updates the z-coordinates of 3D feature vertices using a surface.

CiryEngine Toolset:

Contains tools that show some capabilities of ArcGIS CityEngine without having to install ArcGIS CityEngine:

Export To 3D Web Scene

Exports ArcScene documents (.sxd) to Esri CityEngine Web Scene (.3ws) format to display them in the CityEngine Web Viewer.

The CityEngine Web Viewer uses HTML5 and WebGL technology to draw 3D content in a web browser. There is no need for a plug-in or a Esri CityEngine license to view 3D scenes in browsers that support WebGL.

Features From CityEngine Rules

Generates 3D geometries from existing 2D and 3D input features using rules authored in Esri CityEngine.

Conversion Toolset:

The Transformation Toolset provides a wide range of tools for converting different data types, including 3D, raster, terrain features, TINs, and LAS datasets. 3D models can be imported into multiple matches and used in 3D rendering in ArcScene or ArcGlobe. TIN surfaces can be imported from LandXML files, 3D features can be exported to ASCII files, and lidar data can be imported into a multipoint dataset. Converting between raster and TIN formats allows you to take advantage of the advantages of each while designing the same surface. For example, use TIN to design a surface if you have features, such as lines or polygons, that must force natural features, such as protrusions or valleys. Convert TIN to bitmaps using the natural adjacency interpolation option to preserve linear features and use spatial operators:

Feature Class Z to ASCII

Exports 3D features to ASCII text files storing GENERATE, XYZ, or profile data.

MultiPatch Footprint

Creates polygon footprints representing the two-dimensional area of multipatch features.

ASCII 3D to Feature Class

Imports 3D features from one or more ASCII files stored in XYZ, XYZI, or GENERATE formats into a new feature class.

Import 3D Files

Imports one or more 3D models into a multipatch feature class.

LandXML to TIN

This tool imports one or more triangulated irregular network (TIN) surfaces from a LandXML file to output Esri TINs.

LAS to Multipoint

Creates multipoint features using one or more lidar files.

Point File Information

Generates statistical information about one or more point files in a polygon or multipatch output.

LAS Dataset to TIN

Exports a triangulated irregular network (TIN) from a LAS dataset.

Raster Domain

Constructs a 3D polygon or polyline delineating the height along the boundary of a raster surface.

Raster to Multipoint

Converts raster cell centers into 3D multipoint features whose Z values reflect the raster cell value.

Raster to TIN

Converts a raster to a triangulated irregular network (TIN) dataset.

Terrain to Points

Converts a terrain dataset into a new point or multipoint feature class.

Terrain to Raster

Interpolates a raster using z-values from a terrain dataset.

Terrain to TIN

Converts a terrain dataset to a triangulated irregular network (TIN) dataset.

TIN Domain

Creates a line or polygon feature class representing the interpolation zone of a triangulated irregular network (TIN) dataset.

TIN Edge

Creates 3D line features using the triangle edges of a triangulated irregular network (TIN) dataset.

TIN Line

Exports breaklines from a triangulated irregular network (TIN) dataset to a 3D line feature class.

TIN Node

Exports the nodes of a triangulated irregular network (TIN) dataset to a point feature class.

TIN Polygon Tag

Creates polygon features using tag values in a triangulated irregular network (TIN) dataset.

TIN to Raster

Interpolates a raster using z-values from the input TIN.

TIN Triangle

Exports triangle faces from a TIN dataset to polygon features and provides slope, aspect, and optional attributes of hillshade and tag values for each triangle.

Layer 3D to Feature Class

Exports feature layers with 3D display properties to 3D lines or multipatch features.

Data Management Toolset:

The data management toolkit provides a set of geoprocessing tools that work on the terrain, TIN, and LAS dataset. The tools are organized into the following Toolset:

Change LAS Class Codes

Reassigns the classification codes and flags of LAS files.

Classify LAS Building

Classifies building rooftops and sides in LAS data.

Classify LAS By Height

Reclassifies lidar points based on their height from the ground surface.

Classify LAS Ground

Classifies ground points in aerial lidar data.

Classify LAS Noise

Classifies LAS points with anomalous spatial characteristics as noise.

Classify LAS Overlap

Classifies LAS points from overlapping scans of aerial lidar surveys.

Colorize LAS

Applies colors and near-infrared values from orthographic imagery to LAS points.

Extract LAS

Filters, clips, and reprojects the collection of lidar data referenced by a LAS dataset.

LAS Height Metrics

Calculates statistics about the distribution of elevation measurements of vegetation points captured in LAS data.

LAS Point Statistics By Area

Evaluates the statistics of LAS points that overlay the area defined by polygon features.

Locate LAS Points By Proximity

Identifies LAS points within the three-dimensional proximity of z-enabled features along with the option to reclassify those points.

Set LAS Class Codes Using Features

Classifies LAS points that intersect the two-dimensional extent of input features.

Thin LAS

Creates new LAS files that contain a subset of LAS points from the input LAS dataset.

Tile LAS

Creates a set of nonoverlapping LAS files whose horizontal extents are divided by a regular grid.

Add Feature Class to Terrain

Adds one or more feature classes to a terrain dataset.

Add Terrain Pyramid Level

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

Append Terrain Points

Appends points to a point feature referenced by a terrain dataset.

Build Terrain

Performs tasks required for analyzing and displaying a terrain dataset.

Change Terrain Reference Scale

Changes the reference scale associated with a terrain pyramid level.

Change Terrain Resolution Bounds

Changes the pyramid levels at which a feature class will be enforced for a given terrain dataset.

Create Terrain

Creates a new terrain dataset.

Delete Terrain Points

Deletes points within a specified area of interest from one or more features that participate in a terrain dataset.

Remove Feature Class from Terrain

Removes reference to a feature class participating in a terrain dataset.

Remove Terrain Pyramid Level

Removes a pyramid level from a terrain dataset.

Replace Terrain Points

Replaces points referenced by a terrain dataset with points from a specified feature class.

Copy TIN

Creates a copy of a triangulated irregular network (TIN) dataset.

Create TIN

Creates a triangulated irregular network (TIN) dataset.

Delineate TIN Data Area

Redefines the data area, or interpolation zone, of a triangulated irregular network (TIN) based on its triangle edge length.

Edit TIN

Loads data from one or more input features to modify the surface of an existing triangulated irregular network (TIN).

Go to 3D Analyst Tools Part 2

• The same topic is available in Arabic from here:

Part 1.

Part 2.

Watch this video from the YouTube channel.

In the same way, as described through this site. Watch the video first, then you can search for any tool by writing its name in the search, the language of the video is Arabic, but English subtitles and any language in the world are available. Good luck and God bless you.