3D Analyst Tools ArcToolbox

Skyline Tool

How to use kyline Tool in ArcToolbox ArcMap ArcGIS ??

kyline Tool

kyline Tool

Skyline Tool, Visibility Toolset, 3D Analyst Toolbox

Skyline

Generates a line or multipatch feature class containing the results from a skyline or silhouette analysis.

1.    Input Observer Point Features

The 3D points representing observers. Each feature will have its own output.

2.    Input Surface (optional)

The topographic surface that will be used to define the horizon. If no surface is provided, then a virtual surface will be employed using the Virtual Surface Radius and Virtual Surface Elevation parameters.

3.    Virtual Surface Radius (optional)

The radius of the virtual surface that will be used to define the horizon when a topographic surface is not provided. The default is 1,000 meters.

The following units are supported:

· UNKNOWN—Unknown

· INCHES—Inches

· FEET—Feet

· YARDS—Yards

· MILES—Miles

· MILLIMETERS—Millimeters

· CENTIMETERS—Centimeters

· DECIMETERS—Decimeters

· METERS—Meters

· KILOMETERS—Kilometers

4.    Virtual Surface Elevation (optional)

The elevation of the virtual surface for defining the horizon in lieu of an actual surface. It is ignored if an actual surface is provided. The default is 0.

The following units are supported:

· UNKNOWN—Unknown

· INCHES—Inches

· FEET—Feet

· YARDS—Yards

· MILES—Miles

· MILLIMETERS—Millimeters

· CENTIMETERS—Centimeters

· DECIMETERS—Decimeters

· METERS—Meters

· KILOMETERS—Kilometers

5.    Input Features (optional)

The features used in determining the skyline. If no features are specified, then the skyline will consist solely of the horizon line as defined by the topographic or virtual surface.

6.    Feature Level of Detail (optional)

The level of detail at which each feature should be examined in the skyline analysis.

· FULL_DETAIL—Every edge within the feature is considered in the skyline analysis (only edges of triangles and exterior rings are considered). This time intensive operation is the most precise, and is also the default option.

· CONVEX_FOOTPRINT—The skyline analysis will use the upper perimeter of the convex hull of each feature's footprint extruded to the elevation of the highest vertex within the feature.

· ENVELOPE— The skyline analysis will use the perimeter of the 3-dimensional feature envelope. This is the fastest technique.

7.    Output Feature Class

The 3D features that will either be lines that represent the skyline or multipatches that represent silhouettes.

8.    From Azimuth (optional)

The azimuth, in degrees, from which the skyline analysis should be started. The analysis starts from the observer point and goes to the right, from the From Azimuth until the To Azimuth is reached. Must be greater than minus 360 and less than 360. The default is 0.

9.    To Azimuth (optional)

The direction, in degrees, at which the skyline analysis should be completed. The analysis starts from the observer point and goes to the right, from the From Azimuth until the To Azimuth is reached. Must be no more than 360 greater than the From Azimuth. The default is 360.

10. Azimuth Increment (optional)

The angular interval, in degrees, at which the horizon should be evaluated while conducting the skyline analysis between the From Azimuth and the To Azimuth. Must be no greater than the To Azimuth minus the From Azimuth. The default is 1.

11. Maximum Horizon Radius (optional)

The maximum distance for which a horizon should be sought from the observer location. A value of zero indicates that there should be no limit imposed. The default is 0.

The following units are supported:

· UNKNOWN—Unknown

· INCHES—Inches

· FEET—Feet

· YARDS—Yards

· MILES—Miles

· MILLIMETERS—Millimeters

· CENTIMETERS—Centimeters

· DECIMETERS—Decimeters

· METERS—Meters

· KILOMETERS—Kilometers

12. Segment Skyline (optional)

Determines whether the resulting skyline will have one feature for each observer point, or if each observer's skyline will be segmented by the unique elements that contribute to the skyline.

If silhouettes are being generated, then this parameter will indicate whether divergent rays should be used; for sun shadows, this should generally be no or unchecked.

· Unchecked—Each skyline feature will represent one observer. This is the default.

· Checked—Each observer's skyline will be segmented by the unique elements that contribute to the skyline.

13. Create Silhouettes (optional)

Specifies whether output features will represent skylines or silhouettes.

· Unchecked—The output will be created as polyline features that represent the skyline. This is the default.

· Checked—The output will be created as multipatch features that represent silhouettes.

14. Scale To Percent (optional)

Indicates to what percent of the original vertical angle (angle above the horizon, or angle of elevation) or elevation each skyline vertex should be placed. If either 0 or 100 is entered, then no scaling will occur. The default is 100.

15. Scale According To (optional)

The values according to which the scaling should be determined.

· VERTICAL_ANGLE—Scaling is done by considering the vertical angle of each vertex relative to the observer point. This is the default.

· ELEVATION—Scaling is done by considering the elevation of each vertex relative to the observer point.

16. Scale Method (optional)

The vertex to be used to calculate against.

· SKYLINE_MAXIMUM—Vertices will be scaled relative to the vertical angle (or the elevation) of the vertex with the highest vertical angle (or elevation). This is the default.

· EACH_VERTEX—Vertices will be scaled relative to the original vertical angle (or elevation) of each vertex.

17. Use Curvature (optional)

Indicates whether the earth's curvature should be taken into consideration when generating the ridgeline from a functional surface.

· Unchecked—The earth's curvature will not be taken into consideration. This is the default.

· Checked—The earth's curvature will be taken into consideration.

18. Use Refraction (optional)

Indicates whether atmospheric refraction will be applied when generating the ridgeline from a functional surface.

· Unchecked—Atmospheric refraction will not be taken into consideration. This is the default.

· Checked—Atmospheric refraction will be taken into consideration.

19. Refraction Factor (optional)

The refraction coefficient to be used if atmospheric refraction is being considered. The default is 0.13.

20. Pyramid Level Resolution (optional)

The z-tolerance or window-size resolution of the terrain pyramid level that will be used by this tool. The default is 0, or full resolution.