Surface Difference (3D Analyst)

Summary

Calculates the volumetric difference between two surface models stored as either a triangulated irregular networks (TIN) or terrain dataset.

Learn more about how Surface Difference works

Usage

Syntax

SurfaceDifference_3d (in_surface, in_reference_surface, out_feature_class, {pyramid_level_resolution}, {reference_pyramid_level_resolution}, {raster_cell_size}, {out_raster}, {out_tin_folder}, {out_tin_basename})
ParameterExplanationData Type
in_surface

The input terrain or TIN dataset.

Terrain Layer; TIN Layer
in_reference_surface

The reference terrain or TIN dataset.

Terrain Layer; TIN Layer
out_feature_class

The output feature class containing contiguous triangles and triangle parts that have the same classification grouped into polygons. The volume enclosed by each region of difference is listed in the attribute table.

Feature Class
pyramid_level_resolution
(Optional)

The pyramid-level resolution of the input terrain dataset. The default is 0, or full resolution.

Double
reference_pyramid_level_resolution
(Optional)

The pyramid-level resolution of the reference terrain dataset. The default is 0, or full resolution.

Double
raster_cell_size
(Optional)

The cell size of the output raster dataset.

Double
out_raster
(Optional)

The output difference raster dataset. The raster will be converted from the integrated difference TIN using a linear interpolation method.

Raster Dataset
out_tin_folder
(Optional)

The folder location to write the TIN or TINs.

Folder
out_tin_basename
(Optional)

The base name given to each output TIN surface. If one TIN dataset is not sufficient to represent the data, multiple TINs will be created with the same base name.

String

Code Sample

SurfaceDifference example 1 (Python window)

The following sample demonstrates the use of this tool in the Python window:

import arcpy
from arcpy import env

arcpy.CheckOutExtension("3D")
env.workspace = "C:/data"
arcpy.SurfaceDifference_3d("sample.gdb/featuredataset/terrain", "sample.gdb/featuredataset/terrain2", "surface_diff.shp")
SurfaceDifference example 2 (stand-alone script)

The following sample demonstrates the use of this tool in a stand-alone Python script:

'''****************************************************************************
Name: SurfaceDifference Example
Description: This script demonstrates how to use the 
             SurfaceDifference tool.
****************************************************************************'''

# Import system modules
import arcpy
from arcpy import env

# Obtain a license for the ArcGIS 3D Analyst extension
arcpy.CheckOutExtension("3D")

# Set environment settings
env.workspace = "C:/data"

# Set Local Variables
inSurface = "flood_tin"
inReference = "elev_tin"
# Ensure output name is unique
outPoly = arcpy.CreateUniqueName("difference.shp")

#Execute SurfaceDifference
arcpy.SurfaceDifference_3d(inSurface, inReference, outPoly)

del arcpy, inSurface, inReference, outPoly

Environments

Related Topics

Licensing Information

ArcView: Requires 3D Analyst
ArcEditor: Requires 3D Analyst
ArcInfo: Requires 3D Analyst

6/10/2013