Using 3D Analyst

The 3D Analyst tools can be used through four applications: ArcCatalog, ArcMap, ArcScene, and ArcGlobe. In this section, we will use the ArcScene application and 3D geoprocessing tools to display 2D features in a 3D perspective, and to create, convert, and analyze 3D data.

Creating a TIN surface

A TIN (Triangulated Irregular Network) surface is a continuous elevation surface consisting of non-overlapping triangles.

Using a set of input points that contains the elevation information, the 3D Analyst extension generates the triangles through the Delaunay triangulation method. The Delaunay triangulation method creates triangles as equiangular as possible.

Note

For more information about the TIN surface, please refer to the ArcGIS Resource Center: http://resources.arcgis.com/en/help/.

Navigate to Desktop (ArcMap): 10.4 | Manage Data | Data types | TIN.

The input points or mass points can be point features (for example, LiDAR point data and peaks points) or vertices of the polyline or...