Creating a terrain dataset

A terrain is a multi-resolution surface stored as a feature class in a feature dataset within a geodatabase. A terrain does not actually store the represented surface unlike TINs or rasters, which do. A terrain only references the participating feature classes and derives TINs at various resolutions on the fly, depending on the display scale. A terrain must be created within a feature dataset together with the feature classes that are used in it. That way, the terrain, terrain surface, and terrain dataset terms are often used interchangeably. You cannot see a terrain surface in the ArcScene environment, but you can use the ArcMap and ArcGlobe applications.

The terrain is used for large amounts of data. In this recipe, you will work with Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data. LiDAR is an optical remote-sensing technology that provides detailed 3D elevation data.

Note

For further research about LiDAR remote-sensing technology, please refer to George Vosselman and...