HOW TO

Convert TIN surfaces from a LandXML file to a raster dataset in ArcGIS Pro

Last Published: July 11, 2024

Summary

A LandXML file is an XML file format used to store civil engineering and survey measurement data, such as topographical points, parcels, TIN surfaces, and cross-sections. In ArcGIS Pro, TIN surfaces from a LandXML file can be added to a map using the LandXML To TIN tool. This method generates an Esri TINs dataset, which can then be converted to a raster dataset using the TIN To Raster tool for detailed terrain modeling and analysis. When converting TIN surfaces to a raster dataset, the z-values are interpolated to assign a height or NoData value based on the cell center position. This article provides the workflow to convert TIN surfaces from a LandXML file to a raster dataset in ArcGIS Pro.

Procedure

Note:
The LandXML To TIN and TIN To Raster tools require a 3D Analyst license.
  1. Open the project in ArcGIS Pro.
  2. Convert the LandXML file with TIN surfaces to an Esri TINs dataset using the LandXML To TIN tool.
    1. On the Analysis tab, in the Geoprocessing group, click Tools.
    2. In the Geoprocessing pane, search for and click LandXML To TIN (3D Analyst Tools).
    3. In the LandXML To TIN pane, for Input, click Browse The Browse icon and select the LandXML file from the local folder.
    4. For Output TIN Folder, click Browse The Browse icon and specify a folder for the output TIN dataset.
    5. Specify the Output TIN Base Name parameter.
    6. Click Run.
The LandXML To TIN pane
  1. Add the output TIN dataset in Step 2 to the map. Refer to ArcGIS Pro: Add data from a folder for instructions.
  2. Interpolate a raster using z-values from the TIN dataset using the TIN To Raster tool.
    1. On the Analysis tab, in the Geoprocessing group, click Tools.
    2. In the Geoprocessing pane, search for and click TIN To Raster (3D Analyst Tools).
    3. In the TIN To Raster pane, for Input TIN, select the TIN layer from the drop-down list.
    4. For Output Raster, specify a name and location for the output raster dataset.
    5. Click Run.
The TIN To Raster pane
Note:
The resolution and degree of TIN surface affect the output raster representation. The output raster improves in accuracy as TIN’s resolution increases, but it is unable to maintain the TIN's hard and soft breaklines.

The image below shows the raster layer converted from the TIN surfaces in the LandXML file.

The raster layer converted from the TIN surfaces in the LandXML file

Article ID: 000032967

Software:
  • ArcGIS Pro 3 1
  • ArcGIS Pro 3 3
  • ArcGIS Pro 3 2

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