The Interpolate Shape tool converts a 2D point, polyline, or polygon feature class into a 3D feature class by interpolating z-values for input features from a surface. The input surface can either be a raster, triangulated irregular network (TIN), or terrain dataset.
Attributes from the input are copied to the output.
The interpolation Method argument is used to specify the type of interpolation to use. When the input surface is a raster, the only option is bilinear. This uses a weighted average between the four closest cell centers surrounding the interpolation point. When the input surface is TIN or terrain, you may choose between linear, the default, natural neighbors, or one of four conflation options.
| Interpolation method | Description |
|---|---|
Linear | Uses a weighted average of the three nodes of the triangle containing the interpolation point. |
Natural Neighbors | Uses the Voronoi neighbors of the interpolation point. |
Conflate Z Min | Obtains z from one of the TIN or terrain's natural neighbors of a query point. The z of the neighbor with the minimum height is used. |
Conflate Z Max | Obtains z from one of the TIN or terrain's natural neighbors of a query point. The z of the neighbor with the maximum height is used. |
Conflate Z Nearest | Obtains z from one of the TIN or terrain's natural neighbors of a query point. The z of the neighbor closest in x,y to the query point is used. |
Conflate Z Closest To Mean | Obtains z from one of the TIN or terrain's natural neighbors of a query point. The z of the neighbor that is closest to the average height of all the neighbors is used. |
Sample Distance is a floating-point value used by lines and polygons. The Sample Distance value is used to control the frequency at which interpolation occurs along lines and polygon boundaries. Output vertices are spaced no farther apart than this distance. Generally, the smaller the sample distance, the higher the frequency, and the closer the output feature geometry conforms to the surface.
When the input surface is a raster, the default Sample Distance value is set equal to the cell size. A smaller value can be specified, but it's recommended that you not go below one-half a cell size because it cannot provide any additional information, as the surface, constrained by its resolution, has no more detail to offer. Also, keep in mind, smaller sample distances require more resources. Switching from a one-cell sample distance to a half-cell sample distance can double the output vertex count with only slight improvement in accuracy. Larger distances can also be given, in which case less detail about the surface is captured.
When the input surface is a TIN or terrain, there is no default Sample Distance value. With no sample distance specified, the tool samples lines and polygon boundaries at their original vertex locations plus where these features cross triangle edges. Sampling at edge intersections is appropriate when using linear interpolation because it captures all detail available from the linear surface, where each triangle is a plane, without over- or undersampling.
When the input surface is a TIN or terrain and a Sample Distance value is specified, the sampling strategy varies based on the chosen interpolation method. If natural neighbors is used, features are sampled based on the sample distance plus where features cross hard breakline edges. If linear interpolation is used, features are sampled based on the sample distance plus where features cross any triangle edges. As a general rule, a sample distance should be specified when using natural neighbors and should not be when using linear.
The following table gives insight into setting a sample distance based on the chosen interpolation method.
Setting interpolation methods and sample distances for input surfaces
| Interpolation method | Sample distance | Description |
|---|---|---|
TIN/Terrain Surface—Linear Interpolation Method | A value is added (on). | Interpolation focuses at the specified sample distance, as well as at the edge intersections. |
TIN/Terrain Surface—Linear Interpolation Method | Left blank (off). | Interpolation densifies only at edge intersections. Not utilizing the sample distance is recommended for linear interpolation. |
TIN/Terrain Surface—Natural Neighbors Interpolation Method | A value is added (on). | Interpolation focus is by the given sample distance, as well as hard-edge intersections. When using a natural neighbors interpolation method, it is recommended that you set a sample distance. |
TIN/Terrain Surface—Natural Neighbors Interpolation Method | Left blank (off). | Interpolation focus is at edge intersections. |
Raster Surface—Bilinear Interpolation Method | Left blank (on). | Interpolation focus defaults to the cell size. |
Raster Surface—Bilinear Interpolation Method | A value is added (on). | Interpolation focus is by the given sample distance. |
An optional Z factor may be used to convert z-units. Output z-values are multiplied by this factor. A default value is calculated to place z-values in the same units as x,y if x,y and z-units are defined in the input surface's spatial reference and the coordinate system is not geographic (for example, decimal degrees).
The optional Interpolate Vertices Only parameter ignores a sample distance and only uses input vertex locations for the interpolation. If any vertices for a shape fall off the surface, that shape is not written to output. However, if a portion of a feature does in fact fall off the surface, it may still be output as long as there are no vertices along the portion that is not on the surface (for example, the middle of a line segment).
Regardless of any settings or options, if a feature falls entirely off the surface, it is not written to the output.