topic Re: How to process .XYZ format data in 3D Questions

How to process .XYZ format data

RashidiIsa — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:20:02 GMT

Hi everyone,

I'm an undergraduate student, need help for my final year thesis. I have a LIDAR data which is in .XYZ format. How can I process the data to generate a raster files? I have tried using ASCII 3D to Feature Class tool under 3D Analyst/Conversion toolset in ArcCatalog, however, the .shp files generated is problematic. The points do not have height information, hence, I cannot proceed to generate TIN. I do not understand why the software cannot read the Z information from the .XYZ files. Is there any other way to create raster files from the .XYZ files? Really need help..(Note : I'm using ArcGIS 9.3 and the .XYZ files using TAB separator)

Thank you

Re: How to process .XYZ format data

PeterStratton — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:36:23 GMT

Could you attach a sample of your lidar data (for download) that includes the column headers and a few hundred rows? It would be easier to troubleshoot if we can look at a sample of the xyz data you're trying to work with.

Re: How to process .XYZ format data

RashidiIsa — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 13:07:37 GMT

here is the sample of the file...hopefully u can help...thanks...

Re: How to process .XYZ format data

JieChang — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 23:17:04 GMT

The output of the 'ASCII 3D to Feture' tool (Output Feature Class Type: POINT) is a 3D feature class and contains Z information. Run the Add XY Coordinates tool (Data Management Tools > Features) and the Z values will be added into the attribute table.

Re: How to process .XYZ format data

RashidiIsa — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 11:30:13 GMT

Thanks for the advice! 🙂 I've tried the 'Add XY Data' using sample data (the one that I've simplified) which contains only 1048576 points instead of using the full data and yes, it works..! I can proceed to generate TIN and also raster files.

However, when I tried using the full data which contain 51424541 points, TIN cannot be generated. Is it because of the file size..?

Re: How to process .XYZ format data

PrasantaBhattarai — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:13:34 GMT

I would recommend you to create a terrain instead of TIN as there is a limitation on number of nodes with TINs. Once a terrain is created, you can run Terrain to Raster tool to generate a raster surface.

From the help documentation:
The maximum allowable size of a TIN varies relative to free, contiguous, memory resources. 10 to 15 million nodes represents the largest size achievable under normal operating conditions with Win32. Regardless, it's strongly recommended to cap the size at a few million for the sake of usability and performance. Anything larger than this is best represented using a terrain dataset.

Re: How to process .XYZ format data

RashidiIsa — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 05:04:15 GMT

Thanks vattarai..! 🙂

I think it helps a lot by creating terrain to create raster. I've tried the method, and it works.
However, almost half of the data cannot be generated into terrain. Herewith I attach the image of the terrain that I snapped from ArcGIS.

Re: How to process .XYZ format data

RashidiIsa — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 23:20:21 GMT

Can anyone explain to me why is the terrain generated only half...?

Re: How to process .XYZ format data

PrasantaBhattarai — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 14:03:06 GMT

Did you already try re-creating the terrain?

Re: How to process .XYZ format data

RashidiIsa — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:05:14 GMT

vattarai,
Sorry for not updating my progress..yes, I did re-creating the terrain and it works...
terrain was successfully generated..
then, I created a raster files using 'Terrain to Raster' under 3D Analyst Tools in ArcToolbox..
however, the raster created looks so rough..Is it because of the 'Pyramid Level Resolution'..? because I've choose 2 for the Pyramid Level Resolution...what does it mean by 'Pyramid Level Resolution' and how it affect the raster file..?

Re: How to process .XYZ format data

TimothyHales — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 11:17:29 GMT

vattarai,
Sorry for not updating my progress..yes, I did re-creating the terrain and it works...
terrain was successfully generated..
then, I created a raster files using 'Terrain to Raster' under 3D Analyst Tools in ArcToolbox..
however, the raster created looks so rough..Is it because of the 'Pyramid Level Resolution'..? because I've choose 2 for the Pyramid Level Resolution...what does it mean by 'Pyramid Level Resolution' and how it affect the raster file..?

Pyramid Level Resolution is the resolution of the pyramid level to use for conversion. The default is 0, which is full resolution.

Re: How to process .XYZ format data

JieChang — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:50:38 GMT

You can directly create raster using the points with the interpolation tools.

Re: How to process .XYZ format data

ketakiagarwal — Thu, 19 Dec 2013 08:04:22 GMT

How to convert raster dem in .xyz file format. I need it for MIKE 21 flow model