topic Re: Z-Values of Building footprints (Facilities) in ArcGIS Indoors in ArcGIS Indoors Questions

Z-Values of Building footprints (Facilities) in ArcGIS Indoors

AnninaHirschiWyss — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 08:33:08 GMT

Hi,

Just do get my thoughts right:

For relative heights (Ground floor = 0)

-> The z-values of the Facilities are 0.

For absolute heights (e.g. Ground floor = 399 (m))

-> The z-values of the Facilities are 399?

Or can they be 0 in both cases and it doesn't matter at all?

Thanks!

Re: Z-Values of Building footprints (Facilities) in ArcGIS Indoors

DanPatterson — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:34:26 GMT

I don't use indoors, but this link

Import IFC To Indoor Dataset (Indoors)—ArcGIS Pro | Documentation

The paragraph beginning with ...The Set Ground Floor Elevation To Zero parameter

describes how elevations of the ground and other floors are assigned (eg relative to 0 or the actual ground elevation)

Re: Z-Values of Building footprints (Facilities) in ArcGIS Indoors

AnninaHirschiWyss — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 14:37:47 GMT

Thanks Dan, I'm familiar with this tool, but I'm specifically talking about the Facilities (for levels and other features I manage ;-)). Especially when there are several facilities on a slope, and therefore their ground floor is not on the same height.

I just wanted to know if the z-value of the facilities (which are not floor aware) does matter or not or has an impact on geoprocessing tools etc.

Re: Z-Values of Building footprints (Facilities) in ArcGIS Indoors

BenCunninghamCville — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 20:42:45 GMT

I appreciate this question as I've noticed a big lack in discussion around the nuances with buildings that are not built on flat land. I've been setting the Vertical Order = 0 on whatever level contains my "Front/Main entrance".

Closer to answering your actual question though, I believe the Facility's z-value = whatever the Vertical Order '0' level z-elevation is. But a z-value of 0 would only be true if you are at sea level.

Heights refer to height above ground, not elevation above sea level.

Relative heights is set to the standard story-height of 4.25 meters. Absolute height would be the actual value of the height of that Level. So the height above ground for your Vertical Order 0 level would be 0, your next floor up (Vert Order 1) would be 4.25m relative height, while its absolute height might actually be say 5m when you go out and measure it from the ground up.

Does that make sense?