Cannot run ArcHydro Tools

[Shannon_McKinnion]

Hello!

I cannot run ArcHydro tools at all, and it looks like a problem with Python.  I have tried multiple versions of ArcGIS Pro (3.0 and 3.1) and ArcHydro tools on multiple platforms, and all of them have had the same problem.

Currently:  ArcGIS Pro 3.2.4
ArcHydro Tools 3.2.52
python version 3.9.18
Windows Desktop Runtime 8.0.6
ArcGIS Advanced User License
3D Analyst license.
Spatial Analyst license
Cloned package manager environment

Installation instructions followed here:

https://www.esri.com/content/dam/esrisites/en-us/media/manuals/downloading-arc-hydro.pdf

Example from the last time I attempted to run it:

Calling c:\program files\arcgis\pro\Resources\ArcToolbox\Scripts\archydro\buildterraindatasetfromlas.BuildTerrainDatasetfromLAS.executeAH(arg1, arg2)

1. Setting naming conventions and checking inputs.

------- Input folder       = C:\Users\shann\Documents\Converted LAS\LAS Files.

------- Output GDB         = LptProc.gdb.

  Completed, 1. Setting naming conventions and checking inputs, ddt=0.113s

1. Creating output geodatabase and feature dataset.

------- File gdb           = LptProc.gdb.

------- Feature dataset    = C:\Users\shann\Documents\Converted LAS\Target Files\LptProc.gdb\Lidar_data.

  Completed, 2. Creating output geodatabase and feature dataset, ddt=1.597s

1. Importing las points and optional breaklines and polygons.

------- LAS point FC       = C:\Users\shann\Documents\Converted LAS\Target Files\LptProc.gdb\Lidar_data\Lidar_mpt.

------- 3D breaklines were not provided and are not enforced into the terrain dataset..

------- 3D replace polys were not provided and are not enforced into the terrain dataset..

  Completed, 3. Importing las points and optional breaklines and polygons, ddt=56.637s

1. Creating and building terrain dataset.

------- Terrain dataset    = C:\Users\shann\Documents\Converted LAS\Target Files\LptProc.gdb\Lidar_data\Lidar_trn.

------- Adding 3D points to the terrain dataset ....

('line 335', 'c:\\program files\\arcgis\\pro\\Resources\\ArcToolbox\\Scripts\\archydro\\buildterraindatasetfromlas.py', 'RuntimeError: Object: Error in executing tool')

('line 335', 'c:\\program files\\arcgis\\pro\\Resources\\ArcToolbox\\Scripts\\archydro\\buildterraindatasetfromlas.py', 'RuntimeError: Object: Error in executing tool')

Finished at 2025-01-28 12:19:48

Version of python on ArcGIS Pro 3.2.4 is python version 3.9.18

Line 335 reads:

“arcpy.ddd.AddFeatureClassToTerrain(tdFullName, addFC)                                            # add mass points to the terrain dataset”

[Shannon_McKinnion · Accepted solution]

Found the problem.  The python scripts in ArcTools Pro do not like any paths where the name has spaces.   So you have to make sure none of the directories you're using have spaces in the name.

[DeanDjokic]

i guess you were faster, never mind my answer :-).

[DeanDjokic]

Shannon,

This does not seem to be a problem with python or Arc Hydro (AH) tools in general, otherwise the tool would have failed right away not after few steps (successfully creating a gdb and feature dataset).  Where the tool failed is in the import of your point data into the feature dataset.  This can be caused by few items:

1. Do you have 3D Analyst license available?  It seems you have access to it, just make sure they are all not checked out if they are of shared type.

2. Problem with the data structure (folder and file naming convention - check the best practice document - for example, you have spaces in folder names - not what we recommend and sometimes can cause problems).

3. Problem with LAS files.

Please try to do the following using standard Pro tools:

1. Create a gdb.

2. Create a feature dataset (FD) with correct spatial reference (matching the SR of LAS data).

3. Add one (or several) LAS files from your existing folder structure into the FD created in #2 using standard 3D Analyst "LAS To Multipoint" function.  Basically create points from LAS.  (You can start with one file and then keep adding the rest if the first one works).

If that works, we can eliminate most of the potential "general" problems and then focus on terrain dataset construction process as next potential issue.  Please zip two of your LAS files and share with me - use ddjokic@esri.com to share the data.  Thanks.

Dean