Identify Sinks and Peaks from a TIN
Open Table of Contents ToolBox Implementation

Analyses the triangles of the input TIN, finds the nodes that represent sinks (pits) or peaks. A TIN node participates in several triangles, each triangle is created from 3 nodes.

If a node has maximum value in all triangles in which it participates it represents a Peak. If a node has minimum value in all triangles in which it participates it represents a Sink or Pit.

 

While the peaks in most of the cases represent natural features, the sinks with some exceptions (natural lakes and depression) are caused by incorrect data or interpolation.

Inputs:

  • An ESRI TIN or PolygonZ TIN
  • Output feature class
  • Option to include/exclude in the analysis the flat triangles. Since all nodes in a flat triangle have the same Z value, if included in the analysis they in most of the cases will be either peaks or sinks.

Outputs:

  • New Point or PointZ feature class. 
  • A new field is added to the point attribute table.
    • ET_Type  - the type of the node - Peak or Sink

ToolBox implementation

Command line syntax - two different toolbox tools available depending on the type of the input TIN. Check the color coding for specifics.

ETS_GPPeaksAndSinksEsriTIN <Input TIN>  <Out Feature Class>  {3D Features} {Ignore Flat Triangles}
ETS_GPPeaksAndSinksPolygonZTIN <Input TIN>  <Out Feature Class>  {3D Features}  {Ignore Flat Triangles}

Parameters

Expression Explanation
<Input TIN> An ESRI TIN layer or dataset
<Input TIN> A PolygonZ TIN (feature class)
<Out Feature Class> A String - the full name of the output feature class.
{3D Features} A Boolean indicating whether the result will be PointZ or Point
{Ignore Flat Triangles} A Boolean indicating whether the flat triangles to be included in the analysis.

Scripting syntax

ETS_GPPeaksAndSinksEsriTIN (Input TIN, Out Feature Class, 3D Features,  Ignore Flat Triangles)

ETS_GPPeaksAndSinksPolygonZTIN (Input TIN, Out Feature Class, 3D Features  Ignore Flat Triangles)

See the explanations above:
<> - required parameter
{} - optional parameter

All ESRI products mentioned are trademarks of Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.
Copyright: Ianko Tchoukanski