Base heights

Base heights are the elevation values that are used to display a layer in 3D. These values can come from various places.

First, they can come from information contained within the layer: the node elevations in a TIN, the cell values in a raster, the z-values in a 3D feature layer, or the elevation attribute values for a 2D feature layer.

Second, they can come from information stored in a different TIN or raster layer. For example, an image does not contain any elevation information. To display it in 3D, its base heights must come from a TIN or an elevation raster with the same extent. Two-dimensional feature layers can also take their base heights from TINs or rasters.

Third, elevation values can come from a value or expression that you enter.

By default, 3D feature layers use their z-values as base heights and TINs use their node elevations. The default base heights for all other layers are 0.

A raster elevation layer and 2D feature layers of a lake and rivers. By default, these layers have their base heights set to 0, so they display flat, like a sheet of paper.

Here, the raster layer's base heights have been set to its cell values, so it displays in 3D. Base heights have not yet been set for the feature layers, so they lie underneath the raster.

The raster layer has been used to set base heights for the feature layers. The features now drape over the surface.