TIN to features

TIN layers can be converted to two different kinds of point layers and three different kinds of polygon layers. Converting TIN data to features allows you to use it in ArcMap for feature analysis operations like buffer, intersect, clip, spatial join, and select by location.

Nodes to points (data nodes only)
Triangle nodes are converted to 3D point features. The point features correspond to nodes within the TIN zone of interpolation.

Nodes to points (all nodes)
Triangle nodes are converted to 3D point features. The point features correspond to nodes inside and outside the TIN zone of interpolation. (For instance, if you clip a TIN and then convert all nodes to points, you will get points that were nodes in the original unclipped TIN.)

Interpolation zone to polygon
The boundary of the TIN zone of interpolation is converted to a single polygon feature.

Triangles classified by slope to polygons
Triangles are converted to polygons with attributes that represent a slope classification. By default, the TIN slope renderer groups triangles into nine classes. The conversion process creates a polygon layer with attributes ranging from 1 to 9.

Changing the classification scheme of the TIN slope renderer before conversion will change the number of polygons and their attributes in the output file.

Left: A TIN symbolized in ArcMap with the slope renderer. Middle: The TIN converted to polygons classified by slope. Right: The polygon layer symbolized with the slope color ramp.

Triangles classified by aspect to polygons
Triangles are converted to polygons with attributes that represent an aspect classification. By default, the TIN aspect renderer groups triangles into ten classes (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW, and N again, plus a class for flat slopes). The conversion process creates a polygon layer with attributes ranging from 1 to 9 for the directions, plus –1 (flat).

As with slope, changing the classification scheme of the TIN aspect renderer before conversion will change the number of polygons and their attributes in the output file.

Left: A TIN symbolized in ArcMap with the aspect renderer (hillshade illumination is turned off). Middle: The TIN converted to polygons classified by aspect. Right: The polygon layer symbolized with the aspect color ramp.