Drape Conflation Method Dialog

The Drape Conflation Method dialog allows you to customize how geometry is draped onto the LIDAR surface. There are two principle inputs: Drape Description and the No-Data value.

Drape Description
When a drape is performed over the LIDAR surface, 3 methods exist which define how the vertices within the output geometry are compiled: Pure Drape, Create Vertex every X Map Unit(s), and Get Z for existing vertices.

The Pure Drape option creates a vertex in the output geometry for every intersection the input geometry makes with the triangulated LIDAR surface. The pure drape option best models the LIDAR surface within the output geometry. However, the pure drape option can result in massive amounts of vertices used in the output geometry which can result in difficulties of the geometry being used with other software packages. It is best to test the output of this option first before proceeding with more time consuming operations.

The Create Vertex every X Map Unit(s) option creates a new vertex in the output geometry every X map units. Each vertex in the output geometry is assigned the elevation of the LIDAR surface directly beneath the vertex.

The Get Z for existing vertices option does not create new vertices within the output geometry. The method assigns an elevation from the LIDAR surface to the existing vertices. Note: The result of this option is the same result obtained from using the 'Surface Z' option in the Summarize Z values conflation method.

Picture of the Drape Conflation Method Dialog

Examples of the Drape Method

Drape using 'Pure Drape' option (616 vertices)

Drape using 'Create Vertex every 5.0 Map Unit(s)' option (195 Vertices)

Drape using 'Get Z for existing vertices' option (13 Vertices)

Learn how to select a drape description

Learn how to modify the nodata value