Add Feature Based on Selection from a Reference Layer

Question

I have a reference grid with 11,525 features that references a repository of the same number of lidar rasters. Repository is currently a separate drive, but the location can be wherever I need it to be.

Is there a way to add features based on a selection of features in a reference layer? So, I would select grid quadrants, run a script, and the script would add the raster tiles based upon the selection.

I ask because I had an old VBA script that essentially did this based on a grid and SID tiles. Obviously understanding VBA is no longer an option and what I'd be working with is ArcPy. I have some working knowledge of ArcPy.

Or, I'm open to other workarounds which can yield greater efficiency. Much of the surface analysis we perform is area of interest-based and I would like to avoid wholesale merging all of the lidar tiles.

Answer 1

Yes a script tool could be developed that would load up the rasters based upon a selection in a feature layer. You could also explore the option of developing a "task" in ArcPro, you need only explore the help file to learn about that. Another thing you could explore as an alternative modern way of dealing with large numbers of rasters is creating a mosaic dataset and do away with selecting and load but instead have a seamless virtual layer.