Category Archives: 3D GIS
2D to 3D
Sometimes it is necessary to turn the 2D geometries into 3D features using on an elevation model. This is especially true when you want the feature to interact with the surface (e.g. burn building footprints into the terrain) or use them in 3D spatial analysis.
The new 2Dto3D template shows the process of creating 3D features from 2D using an elevation model. The data used in this template is a subset of the buildings available in the Virtual City template.
Enjoy
Gert
Update to ArcGIS Explorer Desktop
A new version of ArcGIS Explorer Desktop (build 1750) has just been released. See the ArcGIS Explorer blog for more information.
Check these locations to download the latest version:
ArcGIS Explorer Desktop is a free, downloadable GIS viewer that provides an easy way to explore, visualize, share, and present geographic information. The latest release of ArcGIS Explorer Desktop (build 1750) delivers fixes and improvements to the previous release. See this previous blog post for a list of new features and capabilities introduced with Explorer 1700.
New Glare Analysis template available
We have made a new glare template available in our template gallery.
This template describes the process of creating volumetric glare objects using the new Skyline Tools available in ArcGIS 10.
Have a look at this video to see what glare analysis can do for you.
Enjoy.
Gert van Maren
3D Product Manager.
Esri CityEngine showcased at INTERGEO 2011
Gert van Maren
Esri Acquires 3D Software Company Procedural
In case you missed it: we are very exciting to have the team from Procedural join the Esri family. Procedural’s CityEngine is one of the world’s most innovative 3D modeling and design software tools.
Official press release here.
More information on the road ahead, integration into ArcGIS, licensing, support and training will follow in the next couple of weeks.
Have a look at a preview of what CityEngine can do for ArcGIS users.
Exciting times ahead!
Gert van Maren
3D Product Manager
3D at UC 2011
New release of ArcGIS Explorer Desktop
There is a new release of ArcGIS Explorer Desktop. The build 1700 is now available for download and has several new features and improvements. Checkout this blog post on the ArcGIS Explorer blog to learn more about the new release.
Cross sections in ArcGlobe and ArcGIS Explorer
Good blog post from Mark on creating 3D cross-sections in ArcGlobe and displaying them in ArcGIS Explorer.
Gert
3D Product Manager
3D network support in ArcGIS10
Here is an interesting blog post from our network team on support for 3D networks:
“What do you get when you cross the 3D Analyst extension with the Network Analyst extension?”
Gert van Maren
3D Product Manager
What do you get when you cross the 3D Analyst extension with the Network Analyst extension?
3D networks, or course! Using 3D networks, you can model transportation networks in x, y, and z space and answer questions like…
• What’s the shortest indoor route or cross-campus route?
• What’s the shortest wheelchair-accessible route?
• Which interior spaces of a building can be reached with a 100-foot fire hose?
• What’s the most efficient way to deliver campus mail?
• Where are the best locations to install a set of defibrillators or a set of printers?
All six network analysis solvers work on 3D network datasets so there are many more questions you can answer and studies you can perform.
(I’m no myrmecologist, but if I were, I might even use 3D networks to study the movement and spatial behavior of ants.)
The 5-minute test drive
How about taking five minutes or so to generate a 3D route on your own?
By following the steps in this section, you can use ArcScene and Network Analyst geoprocessing tools to find the best route between points in a multistory building.
What you need:
- ArcGIS Desktop 10
- A license for the ArcGIS Network Analyst extension
- A license for the ArcGIS 3D Analyst extension
- Network Analyst tutorial data from the ArcGIS Tutorial Data media.
Steps:
- Using Windows explorer, navigate to the 3DRouting folder, which is included with the Network Analyst tutorial data. (By default, this tutorial data is installed at C:arcgisArcTutorNetwork AnalystWorkflow3DRouting.)
- Double-click 3DRouting.sxd.ArcScene opens showing a three-story building.
- Click the Catalog button on the Standard toolbar. The Catalog window appears.
- In the Catalog window, expand Home – Workflow3DRouting > 3DRoutingTools.tbs.
- Double-click Find best route. The Find best route dialog box opens; however, if a message appears instead indicating the tool isn’t licensed, follow these substeps:
a. Click OK.
b. Click Customize > Extensions on the menu bar to open the Extensions dialog box.
c. Check Network Analyst and click Close.
d. Try double-clicking Find best route in the Catalog window again. - Click the Add Features button.
7. Click on a line that represents a hallway to add a stop.
8. Repeat the previous two steps to add another stop.
9. Click OK. The tool finds the fastest walking route between the stops and displays the route with a green tube.
You can use the tool again to find the best route that avoids stairs (for wheelchair accessibility) or avoids elevators (for emergency evacuation routes).
If you’d like to learn more, see the Help topic Analysis on 3D network datasets.
Content provided by Robert Garrity
