Working with 3D symbols in ArcScene 9

 Working with 3D symbols in ArcScene 9

                   Databy：Jiangjian         cjiangjian@gmail.com
New to ArcGIS 9.0 3D Analyst extension is a wealth of 3D symbols and textures that allow you to visually enhance your 2D maps to depict the real-world. The following scenario will utilize these 3D symbols to render the Chateau Lake Louise resort in Alberta, Canada. In an effort to convert conventional energy use to a more environmentally friendly method of energy consumption, Lake Louise ski resort is attempting to implement solar paneling and wind turbines. We will use the 3D symbols to depict what the implementation of solar paneling and a wind turbine will look like before construction begins.
Download the 3D Symbols Demo Data (3DSymbolsDemoData.zip) and save the data to your c:/temp directory.
Please note that this sample data is quite large. If you have issues downloading it please send a request to support@esricanada.com with the subject: "Getting Technical 3DSymbolsDemoData.zip ", include your name and address in the body of the email as well as the link to this web document, and we will be glad to mail you a CD copy of it.
Examine the Data
 
    Open ArcScene with a new, empty scene document. Click the Add Data button and navigate to the c:/temp folder. Select lakelouise.img and click Add.
    Click the Add Data button and navigate to the shapefiles located in the c:/temp data folder. Select all the shapefiles using the shift key and click Add. Explore the attribute tables for the shapefiles and notice the attributes in the TYPE field. We will use these to model the resort in 3D.
    Right-click on lakelouise.img in the Table of Contents (TOC) and select Properties. Click the Base Heights tab, and click the radio button for Obtain heights for layer from surface. Click the Browse button and navigate to the surface dataset located in c:/temp. Select the Elevation file and click Add. Click OK to finish and close the Layer Properties dialog. Use the navigate tools to navigate around the Lake Louise image. This data can be used to create a fly-through animation to really enhance the visual affect of our 3D Symbols classification. For more information on animating in ArcScene please visit:  http://esricanada.com/english/support/get_tech/arcgis/3d_flyby.asp 
    3D Texture Fill Symbols will be used to model our land and water features
    
    Click the New Scene File button to clear the Table of Contents. Click the Open button to open the LakeLouise.sxd located in c:/temp.
    Right-click the Land shapefile in the TOC and select Properties. Notice the three land types:
LAND, PASTURE, PARKING under the Symbology tab. Double-click the LAND symbol and choose 3D Basic from the More Symbols button. Click the Category drop down menu and select Texture Fill. Click Forest1 and select Properties. (See Figure 1) Change the height and width dimensions to 200 to allow us to see the forest texture at a larger scale.

Figure 1
    Double-click the PARKING symbol under the Symbology tab. Select the Asphalt symbol and click Properties. Change the height and width dimensions to 10 and click OK.
    Double-click the PASTURE symbol under the Symbology tab. Select the Asphalt symbol and click Properties. Change the height and width dimensions to 10 and click OK.
    Right-click the Water shapefile in the TOC and select Properties. Click on the blue polygon under the Symbology tab and choose 3D Basic from the More Symbols button. Click the Category drop down menu and select Texture Fill. Select the WaterBody2 symbol and click Properties. Change the height and width dimensions to 150 and click OK. (See Figure 2)

3D Texture and Simple Line Symbols will be used to model our roads and fence features
 
    Right-click the Roads shapefile in the TOC and select Properties. Notice the two roads types:
DRIVEWAY and ROAD under the Symbology tab. Double-click the ROAD symbol and choose 3D Basic from the More Symbols button. Click the Category drop down menu and select Texture Line. Click SolidYellowLine and select Properties. Change the width to 10 and click OK.
    Double-click the DRIVEWAY symbol under the Symbology tab. Click Properties and select the 3D Simple Line Symbol from the Type drop down menu. Change the Style to Strip and the width to 4 and click OK.
    Double-click the Fences symbol in the TOC. Select the PicketFence2 symbol and click Properties. Change the width to 3, check the vertical orientation checkbox, and click OK.
    3D Marker Symbols will be used to model our Trees, Buildings, Street Furniture, Automobiles, and Alternative Energy features.
    
    Right-click the Trees shapefile in the TOC and select Properties. Notice the three tree types: FIR, PINE, and SPRUCE under the Symbology tab. Double-click the FIR symbol and choose 3D Trees from the More Symbols button. Click the Category drop down menu and select CONIFER. (See Figure 3) Click Spanish Fir and select Properties. Uncheck the Keep aspect ratio checkbox and change the Width(X), Depth(Y), and Size(Z) Dimension to 8, 11, and 17 respectively. Click OK twice to return to Layer Properties.

    Double-click the PINE symbol under the Symbology tab. Click the Category drop down menu and select CONIFER. Click Canary Island Pine and select Properties. Uncheck the Keep aspect ratio checkbox and change the Width(X), Depth(Y), and Size(Z) Dimension to 10, 10, and 15 respectively. Click OK twice to return to Layer Properties.
    Double-click the SPRUCE symbol under the Symbology tab. Click the Category drop down menu and select All. Click Colorado Spruce and select Properties. Uncheck the Keep aspect ratio checkbox and change the Width(X), Depth(Y), and Size(Z) Dimension to 10, 10, and 15 respectively. Click OK twice to return to Layer Properties.All but five of the building features have been symbolized to save time. The three remaining building points will be symbolized to create the Chateau Lake Louise and Brewster Stables and the Employee Residences.
    Right-click the Buildings shapefile in the TOC and select Properties. Notice Hotel1, Hotel2, and Hotel3 and Brewster Stables1 and Emp_Res1 under the Symbology tab do not have symbols yet. Double-click Hotel1 and uncheck 3D Trees and check 3D Buildings from the More Symbols button. Click the Category drop down menu and select Assorted Living. Click Hotel1 and select Properties. Uncheck the Keep aspect ratio checkbox and change the Width(X), Depth(Y), and Size(Z) Dimension to 50, 19, and 35 respectively. (See Figure 4) Select the 3D Placement tab and change Normalized Origin Offset dx: value to 0.30. Click OK twice to return to Layer Properties.

    Double-click the Hotel2 symbol under the Symbology tab. Click the Category drop down menu and select Assorted Living. Click Hotel1 and select Properties. Uncheck the Keep aspect ratio checkbox and change the Width(X), Depth(Y), and Size(Z) Dimension to 76, 33, and 45 respectively. Select the 3D Placement tab and change the Rotation Angle Z: to -8.00 and the Normalized Origin Offset dx: value to 0.30. Click OK twice to return to  Layer Properties.
    Double-click the Hotel3 symbol under the Symbology tab. Click the Category drop down menu and select Assorted Living. Click Hotel1 and select Properties. Uncheck the Keep aspect ratio checkbox and change the Width(X), Depth(Y), and Size(Z) Dimension to 36, 19, and 35 respectively. Select the 3D Placement tab and change the Rotation Angle Z: to -83.00. Click OK twice to return to Layer Properties.
    Double-click the Brewster Stables1 symbol under the Symbology tab. Uncheck 3D Buildings and check 3D Industrial from the More Symbols button. Click the Category drop down menu and select Barns. Click Barn2 and select Properties. Uncheck the Keep aspect ratio checkbox and change the Width(X), Depth(Y), and Size(Z) Dimension to 40, 15, and 15 respectively. Select the 3D Placement tab and change the Rotation Angle Z: to 45.00. Click OK twice to return to Layer Properties .
    Double-click the Emp_Res1 symbol under the Symbology tab. Uncheck 3D Industrial and check 3D Residential from the More Symbols button. Click the Category drop down menu and select Assorted Living. Click Brownstone and select Properties. Uncheck the Keep aspect ratio checkbox and change the Width(X), Depth(Y), and Size(Z) Dimension to 15, 30, and 15 respectively. Select the 3D Placement tab and change the Rotation Angle Z: to -65.00. Click OK twice to return to Layer Properties .
    Right-click the Automobiles shapefile in the TOC and select Properties. Notice the types: BUS, COMPACT, MIDSIZE, and SUV under the Symbology tab. Only the BUS needs to be symbolized. Uncheck 3D Residential and check 3D Vehicles from the More Symbols button. Click the Category drop down menu and select Urban Automobile. Click TransitVan and select Properties. Uncheck the Keep aspect ratio checkbox and change the Width(X), Depth(Y), and Size(Z) Dimension to 3, 15, and 3 respectively. Select the 3D Placement tab and change Offset Y: to 3.00. Click OK twice to return to Layer Properties .
    Right-click the StreetFurniture shapefile in the TOC and select Properties. Notice the two light types: LIGHT_L and LIGHT_R under the Symbology tab. Double-click the LIGHT_L symbol and check 3D Street Furniture and uncheck 3D Vehicles from the More Symbols button. Click the Category drop down menu and select Street Scene. Click stlght5 and select Properties. Uncheck the Keep aspect ratio checkbox and change the Width(X), Depth(Y), and Size(Z) Dimension to 5, 3, and 15 respectively. Select the 3D Placement tab and change Offset X: to 1.00 and Rotation angles Z: to 180.00. Click OK twice to return to Layer Properties.
    Double-click the LIGHT_R symbol under the Symbology tab. Click the Category drop down menu and select Street Scene. Click stlght5 and select Properties. Uncheck the Keep aspect ratio checkbox and change the Width(X), Depth(Y), and Size(Z) Dimension to 5, 3, and 15 respectively. Click OK twice to return to Layer Properties.
    Right-click the Altern_Energy shapefile in the TOC and select Properties. Notice the two Alternative Energy types: SOLAR and WIND under the Symbology tab. Double-click the SOLAR symbol and check 3D Industrial and uncheck Street Furniture from the More Symbols button. Click the Category drop down menu and select Solar Panels. Click slpanel1 and select Properties. Uncheck the Keep aspect ratio checkbox and change the Width(X), Depth(Y), and Size(Z) Dimension to 10, 10, and 15 respectively. Select the 3D Placement tab and change Offset Z: to 34.00 and Rotation angles Z: to 30.00. Click OK twice to return to Layer Properties.
    Double-click the WIND symbol under the Symbology tab. Click the Category drop down menu and select Wind Power Generators. Click wpowerg2 and select Properties. Uncheck the Keep aspect ratio checkbox and change the Width(X), Depth(Y), and Size(Z) Dimension to 70, 10, and 35 respectively. Click OK twice to return to Layer Properties.