三维建模之3D Visualization & Simulation in ArcGIS 9

3D Visualization & Simulation in ArcGIS 9

The forthcoming release of ArcGIS, version 9 highlights just how far mapping tools have come since their early days. The first GIS maps were printed on computer line printers. It was not uncommon to buy rubber cement in gallon containers in order to glue all the panels of our maps together. Next came the pen plotters and the ability to add a few colors to our maps. Now the ink jet printer with water- and ultraviolet-resistant inks are all the rage. The next evolution appears to be the 3D environment. No, we are not predicting the end of the 2D paper map…yet. What we are suggesting is that 3D is going to open GIS to allow for better understanding and interpretation of data and enable that information to reach a much greater audience. A number of companies have produced software that can create very compelling 3D environments. They should be applauded for their pioneering efforts. Unfortunately, the market penetration of these companies has not been large enough to set a standard that the GIS community has been willing to adopt in quantity. All of this is about to change.

New Opportunities: 3D Analyst at version 9

ESRI’s new ArcGIS, version 9 is on its way and in the next few weeks thousands of users will have this new release. Those with licenses for the 3D Analyst extension will have the ability to create fully rendered 3D scenes from their GIS layers. The sheer number of users that will be empowered with this 3D capability is very likely to set the standard for the ESRI GIS community. What is not clear is how many sites know that capability is coming with version 9 and subsequently know how to create a 3D scene. The intent of this newsletter, the first in a series, is to inform the user community about the 3D capability that is a part of the 3D Analyst extension at version 9. The following are some key items about 3D Analyst that should help you begin thinking about the opportunities that will be available. In following newsletters, we will probe specific areas (e.g. How do I make a building for inclusion in my 3D environment?) that will be important to the creation of a 3D scene.

A custom 3D symbol of an elevated roadway. The symbol sits on a terrain generated from a TIN and uses a color ortho to simulate ground cover.

§ 3D Analyst has two different 3D rendering environments, ArcScene and ArcGlobe. Both are a part of the 3D Analyst extension, NOT separate products. Each will allow the placement of fully rendered 3D symbols (Trees, buildings, etc.).

§ ArcScene will work with terrain data in grid or TIN format. ArcGlobe, at this release will only work with raster based terrain data. Future releases will support TINs.

§ An extensive library of 3D symbols will come with the 3D Analyst extension for use in ArcScene and ArcGlobe. The library includes trees, buildings, vehicles, towers, signs and many other objects. The library does not include people or animals.

§ 3D models from other programs can be imported into the 3D Analyst extension for use in ArcScene and ArcGlobe. 3D Analyst will import OpenFlight (.flt), 3D Studio (.3ds) and VRML models as 3D symbols.

§ ESRI will not include ready-to-use software to allow you to create your own 3D symbols. Users will need to acquire 3rd party solutions to create custom buildings, vegetation, people and other 3D symbols. In future issues we will discuss some of these 3rd party options.

Our intent with this newsletter series is to be informative and to ultimately provide a forum for the exchange of information about 3D. If you have ideas about topics in this area that you would like to see addressed in future editions, feel free to send us an email at info@gis-help.com. While we are ESRI resellers, our intention is to do more than simply market a particular piece of software. We believe in the power of 3D and see it as an important part of the future of GIS. We know that the more people work with 3D the more they will request additional functionality. This in turn will lead to improvements that will benefit us all. We will attempt to answer questions sent to us and we also welcome suggestions on newsletter content and topics.

Let’s close this first issue with a special 3D-related trivia question.

What is a multipatch?

1. Something found on a well worn pair of blue jeans
2. The latest software fix for the 3D Analyst extension
3. A special type of shapefile
4. A number of surface patches where each surface patch describes a surface.
5. Both 3 & 4 are correct.

Send us your answer and we will tally the votes. The person with the wrong answer will be asked to leave the tribe immediately. All remaining survivors can expect to receive the next installment of the newsletter very soon.