Evaluate in 3D

You can review features in 3D to visualize planning tradeoffs with ArcGIS GeoPlanner. After enabling the 3D capability on a project, you can define how much to extrude features in your project.

Enable 3D evaluation

Complete the following steps to enable 3D:

  1. Open a project in GeoPlanner.
  2. Click the Evaluate tab.
  3. Click 3D to turn on 3D.
  4. Click Contents Contents to open the Contents pane.
  5. Click Options Options next to the layer that you want to visualize in 3D, and click 3D Settings.
  6. Optionally, configure extrusion settings for the layer on the 3D Settings dialog box:
    1. Provide a value in the Elevation Offset text box to specify the number of meters you want features to be offset from the ground.
    2. Click the Color box and choose an extrusion color for your features.
    3. Click the Extrusion Units drop-down arrow and choose a unit of measure.
    4. Provide an ArcGIS Arcade expression in the Extrusion Expression text box.
  7. Click OK.

The features appear in 3D.

Note:

3D features can only be visualized on the Evaluate tab and cannot be visualized on the Explore or Design tabs.

Create extrusion expressions

When you visualize features in 3D, you must create an Arcade expression to control how features are extruded. ArcGIS GeoPlanner allows you to extrude features according to attribute or constant values using Arcade expressions. Arcade is a scripting language that you can use to control how your data is visualized on a per feature basis. Complete the following steps to create an Arcade expression to extrude features on the map:

  1. Complete the steps in the previous section to enable 3D evaluation.
  2. On the 3D Settings dialog box, click Expression Builder under the Extrusion Expression text box.

    The Extrusion Expression dialog box appears.

  3. On the Extrusion Expression dialog box, do one of the following:
    • Provide a constant value that is applied to each feature in the layer that you want to visualize in 3D.
    • Choose a feature function from the Fields list or use a feature function with operators to build an expression. For example, $feature.HEIGHT * 10 extrudes features by multiplying their height by 10.
    • Create an Arcade script with logical conditions and multiple Arcade expressions in the text box.

      The following example shows how to extrude an estimated population of residential features in 3D by multiplying the feature's shape area by a dwelling units per acre constant (.06) and by a population per dwelling units constant (2.5).

      if ($feature.LanduseType=='Residential') { return ($feature.Shape__Area * .06) * 2.5 }
  4. Click OK.

    The Extrusion Expression dialog box closes.

  5. Click OK.

The features appear in 3D.

Adjust daylight

GeoPlanner allows you to visualize 3D features in different lighting conditions using simulated sunlight.

  1. With 3D evaluation enabled, click Daylight Daylight on the map.

    The Daylight dialog box appears.

  2. Adjust the slider to change the amount and direction of sunlight in the scenario.

    The default is 12:00 PM, meaning the sunlight is at full brightness and is shining down at a 90 degree angle from the surface.

  3. Optionally, click the date in the Daylight dialog box to further adjust the angle and intensity of the sunlight based on the chosen date.
  4. Optionally, check the Direct Shadow check box to simulate shadows cast by 3D features in the scenario.

Create 3D bookmarks

When dealing with large-scale datasets, 3D bookmarks can assist in navigating around the scenario. 3D bookmarks allow you to position the map viewport to an assigned position in the scenario.

  1. Pan and rotate the map to the position that you want your 3D bookmark to reference.
  2. Click 3D Bookmarks (Slides) 3D Bookmarks (Slides) on the map.

    The 3D Bookmarks (Slides) dialog box appears.

  3. Click Add Bookmark.
  4. Provide a title for the bookmark in the Enter a title text box.
  5. Press Enter.

    The new 3D bookmark appears in a list of the scenario's 3D bookmarks on the 3D Bookmarks (Slides) dialog box.

  6. Click the 3D bookmark on the 3D Bookmarks (Slides) dialog box.

    The map viewport is positioned to the assigned position of the 3D bookmark.

Related topics