Get Map Data

Get map data from ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise to add context, such as streets, footprints, terrain, and basemaps, to a new or existing CityEngine scene.

To use the Get Map Data tool, sign in to your account and do one of the following:

  • Choose Build a City from Map Data from the CityEngine welcome screen to create a scene from downloaded data.
  • Select File > Get Map Data from the main menu to import downloaded data into an existing scene.

The Get Map Data dialog box is shown with default settings.
The Get Map Data dialog box is shown.

Download data

To download map data into CityEngine, follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to the area of interest.
  2. Click Set extent Set extent and specify the extent of the downloaded data.
    Get map data in Zurich
    The extent is set for Zurich, Switzerland.
     

    You can also do the following:

    • Change the size and location by adjusting the rectangle.
    • Click Clear Extent Clear Extent to remove the extent.
    • Search for a location.
    • Click Select Basemap Select Basemap to change the type of basemap from the drop-down menu.

      • The Get Map Data tool allows you to select supported basemaps configured in your organization's portal basemap gallery.
      • When layers are available in a basemap such as Dark Gray Canvas, click Layers Layers to turn on and off individual layers, such as labels.
    Note:
    • There is a maximum limit for the extent.
    • In an existing CityEngine scene, if an extent is farther than 500 kilometers from the scene, a red rectangle appears. CityEngine displays an error at the top prompting you to change the location of the extent or create a scene.
  3. Specify the settings for the downloaded data.

    See the Get Map Data settings section below for more information.

  4. Click OK.
    • If you choose to download OpenStreetMap (OSM) data, an additional dialog box appears where you can configure the OSM options. When the OSM dialog box appears, you can accept the default settings and click Finish, or click Next and review the settings of each option you checked.
    • Map imagery, elevation, and OSM data, such as building footprints and streets, are downloaded according to your settings.
    • All data is added to the scene. Default rules from ESRI.lib are assigned to the OSM data (see OpenStreetMap for more information).
    • Data is saved to the /maps folder of the current project.
Get map data downloaded in a scene
Zurich data is downloaded in a scene.
Tip:

The following information can help you improve the quality of the OSM network data imported into CityEngine:

  • The graph networks are usually contained in the highway layer in the layer list of the OSM dialog box.
    • You can expand the highway layer and select or deselect the different network types. For example, you may want only the major streets in the scene.
    • After running the tool, the graph networks are merged into one graph layer in CityEngine.
    • You can import the map.osm file from the project/maps folder multiple times. This allows you to add the highway layer a number of times into CityEngine and create different graph layers to give you greater control of the OSM network data.
  • After the OSM data is added to the scene, you may need to manually clean up the networks to improve the quality of the data.

See the Import OSM data section in Tutorial 4: Import streets for more information.

Get Map Data settings

The Get Map Data tool includes the following settings:

Bounds

  • Coordinate System—The CityEngine scene coordinate system.
    • In a new scene, the Get Map Data tool sets the scene coordinate system to the best matching WGS84 UTM coordinate system.
    • In an existing scene, the Get Map Data tool automatically converts the downloaded data to the current scene coordinate system.
  • Width—The width of the extent.
  • Height—The height of the extent.
  • X-Offset—The x-coordinate of the selected vertex of the extent.
  • Y-Offset—The y-coordinate of the selected vertex of the extent.
  • Aspect ratio Aspect ratio—Maintains the aspect ratio when manually entering values.
  • Vertex location Vertex location—Specifies which vertex of the extent rectangle to reference for the x- and y-coordinates.

Basemap

  • Resolution—The basemap has the following resolution options:
    • Low (1k)—Low resolution. The longer side of the extent is 1024 pixels.
    • Medium (2k)—Medium resolution. The longer side of the extent is 2048 pixels.
    • High (4k)—High resolution. The longer side of the extent is 4096 pixels.
    • Very High (8k)—Very high resolution. The longer side of the extent is 8192 pixels.
    • Custom—Manually set the longer side of the extent in pixels. The maximum size is 8192 pixels.
  • Image size—The dimensions of the extent in pixels.

Note:
The ratio of the image size dimensions matches the ratio of the extent width and height. Consequently, the image size dynamically changes as the extent size changes.

Esri World Elevation

Esri provides a comprehensive elevation map of the world offering terrain at different scales. See Elevation Coverage Map for more information.

  • Get terrain—Include elevation data with the basemap.
  • Resolution—The elevation has the following resolution options:
    • Low (1k)—Low resolution. The longer side of the extent is 1024 pixels.
    • Medium (2k)—Medium resolution. The longer side of the extent is 2048 pixels.
    • High (4k)—High resolution. The longer side of the extent is 4096 pixels.
    • Very High (8k)—Very high resolution. The longer side of the extent is 8192 pixels.
    • Custom—Manually set the longer side of the extent in pixels. The maximum size is 8192 pixels.
  • Image size—The dimensions of the extent in pixels.

Note:
Elevation data is only available for subscribed users or those with an ArcGIS organizational account.

Open Street Map

  • Download networks—Include street data when downloading a map.
  • Download footprints—Include polygonal shapes such as building footprints.
  • Generate models for downloaded shapes—Automatically generate models from the shapes after download.

    The models are generated after the Get Map Data tool applies the following ESRI.lib rules to the shapes:

    • Networks—Street_Modern_Standard.cga
    • Footprints—Building_From_OpenStreetMap.cga

Caution:

You may experience long download times if the extent is too large.