A Gaussian splat layer provides highly realistic visualizations of complex geometry that cannot be achieved with traditional photogrammetric approaches. For example, you can represent thin and complex structures such as powerlines, guard rails, and antennas in a variety of infrastructure workflows. Transparency or reflection in human-made structures can also be captured, for example, in building windows or metal surface reflection.
Besides human-made structures, natural objects such as vegetation can be visualized with high fidelity. This includes tree leaves, enabling classification of tree species or other types of vegetation. Additional visual effects such as fog, smoke, or water reflection can also be visualized allowing you to capture the most natural appearance possible.
Gaussian splat visualization
3D Gaussian splatting is a technique used in real-time radiance field rendering. It uses a neural field for reconstructing a three-dimensional representation of a scene from two-dimensional images. This volume rendering technique is based on millions of fuzzy ellipsoids and created using an adaptive process. Each Gaussian splat is defined by its position, rotation, size, color, and transparency. When rendered together, these Gaussian splats blend to form a smooth photorealistic representation in 3D.
Depending on the viewers perspective or viewing direction, Gaussian splats adapt dynamically in terms of their color and intensity. This allows you to realistically depict reflective materials when navigating around them. In areas where not enough oblique imagery is available during processing, the Gaussian splats will be missing or only a view ellipse will be present.
A Gaussian splat layer is a 3D layer in the 3D layer category of a local or global scene. You can add a Gaussian splat layer to a scene and combine it with other layers. You can visualize and explore other layers such as feature, imagery, and other 3D layers with the Gaussian splats layer.
General information and display options for a Gaussian splat layer can be found on the Layer Properties dialog box. To access the properties, right-click the Gaussian splats layer in the Contents pane and click Properties.
Display an existing Gaussian splats layer
You can display an existing Gaussian splats layer by using the Add Data button on the Home tab. The layer must be in the current supported format of 3D tiles to display on the map. Once selected, the layer opens on the 3D map and can be used for visualization.
Create a Gaussian splat layer
ArcGIS Drone2Map supports the generation of Gaussian splats products in the 3D tiles format. To generate a Gaussian splat layer, enable the product either in the Manage pane or the in the Options window on the 3D Products tab.
Note:
Generating a Gaussian splat layer requires an ArcGIS Drone2Map Advanced license and a separate deep learning package installation. See Optional installation packages.
Additionally, the processing of Gaussian splat layers is hardware intensive with specific GPU requirements. See ArcGIS Drone2Map system requirements.
Share a Gaussian splat layer
Gaussian splat layers can be published as a service layer. Use the Share scene layer or Share web scene pane to upload the product as a web layer and .3tz file package.
Note:
Gaussian splat layers are not currently supported in ArcGIS Enterprise or the Scene Viewer in ArcGIS Online