Analysis tools

ArcGIS Urban includes analysis tools that allow you to do the following:

• Measure distance.
• Measure area.
• Conduct a visibility analysis.
• Slice a cross section.
• Generate an elevation profile.
• Conduct a shadow cast analysis.
• Analyze the lighting conditions.

To activate the tools, use the buttons in the lower right corner of the view in the overview, in the plan editor, or in the project editor. Click the Analysis button to access the majority of the analysis tools. Click the Daylight button to analyze the lighting conditions.

To take a measurement, click anywhere in the view to place the starting point. Click again to place the endpoint. When using the Measure area tool or the Line of sight tool, you can place multiple measurement points.

Measure distance

Line of sight and vertical and horizontal distance are measured using the Measure distance tool.

Note:

• This tool supports snapping. To disable snapping temporarily, press the Ctrl key while measuring.
• Line of sight distance shines through a building.

Measure area

Measurement points are not required to be part of the same plane when using the Measure area tool. If this is the case, the points are automatically projected onto a horizontal or vertical plane at an average height or depth.

Note:

This tool supports snapping. To disable snapping temporarily, press the Ctrl key while measuring.

Line of sight

You can analyze the visibility from one observer point to one or more target points using the Line of sight tool. If nothing is obstructing the view, the line between observer and target point is green. If an object obstructs the line of sight, the nonvisible part is red.

Slice objects

You can make vertical or horizontal slices using the Slice tool and hovering over a building. A plane appears, depending on the pointer location. When the plane is visible, click and drag to activate it.

Profile

Draw a line to generate an elevation profile of your scene. To create an elevation profile of the scene or ground, click in the scene to place the first point and double-click to place the last point. A chart is rendered on the right of the screen.

Shadow cast analysis

You can use the Shadow cast analysis tool to view the shadows in your scene at a specific date for a certain time range. Define the visualization for the scene by choosing between the following modes:

• Areas above threshold—Display only the areas that are covered by shadows for more than a certain number of hours in the scene view. Change the threshold value (in hours) using the slider. The default threshold is 2 hours.
• Total shadow duration—Display the duration of the cumulative shadow using opacity. Areas that are not covered by shadows are fully transparent. The transparency decreases the longer an area is covered by shadows. Continuous (continuous change in transparency) and hourly (transparency changes each hour) visualization modes are available.
• Discrete shadows—Display individual shadows at a given time interval. You can specify the time interval in the drop-down list.

You can also select the color and opacity of the shadow duration analysis.

Daylight

You can use the Daylight tool to manipulate the lighting conditions in the scene. Adjust the date and time to set the position of the sun and the stars. The light and the shadows in the scene will change accordingly. Uncheck the Sun position by date and time check box to apply the virtual light source relative to the camera.