This is an overview of the main user interface components. These components help you access and use the features in the ArcGIS 3D Analyst extension.
ArcGlobe and ArcScene User Interface
The 3D Analyst tool lets you use two different 3D visualization programs: ArcGlobe and ArcScene. Each one is better for certain tasks. Some things are the same in both programs, but there are important differences.
Differences Between ArcGlobe and ArcScene:
- ArcGlobe shows all data on a globe-shaped surface, making it good for looking at geography around the world.
- ArcScene shows data based on the first layer added, usually on a flat surface, making it better for looking at smaller areas.
Toolbars and Tools: To use some 3D features, you need to turn on the 3D Analyst extension for ArcGlobe and ArcScene, as well as ArcCatalog and ArcMap if you want 3D tools there too.
With the 3D Analyst extension enabled:
- ArcCatalog has 3D viewing and globe view tools.
- ArcMap has 3D Analyst tools.
The 3D Analyst toolbar is available in both ArcMap and ArcScene and includes extra tools like creating contours and finding the steepest path. You can even copy results from ArcMap or ArcScene into ArcGlobe.
For more information on how these tools differ between applications, see the Interactive 3D Analyst tools section.
Other Toolbars in ArcGlobe and ArcScene
You can add more toolbars to ArcGlobe and ArcScene. Right-click where the toolbars are shown to see a list. The images below show the toolbars available in each application (ArcGlobe on the left and ArcScene on the right). A check mark means the toolbar is already in use.
3D Effects Toolbar
The 3D Effects toolbar lets you change a layer’s display properties without opening its dialog box. You can adjust transparency, change face culling, toggle lighting, set shading mode, or rank depth priority. It works in both ArcGlobe and ArcScene. Some options are the same in both programs, but others, like the Swipe tool, are just in ArcGlobe.
3D Analyst Viewing Environment Application Settings
Here are some settings you can customize in ArcGlobe and ArcScene:
- Globe Properties (ArcGlobe) and Scene Properties (ArcScene):
- Click View > Globe or View > Scene Properties.
- Set document properties like vertical exaggeration, background color, coordinate system, sun lighting, and transformations (only in ArcGlobe).
- ArcGlobe Options:
- Click Customize > ArcGlobe Options.
- Set things like cache storage location, default layers, performance settings, raster data organization, and startup customization.
- ArcScene Options:
- Click Customize > ArcScene Options.
- Set properties for attribute tables, raster data, startup customization, and CAD drawing settings.
- View Settings:
- Click View > View Settings.
- Set observer and target positions and choose viewing characteristics like projection. ArcScene can also be viewed in Stereo View.
Saving and Opening a 3D Document
Saving and Opening ArcGlobe or ArcScene Documents
When you save an ArcGlobe or ArcScene document, it gets saved as a file on your computer. ArcGlobe documents have a .3dd file extension, and ArcScene documents have a .sxd file extension. To open these files, just double-click them from where they’re saved, and they will open in ArcGlobe or ArcScene.
You can start a new 3D session in different ways:
- Using the Start Menu: Click Start > All Programs > ArcGIS and select the application you want.
- Using a Shortcut: Create a shortcut on your desktop to open the application.
- From an Open Document: Click the New button on the Standard toolbar. This will prompt the New Document dialog box, where you can set up the default geodatabase for the globe or scene.
The Default Geodatabase
A 3D document (.3dd or .sxd) has a default geodatabase where the spatial content is stored. This location is used for adding datasets and saving output results from editing and geoprocessing operations. Setting up the default geodatabase in ArcGlobe and ArcScene is the same as in ArcMap.
Adding Data
You can add data to ArcGlobe and ArcScene using the Add Data dialog box or the Catalog window. When creating ArcGlobe documents, you can use the optional Add Data wizard to help set up layers that don’t have their 3D properties defined yet. The wizard guides you through questions to set layer properties immediately. If you add multiple layers at once, the wizard will go through each layer. You can also choose to skip some steps by clicking the Finish button.
When data is added to the ArcGlobe view, it automatically gets reprojected into a global cube projection. The geographic coordinate system message that appears just indicates that the data has been reprojected—it’s not a warning.
Layer Properties Dialog Box
Use the Layer Properties dialog box to define or check the display characteristics for individual layers. Special tabs in ArcGlobe and ArcScene include Extrusion and Base Heights. There are also rendering options and effects specific to the 3D environment.
3D Analyst Geoprocessing Tools
The 3D Analyst has various geoprocessing tools for different tasks. These tools are grouped into toolsets based on the task type and/or the input or output feature class. For example, some tools are for creating new features, converting features, or extracting height information from features. You can use the tools one at a time or chain them together in a model or script.