Module 11: 3D Visualization and Mapping

The top frame shows the building extruding from the landscape as well as the blue points of the wells that were set to an offset of 3 to show their location above ground.  As the images progress through the perspective change in the end showing the wells extruding underground.

This week 3D.  Lecture information included a video conference presentation by Nathan Shepard, member of the 3D team with ESRI, and the presenter of the 3D Cartography Techniques: an Introduction, 3D Urban Mapping from Pretty Pictures to 3D GIS a white paper by ESRI and finally ESRI training module 3D Visualization Techniques Using ArcGIS.  

The 3D data types: photorealistic scenes, cartographic scenes and augmented reality scenes seem to be more of a continuum from photorealistic (looks like photo) through a hybrid area classified as augmented reality (both real looking elements and non-real informative cartography) to cartographic (informative but no realism). Extent of 3D maps can be planetary (global) or local (fish tank).  The primary elements of 3D include surface, texture, features and marginalia and effects.  There are challenges to 3D mapping, it can be disorienting and hard to navigate, map content can be hidden and continuous and progressive scale.  The advantages of 3D: can show vertical info, intuitive symbology, human style navigation and superhero style. (Shepard, N., 2015, ESRI)  

The ESRI training provided information as well as exercises to reinforce concepts.  Elements discussed in the training: elevation terrain model, raster, triangulated irregular network (TIN), terrain dataset, terrains built from feature class, feature class data, multipatch features, and shape files. 3D GIS requires a surface, texture- Z values (height information either contained within or obtained from another layer) and features (with Z or interpolable data for Z).  The exercises 1) base height for raster and feature data 2) roles for 3D data 3) vertical exaggeration 4) illumination and background color 5) extruding building & wells, extruding buildings for value and extruding for multipatach.  

Work was performed in ArcScene with Analyst Extension.  Data was exported as KMZ file and opened in ArcGlobe.  

This week has been the most difficult and frustrating to date.  Utilizing the navigation in the 3D is interesting.  I often flew to outerspace and had to figure out how I got there and how to get back.  I don't feel I have an understanding of the terminology or concepts for this week.  More exposure and practice will be required for me to feel I have any grasp on this new and different world of 3D.