How to perform 3D visual analysis

This section covers how to perform a 3D visual analysis. To run an analysis, you can use ArcGIS APIs, ArcGIS Pro, or Scene Viewer.

Steps to perform 3D visual analysis

1. Create a scene

To perform a 3D visual analysis, you need to create a scene. A scene provides the geographic context for the analysis and a way to display the results. You can perform analyses on the scene's terrain (represented by an elevation layer) or you can add additional 3D layers with features such as buildings. When the analysis is complete, you use the scene and the scene view to display the results.

2. Select an operation

There are several different types of 3D visual analysis operations that you can perform. The operation you use depends on the type of problem you would like to solve. Use the table of categories below to help select the correct operation. For more details about each, go to the links below.

Category	Description	Operations	Results	Example
Viewshed	Calculates and displays the visibility of surroundings from an observer's perspective in a scene. Only available with the ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps.	LocationViewshed(Point), LocationViewshed(Camera), GeoElementViewshed	A viewshed overlay representing what can and cannot be seen by an observer.
Line of sight	Calculates if a target location is visible from an observer location in a scene.	LocationLineOfSight, GeoElementLineOfSight	A line indicating visibility, divided into segments based on what can be seen and what is obstructed.
Distance Measurement	Calculates and displays the distance between two points in a scene.	LocationDistanceMeasurement, DirectLineMeasurementAnalysis	An overlay containing a line feature and its corresponding distance measurement.
Area Measurement	Calculates and displays the area of a polygon in a scene.	AreaMeasurementAnalysis	An overlay containing a polygon feature and its corresponding area measurement.

3. Perform the analysis

3D visual analysis operations can be performed programmatically using ArcGIS APIs or interactively using ArcGIS tools. Regardless of the mechanism you use, the process for performing the analysis is similar.

All 3D visual analyses require you to define parameters for the operation. All analyses require one or more locations. For example, line of sight analysis requires an observer location as well as target locations to determine if the targets are visible from the observer.

Some 3D visual operations require additional parameters. For example, a viewshed analysis requires several properties that define an observer's perspective and field of view, while area measurement requires a polygon feature that represents the measurement extent.

ArcGIS APIs

You can use ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps and the ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript to perform 3D visual analyses. ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps support visual analysis using either points or geoelements, while the JavaScript Maps API only supports points. The JavaScript Maps API also provides widgets that allow you to perform interactive analyses in a scene view.

ArcGIS software and tools

You can use the Scene Viewer and ArcGIS Pro to perform 3D visual analyses interactively. The Scene Viewer is an interactive web application that allows you to display 3D scenes and execute visual analysis operations. ArcGIS Pro is a desktop application that runs on Windows devices.

4. Display the results

You can display the results of a 3D visual analysis with a scene view.

If you are using Scene Viewer, analysis results automatically display on the scene through a graphics layer. You can mange the visibility of line of sight results in the Layers tab.

If you are using the ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript, you add analysis results to a scene view's analyses to display them as an analysis view.

If you are using an Native SDK, you add the results to an AnalysisOverlay to display them in the scene. To display analysis results, add the AnalysisOverlay to the scene view.

Example

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      viewModel.observer = new Point({
        latitude: 37.7462,
        longitude: -119.5743,
        z: 1300
      });

      viewModel.targets = [
        createTarget(37.7339, -119.6377, 2300), // El capitan
        createTarget(37.7459, -119.5332, 2700), // Half dome
        createTarget(37.7130, -119.6046, 2300), // Taft point
        createTarget(37.7566, -119.5969, 2250), // Yosemite falls
        createTarget(37.7569, -119.5599, 2300), // North dome
        createTarget(37.7677, -119.4894, 2800), // Clouds rest
        createTarget(37.7230, -119.5843, 2450), // Sentinel Dome
        createTarget(37.7248, -119.5333, 1800) // Nevada falls
      ];

      function createTarget(lat, lon, z) {
        return {
          location: new Point({
            latitude: lat,
            longitude: lon,
            z: z || 0
          })
        };
      }

Tutorials

Display a viewshed

Perform and display a viewshed analysis in a 3D scene.

Display a line of sight

Perform and display a line of sight analysis in a 3D scene.

Measure a distance in 3D

Evaluate the horizontal, vertical, and direct distances between two points in a 3D scene.

API support

Tool support

Tools