Tutorial: Add an integrated mesh

Learn how to display an integrated mesh in a scene.

Add an integrated mesh using API key authentication

An integrated mesh is a type of I3S data that is used to model an entire area. Typically created through aerial imagery, an integrated mesh consists of a single continuous surface that contains everything within a certain extent. For example, an integrated mesh depicting a city will depict buildings as well as trees, bridges, cars on the road, and any other object within the extent. Integrated meshes are an OGC community standard.

This tutorial explains how to add an integrated mesh to your CesiumJS application using the I3SDataProvider class. The integrated mesh you will use is hosted in the Buildings Frankfurt 2021 scene layer.

Prerequisites

Steps

Get the starter app

Select a type of authentication below and follow the steps to create a new application.

You can choose one of the following to create a new CodePen:

  • Option 1: Complete the Display a scene tutorial; or,
  • Option 2: Start from the Display a scene tutorial .

Set up authentication

Create developer credentials in your portal for the type of authentication you selected.

Create a new API key credential with the correct privileges to access the resources used in this tutorial.

  1. Go to the Create an API key tutorial and create an API key with the following privilege(s):
    • Privileges
      • Location services > Basemaps
    • Item access
      • Note: If you are using your own custom data layer for this tutorial, you need to grant the API key credentials access to the layer item. Learn more in Item access privileges.
  2. Copy the API key access token to your clipboard when prompted.

Set developer credentials

Use the API key or OAuth developer credentials created in the previous step in your application.

  1. Add <script> elements in the HTML <body> and create an accessToken variable to store your access token. Set YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN with the access token you previously copied from your API key credentials.

    Expand
    Use dark colors for code blocks
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12
    13
    14
    15
    16
    17
    18
    19
    20
    21
    22
    23
    24
    25
    26
    27
    28
    29
    30
    31
    32
    33
    34
    35
    36
    37
    38
    39
    40
    41
    42
    43
    44
    45
    46
    47
    48
    49
    50
    51
    52
    53
    54
    55
    56
    57
    58
    59
    60
    61
    62
    63
    64
    65
    66
    67
    68
    69
    70
    71
    72
    73
    74
    75
    76
    77
    78
    79
    80
    81
    82
      <script>
    
        /* Use for API key authentication */
        const accessToken = "YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN";
    
      </script>
    
    Expand
  2. Set the defaultAccessToken included with Cesium to authenticate requests to the ArcGIS services used in this tutorial.

    Expand
    Use dark colors for code blocks
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12
    13
    14
    15
    16
    17
    18
    19
    20
    21
    22
    23
    24
    25
    26
    27
    28
    29
    30
    31
    32
    33
    34
    35
    36
    37
    38
    39
    40
    41
    42
    43
    44
    45
    46
    47
    48
    49
    50
    51
    52
    53
    54
    55
    56
    57
    58
    59
    60
    61
    62
    63
    64
    65
    66
    67
    68
    69
    70
    71
    72
    73
    74
    75
    76
    77
    78
    79
    80
    81
    82
      <script>
    
        /* Use for API key authentication */
        const accessToken = "YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN";
    
        Cesium.ArcGisMapService.defaultAccessToken = accessToken;
    
      </script>
    
    Expand

Get a Cesium ion access token

All Cesium applications must use an access token provided through Cesium ion. This token allows you to access assets such as Cesium World Terrain in your application.

  1. Go to your Cesium ion dashboard to generate an access token. Copy the key to your clipboard.

  2. Create a cesiumAccessToken variable and replace YOUR_CESIUM_ACCESS_TOKEN with the access token you copied from the Cesium ion dashboard.

    Use dark colors for code blocks
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12
    13
    14
    15
    16
    17
    18
    19
    20
    21
    22
    23
    24
    25
    26
    27
    28
    29
    30
    31
    32
    33
    34
    35
    36
    37
    38
    39
    40
    41
    42
    43
    44
    45
    46
    47
    48
    49
    50
    51
    52
    53
    54
    55
    56
    57
    58
    59
    60
    61
    62
    63
    64
    65
    66
    67
    68
    69
    70
    71
    72
    73
    74
    75
    76
    77
    78
    79
    80
    81
    82
      <script>
    
        /* Use for API key authentication */
        const accessToken = "YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN";
    
        // or
    
        /* Use for user authentication */
        // const session = await arcgisRest.ArcGISIdentityManager.beginOAuth2({
        //   clientId: "YOUR_CLIENT_ID", // Your client ID from OAuth credentials
        //   redirectUri: "YOUR_REDIRECT_URL", // The redirect URL registered in your OAuth credentials
        //   portal: "YOUR_PORTAL_URL" // Your portal URL
        // })
    
        // const accessToken = session.token;
    
        Cesium.ArcGisMapService.defaultAccessToken = accessToken;
    
        const cesiumAccessToken = "YOUR_CESIUM_ACCESS_TOKEN";
    
      </script>
    
  3. Configure Cesium.Ion.defaultAccessToken with the Cesium access token to validate the application.

    Use dark colors for code blocks
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12
    13
    14
    15
    16
    17
    18
    19
    20
    21
    22
    23
    24
    25
    26
    27
    28
    29
    30
    31
    32
    33
    34
    35
    36
    37
    38
    39
    40
    41
    42
    43
    44
    45
    46
    47
    48
    49
    50
    51
    52
    53
    54
    55
    56
    57
    58
    59
    60
    61
    62
    63
    64
    65
    66
    67
    68
    69
    70
    71
    72
    73
    74
    75
    76
    77
    78
    79
    80
    81
    82
      <script>
    
        /* Use for API key authentication */
        const accessToken = "YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN";
    
        // or
    
        /* Use for user authentication */
        // const session = await arcgisRest.ArcGISIdentityManager.beginOAuth2({
        //   clientId: "YOUR_CLIENT_ID", // Your client ID from OAuth credentials
        //   redirectUri: "YOUR_REDIRECT_URL", // The redirect URL registered in your OAuth credentials
        //   portal: "YOUR_PORTAL_URL" // Your portal URL
        // })
    
        // const accessToken = session.token;
    
        Cesium.ArcGisMapService.defaultAccessToken = accessToken;
    
        const cesiumAccessToken = "YOUR_CESIUM_ACCESS_TOKEN";
    
        Cesium.Ion.defaultAccessToken = cesiumAccessToken;
    
      </script>
    

Update the camera position

  1. This tutorial uses an integrated mesh centered on the city of Frankfurt. Update the camera to focus on the coordinates [8.691, 50.104] with a height of 300. Change the orientation heading to Cesium.Math.toRadians(-55) and orientation pitch to Cesium.Math.toRadians(-10.0).

    Expand
    Use dark colors for code blocks
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12
    13
    14
    15
    16
    17
    18
    19
    20
    21
    22
    23
    24
    25
    26
    27
    28
    29
    30
    31
    32
    33
    34
    35
    36
    37
    38
    39
    40
    41
    42
    43
    44
    45
    46
    47
    48
    49
    50
    51
    52
    53
    54
    55
    56
    57
    58
    59
    60
    61
    62
    63
    64
    65
    66
    67
    68
    69
    70
    71
    72
    73
    74
    75
    76
    77
    78
    79
    80
    81
    82
    83
    84
    85
    86
    87
    88
    89
    90
    91
    92
    93
    94
    95
    96
    97
        const viewer = new Cesium.Viewer("cesiumContainer", {
    
          baseLayer: Cesium.ImageryLayer.fromProviderAsync(arcGisImagery),
    
          terrain: Cesium.Terrain.fromWorldTerrain(),
          timeline: false,
          animation: false,
          geocoder: false
    
        });
    
        // Add Esri attribution
        // Learn more in https://esriurl.com/attribution
        const poweredByEsri = new Cesium.Credit("Powered by <a href='https://www.esri.com/en-us/home' target='_blank'>Esri</a>", true)
        viewer.creditDisplay.addStaticCredit(poweredByEsri);
    
        viewer.camera.setView({
          destination: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(8.691, 50.104, 300),
          orientation: {
            heading: Cesium.Math.toRadians(-55),
            pitch: Cesium.Math.toRadians(-10.0)
          }
        });
    
    
    Expand

Add a terrain provider

To create accurate and realistic terrain in your CesiumJS scene, you need to use a geoid service. This service will allow the elevation of your integrated mesh to align with the elevation values of Cesium World Terrain.

  1. Initialize a terrain provider called geoidService that references the Earth Gravitational Model EGM2008. This provider will allow for geoid conversion between the gravity-based integrated mesh and the ellipsoidal-based Cesium World Terrain.

    Expand
    Use dark colors for code blocks
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12
    13
    14
    15
    16
    17
    18
    19
    20
    21
    22
    23
    24
    25
    26
    27
    28
    29
    30
    31
    32
    33
    34
    35
    36
    37
    38
    39
    40
    41
    42
    43
    44
    45
    46
    47
    48
    49
    50
    51
    52
    53
    54
    55
    56
    57
    58
    59
    60
    61
    62
    63
    64
    65
    66
    67
    68
    69
    70
    71
    72
    73
    74
    75
    76
    77
    78
    79
    80
    81
    82
    83
    84
    85
    86
    87
    88
    89
    90
    91
    92
    93
    94
    95
    96
    97
        // Add Esri attribution
        // Learn more in https://esriurl.com/attribution
        const poweredByEsri = new Cesium.Credit("Powered by <a href='https://www.esri.com/en-us/home' target='_blank'>Esri</a>", true)
        viewer.creditDisplay.addStaticCredit(poweredByEsri);
    
        viewer.camera.setView({
          destination: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(8.691, 50.104, 300),
          orientation: {
            heading: Cesium.Math.toRadians(-55),
            pitch: Cesium.Math.toRadians(-10.0)
          }
        });
    
        const geoidService = await Cesium.ArcGISTiledElevationTerrainProvider.fromUrl("https://tiles.arcgis.com/tiles/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/EGM2008/ImageServer");
    
        const i3sLayer = "https://tiles.arcgis.com/tiles/cFEFS0EWrhfDeVw9/arcgis/rest/services/Buildings_Frankfurt_2021/SceneServer";
    
    
    Expand
  2. Add the data attribution for the elevation layer source.

    • Go to the EGM2008 item.
    • Scroll down to the Credits (Attribution) section and copy its value.
    • Create an attribution property and paste the attribution value from the item.
      Expand
      Use dark colors for code blocks
      1
      2
      3
      4
      5
      6
      7
      8
      9
      10
      11
      12
      13
      14
      15
      16
      17
      18
      19
      20
      21
      22
      23
      24
      25
      26
      27
      28
      29
      30
      31
      32
      33
      34
      35
      36
      37
      38
      39
      40
      41
      42
      43
      44
      45
      46
      47
      48
      49
      50
      51
      52
      53
      54
      55
      56
      57
      58
      59
      60
      61
      62
      63
      64
      65
      66
      67
      68
      69
      70
      71
      72
      73
      74
      75
      76
      77
      78
      79
      80
      81
      82
      83
      84
      85
      86
      87
      88
      89
      90
      91
      92
      93
      94
      95
      96
      97
          // Add Esri attribution
          // Learn more in https://esriurl.com/attribution
          const poweredByEsri = new Cesium.Credit("Powered by <a href='https://www.esri.com/en-us/home' target='_blank'>Esri</a>", true)
          viewer.creditDisplay.addStaticCredit(poweredByEsri);
      
          viewer.camera.setView({
            destination: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(8.691, 50.104, 300),
            orientation: {
              heading: Cesium.Math.toRadians(-55),
              pitch: Cesium.Math.toRadians(-10.0)
            }
          });
      
          const geoidService = await Cesium.ArcGISTiledElevationTerrainProvider.fromUrl("https://tiles.arcgis.com/tiles/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/EGM2008/ImageServer");
      
          // Attribution text retrieved from https://arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=d798c71512404bbb9c1551b827bf5467
          viewer.creditDisplay.addStaticCredit(new Cesium.Credit("National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)", false));
      
          const i3sLayer = "https://tiles.arcgis.com/tiles/cFEFS0EWrhfDeVw9/arcgis/rest/services/Buildings_Frankfurt_2021/SceneServer";
      
      
      Expand

Add an integrated mesh

  1. Reference the service URL of the Buildings Frankfurt 2021 scene layer.

    Expand
    Use dark colors for code blocks
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12
    13
    14
    15
    16
    17
    18
    19
    20
    21
    22
    23
    24
    25
    26
    27
    28
    29
    30
    31
    32
    33
    34
    35
    36
    37
    38
    39
    40
    41
    42
    43
    44
    45
    46
    47
    48
    49
    50
    51
    52
    53
    54
    55
    56
    57
    58
    59
    60
    61
    62
    63
    64
    65
    66
    67
    68
    69
    70
    71
    72
    73
    74
    75
    76
    77
    78
    79
    80
    81
    82
    83
    84
    85
    86
    87
    88
    89
    90
    91
    92
    93
    94
    95
    96
    97
        const geoidService = await Cesium.ArcGISTiledElevationTerrainProvider.fromUrl("https://tiles.arcgis.com/tiles/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/EGM2008/ImageServer");
    
        // Attribution text retrieved from https://arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=d798c71512404bbb9c1551b827bf5467
        viewer.creditDisplay.addStaticCredit(new Cesium.Credit("National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)", false));
    
        const i3sLayer = "https://tiles.arcgis.com/tiles/cFEFS0EWrhfDeVw9/arcgis/rest/services/Buildings_Frankfurt_2021/SceneServer";
    
    
    Expand
  2. Create an I3SDataProvider by calling the fromUrl method. Pass the geoidService you created as well as your access token to provide authentication.

    Expand
    Use dark colors for code blocks
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12
    13
    14
    15
    16
    17
    18
    19
    20
    21
    22
    23
    24
    25
    26
    27
    28
    29
    30
    31
    32
    33
    34
    35
    36
    37
    38
    39
    40
    41
    42
    43
    44
    45
    46
    47
    48
    49
    50
    51
    52
    53
    54
    55
    56
    57
    58
    59
    60
    61
    62
    63
    64
    65
    66
    67
    68
    69
    70
    71
    72
    73
    74
    75
    76
    77
    78
    79
    80
    81
    82
    83
    84
    85
    86
    87
    88
    89
    90
    91
    92
    93
    94
    95
    96
    97
        const geoidService = await Cesium.ArcGISTiledElevationTerrainProvider.fromUrl("https://tiles.arcgis.com/tiles/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/EGM2008/ImageServer");
    
        // Attribution text retrieved from https://arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=d798c71512404bbb9c1551b827bf5467
        viewer.creditDisplay.addStaticCredit(new Cesium.Credit("National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)", false));
    
        const i3sLayer = "https://tiles.arcgis.com/tiles/cFEFS0EWrhfDeVw9/arcgis/rest/services/Buildings_Frankfurt_2021/SceneServer";
    
        const i3sProvider = await Cesium.I3SDataProvider.fromUrl(i3sLayer, {
          geoidTiledTerrainProvider: geoidService,
          token: accessToken,
        })
    
    
    
    Expand
  3. Add the data attribution for the scene layer source.

    • Go to the Buildings Frankfurt 2021 item.
    • Scroll down to the Credits (Attribution) section and copy its value.
    • Create an attribution property and paste the attribution value from the item.
      Expand
      Use dark colors for code blocks
      1
      2
      3
      4
      5
      6
      7
      8
      9
      10
      11
      12
      13
      14
      15
      16
      17
      18
      19
      20
      21
      22
      23
      24
      25
      26
      27
      28
      29
      30
      31
      32
      33
      34
      35
      36
      37
      38
      39
      40
      41
      42
      43
      44
      45
      46
      47
      48
      49
      50
      51
      52
      53
      54
      55
      56
      57
      58
      59
      60
      61
      62
      63
      64
      65
      66
      67
      68
      69
      70
      71
      72
      73
      74
      75
      76
      77
      78
      79
      80
      81
      82
      83
      84
      85
      86
      87
      88
      89
      90
      91
      92
      93
      94
      95
      96
      97
          const geoidService = await Cesium.ArcGISTiledElevationTerrainProvider.fromUrl("https://tiles.arcgis.com/tiles/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/EGM2008/ImageServer");
      
          // Attribution text retrieved from https://arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=d798c71512404bbb9c1551b827bf5467
          viewer.creditDisplay.addStaticCredit(new Cesium.Credit("National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)", false));
      
          const i3sLayer = "https://tiles.arcgis.com/tiles/cFEFS0EWrhfDeVw9/arcgis/rest/services/Buildings_Frankfurt_2021/SceneServer";
      
          const i3sProvider = await Cesium.I3SDataProvider.fromUrl(i3sLayer, {
            geoidTiledTerrainProvider: geoidService,
            token: accessToken,
          })
      
          // Attribution text retrieved from https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=79c3563e42ee40ddb1b8c688eaf0dd2a
          viewer.creditDisplay.addStaticCredit(new Cesium.Credit("Aerowest GmbH / Esri", false));
      
      
          viewer.scene.primitives.add(i3sProvider);
      
      Expand
  4. Add the I3S provider to your viewer as a Primitive.

    Expand
    Use dark colors for code blocks
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12
    13
    14
    15
    16
    17
    18
    19
    20
    21
    22
    23
    24
    25
    26
    27
    28
    29
    30
    31
    32
    33
    34
    35
    36
    37
    38
    39
    40
    41
    42
    43
    44
    45
    46
    47
    48
    49
    50
    51
    52
    53
    54
    55
    56
    57
    58
    59
    60
    61
    62
    63
    64
    65
    66
    67
    68
    69
    70
    71
    72
    73
    74
    75
    76
    77
    78
    79
    80
    81
    82
    83
    84
    85
    86
    87
    88
    89
    90
    91
    92
    93
    94
    95
    96
    97
        const geoidService = await Cesium.ArcGISTiledElevationTerrainProvider.fromUrl("https://tiles.arcgis.com/tiles/GVgbJbqm8hXASVYi/arcgis/rest/services/EGM2008/ImageServer");
    
        // Attribution text retrieved from https://arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=d798c71512404bbb9c1551b827bf5467
        viewer.creditDisplay.addStaticCredit(new Cesium.Credit("National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)", false));
    
        const i3sLayer = "https://tiles.arcgis.com/tiles/cFEFS0EWrhfDeVw9/arcgis/rest/services/Buildings_Frankfurt_2021/SceneServer";
    
        const i3sProvider = await Cesium.I3SDataProvider.fromUrl(i3sLayer, {
          geoidTiledTerrainProvider: geoidService,
          token: accessToken,
        })
    
        // Attribution text retrieved from https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=79c3563e42ee40ddb1b8c688eaf0dd2a
        viewer.creditDisplay.addStaticCredit(new Cesium.Credit("Aerowest GmbH / Esri", false));
    
    
        viewer.scene.primitives.add(i3sProvider);
    
    Expand

Run the app

In CodePen, run your code to display the map. The map should display the city of Frankfurt with an integrated mesh.

What's next?

Learn how to use additional ArcGIS location services in these tutorials:

Your browser is no longer supported. Please upgrade your browser for the best experience. See our browser deprecation post for more details.