Tutorial: Display a scene

Learn how to use CesiumJS to display a scene.

Display a scene using API key authentication

You can display a scene with Cesium by using an ArcGIS map tile service. The arcgis/imagery map tile layer contains satellite imagery with global coverage that can be used in conjunction with world terrain.

In this tutorial, you display a scene of the Santa Monica Mountains using the arcgis/imagery base layer and Cesium world terrain.

This code is used as the starting point for the other CesiumJS tutorials.

Prerequisites

An ArcGIS Location Platform or ArcGIS Online account.

Steps

Create a new app

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

Create a new CodePen app with a map div that is the full width and height of the browser window.

Go to CodePen and create a new pen for your application.

In CodePen > HTML, add HTML and CSS to create a page with a div element called cesiumContainer.

Use the HTML to create a page with a map. Use the map div to display the map. Use the CSS to make the map full width and height.

The <!DOCTYPE html> tag is not required in CodePen. If you are using a different editor or running the page on a local server, be sure to add this tag to the top of your HTML page.

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<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">

<head>

  <meta charset="utf-8" />
  <title>CesiumJS: Display a Scene</title>

  <style>
    html,
    body,
    #cesiumContainer {
      margin: 0;
      padding: 0;
      width: 100%;
      height: 100%;
    }
  </style>
</head>


<body>

  <div id="cesiumContainer"></div>

</body>

</html>

Create a new app by downloading the user authentication starter app and add a map div that is the full width and height of the browser window.

Download the user authentication starter app.
Unzip the folder and open it in a text editor of your choice, such as Visual Studio Code. The starter app includes the following:
- callback.html: This contains callback as part of the authentication process.
- index.html: This contains app logic and the OAuth 2.0 code necessary to perform the authentication.

In the index.html, add a div element called cesiumContainer.

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<body>

  <div id="cesiumContainer"></div>

Apply CSS styling to the cesiumContainer div.

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    html,
    body,

    #cesiumContainer {
      margin: 0;
      padding: 0;
      width: 100%;
      height: 100%;
    }

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.

Go to the Create an API key tutorial and create an API key with the following privilege(s):
- Privileges
  - Location services > Basemaps
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.

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.

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  <script>

    /* Use for API key authentication */
    const accessToken = "YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN";

  </script>
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Set the defaultAccessToken included with Cesium to authenticate requests to the ArcGIS services used in this tutorial.

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  <script>

    /* Use for API key authentication */
    const accessToken = "YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN";

    Cesium.ArcGisMapService.defaultAccessToken = accessToken;

  </script>
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In both the index.html and callback.html files, set the properties of clientId and redirectUri with the client ID and redirect URL of your OAuth credentials.

index.html
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    /* Use for user authentication */
    const clientId = "YOUR_CLIENT_ID"; // Your client ID from OAuth credentials
    const redirectUri = "YOUR_REDIRECT_URI"; // The redirect URL registered in your OAuth credentials
    const session = await arcgisRest.ArcGISIdentityManager.beginOAuth2({
      clientId,
      redirectUri,
      portal: "https://www.arcgis.com/sharing/rest" // Your portal URL
    })

    const accessToken = session.token;

callback.html
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    arcgisRest.ArcGISIdentityManager.completeOAuth2({
      clientId: "YOUR_CLIENT_ID", // Your client ID from OAuth credentials
      redirectUri: "YOUR_REDIRECT_URI", // The redirect URL registered in your OAuth credentials
      portal: "https://www.arcgis.com/sharing/rest" // Your portal URL
    })

Run the app and ensure you can sign in successfully.

If you are unable to sign in, make sure you have the correct redirect URL and port. This URL varies based on your application and typically takes the format of https://<server>[:port]/callback.html or http://my-arcgis-app:/auth. For example, if you are running an application on http://127.0.0.1:5500/, set http://127.0.0.1:5500/callback.html as your redirect URL in the index.html and callback.html file and your developer credential. They all have to match!

Set the defaultAccessToken included with Cesium to authenticate requests to the ArcGIS services used in this tutorial.

index.html
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    Cesium.ArcGisMapService.defaultAccessToken = accessToken;

Add script references

In the index.html file, add the following <link> and <script> references if they are missing.

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  <meta charset="utf-8" />
  <title>CesiumJS: Display a Scene</title>

  <script src="https://cesium.com/downloads/cesiumjs/releases/1.125/Build/Cesium/Cesium.js"></script>
  <link href="https://cesium.com/downloads/cesiumjs/releases/1.125/Build/Cesium/Widgets/widgets.css" rel="stylesheet">

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.

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

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

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  <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_URI", // 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>

Configure Cesium.Ion.defaultAccessToken with the Cesium access token to validate the application.

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  <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_URI", // 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>

Create a scene

Create a Viewer that accesses the World Imagery base layer. Use the ArcGisMapServerImageryProvider class to make an authenticated request to the basemap styles service.

Create a new ArcGisMapServerImageryProvider using the SATELLITE basemap type. This enumeration accesses the arcgis/imagery map tile service.

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  <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_URI", // 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;

    const arcGisImagery = Cesium.ArcGisMapServerImageryProvider.fromBasemapType(Cesium.ArcGisBaseMapType.SATELLITE);

  </script>
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Create a Viewer attached to the cesiumContainer element. Create a new ImageryLayer from your imagery provider and set it as the baseLayer property.

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    const arcGisImagery = Cesium.ArcGisMapServerImageryProvider.fromBasemapType(Cesium.ArcGisBaseMapType.SATELLITE);

    const viewer = new Cesium.Viewer("cesiumContainer", {

      baseLayer: Cesium.ImageryLayer.fromProviderAsync(arcGisImagery),

    });
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Set optional additional parameters to configure the viewer appearance. Disable the timeline, animation, and geocoder controls. Add Cesium World Terrain.

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    const viewer = new Cesium.Viewer("cesiumContainer", {

      baseLayer: Cesium.ImageryLayer.fromProviderAsync(arcGisImagery),

      terrain: Cesium.Terrain.fromWorldTerrain(),

      timeline: false,
      animation: false,
      geocoder: false

    });
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Use viewer.camera.setView to set the zoom and extent of the scene to the Santa Monica Mountains.

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      terrain: Cesium.Terrain.fromWorldTerrain(),

      timeline: false,
      animation: false,
      geocoder: false

    });

    viewer.camera.setView({
      destination: Cesium.Cartesian3.fromDegrees(-118.705, 33.957, 35000),
      orientation: {
        heading: Cesium.Math.toRadians(0.0),
        pitch: Cesium.Math.toRadians(-70.0),
      }
    });
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Add attribution

You need to display Esri and data attribution in all applications that use Esri technology. CesiumJS displays data attribution automatically for the basemap styles service, however, you need to take additional steps to display Esri attribution ("Powered by Esri").

Create a new Credit for the Powered by Esri string with showOnScreen set to true and then add it to the viewer.

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    // 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);
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