Scenes (3D)

MapsA map is a collection of layers that are displayed in 2D. It is typically composed of a basemap layer and data layers.Learn more and scenesA scene is a collection of layers that are displayed in 3D. It is typically composed of a basemap layer, data layers, and 3D data.Learn more provide interactive displays of geographic data that enable you to visualize and explore patterns, answer questions, and share insight. They can be opened, edited, and shared across the ArcGIS system and beyond. While the programming patterns are similar and many of the classes you work with are the same, maps are designed for working with geographic data in two dimensions (2D) and scenes in three dimensions (3D). Most applications contain a basemap layerA basemap layer is the layer in a map or scene that displays basemap data. The data source for a basemap layer is typically a basemap service.Learn more to display geographic data with streets or satellite imagery, but you can also use data layersA data layer is a layer that references geographic data from a file or a service and is used to visualize the data in a map or scene.Learn more and graphicsA graphic is a visual element composed of a geometry, symbol, and attributes that is displayed on a map or scene.Learn more to display additional data. See Maps (2D) in this guide for more information about working with maps.

You can use a sceneA scene is a collection of layers that are displayed in 3D. It is typically composed of a basemap layer, data layers, and 3D data.Learn more and a scene viewA scene view is a user interface that displays scene layers and graphics in 3D. It uses a camera to control the visible area of the scene and supports user interactions such as pan, zoom, tilt, and rotate.Learn more to:

• Display a basemap layerA basemap layer is the layer in a map or scene that displays basemap data. The data source for a basemap layer is typically a basemap service.Learn more such as streets or satellite imagery.
• Access and display data layersA data layer is a layer that references geographic data from a file or a service and is used to visualize the data in a map or scene.Learn more based on files or services, including data you have authored.
• Display terrain with an elevation layerAn elevation layer is a layer that defines the ground height or the surface for a scene.Learn more.
• Display real-world objects such as buildings, cars, and trees.
• Display 3D visualizations of 2D objects.
• Perform 3D analysis, such as line-of-sight, visibility, and 3D measurements.
• Provide context for temporary points, lines, polygons, or text displayed as graphicsA graphic is a visual element composed of a geometry, symbol, and attributes that is displayed on a map or scene.Learn more.
• Measure distance and explore spatial relationships between geometriesA geometry is a geometric shape, such as a point, polyline, or polygon, that contains one or more coordinates and a spatial reference.Learn more.
• Inspect data layers and display information from attributesAttributes are fields and values for a single feature or non-spatial record. They are typically stored in a database or service such as a feature service.Learn more.

How a scene works

A sceneA scene is a collection of layers that are displayed in 3D. It is typically composed of a basemap layer, data layers, and 3D data.Learn more works together with a scene viewA scene view is a user interface that displays scene layers and graphics in 3D. It uses a camera to control the visible area of the scene and supports user interactions such as pan, zoom, tilt, and rotate.Learn more to display geographic content in three dimensions. A scene contains a collection of layersA layer is a reference to a collection of geographic data that is used to access and display data. The data for layers are typically provided by the basemap layer service and data services.Learn more including multiple data layersA data layer is a layer that references geographic data from a file or a service and is used to visualize the data in a map or scene.Learn more from online or local sources, a basemap layerA basemap layer is the layer in a map or scene that displays basemap data. The data source for a basemap layer is typically a basemap service.Learn more that gives geographic context, and a base surface containing elevation dataAn elevation layer is a layer that defines the ground height or the surface for a scene.Learn more. A scene can also contain datasets that enable searches for addresses or place names, networks for solving routesA route is a polyline that defines the best path between two or more points in a street network.Learn more, and non-spatial tables.

For offlineAn offline application, also known as offline app, is an application that runs on a phone, tablet, laptop or desktop device with limited or no network connection. Offline applications are built with ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps.Learn more workflows (when you don't have network connectivity), you can open a scene stored in a mobile scene packageA mobile scene package (MSPK) is a standalone file that contains one or more scene definitions, including the basemap layers, elevation layers, data layers, layer styles, and pop-up styles for use in offline applications built with ArcGIS Maps SDKs for Native Apps.Learn more. You can create mobile scene packages using ArcGIS Pro, share them using your ArcGIS organization, or distribute directly by copying to a device. See Offline maps, scenes, and data for more information about implementing offline workflows in your app.

Scene

A scene contains a collection of layersA layer is a reference to a collection of geographic data that is used to access and display data. The data for layers are typically provided by the basemap layer service and data services.Learn more. Two dimensional layers are displayed in the order in which they are added, while three dimensional layers are displayed using the layer's elevation information. You can use the scene to change the display order of two dimensional layers as well as to control which layers are visible, and expose this functionality with user interface controls such as lists, check boxes, or switches. Scenes extend the concept of a basemap by introducing a base surface that contains a collection of elevation sourcesAn elevation layer is a layer that defines the ground height or the surface for a scene.Learn more. Layers can be draped on top of the surface, positioned relative to the surface or displayed based on their absolute values.

You can instantiate a new ArcGISScene object by creating a new scene and building it entirely with code. With this approach, you typically first add a basemap layerA basemap layer is the layer in a map or scene that displays basemap data. The data source for a basemap layer is typically a basemap service.Learn more and then one or more data layersA data layer is a layer that references geographic data from a file or a service and is used to visualize the data in a map or scene.Learn more.

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// Authenticate with an API key access token or user authentication is required to access basemaps
// and other location services.
ArcGISRuntimeEnvironment.setApiKey("YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN");

// Create a scene with the standard topographic basemap style.
ArcGISScene scene = new ArcGISScene(BasemapStyle.ARCGIS_TOPOGRAPHIC);

ArcGISTiledElevationSource elevationSource =
        new ArcGISTiledElevationSource(
                "https://elevation3d.arcgis.com/arcgis/rest/services/WorldElevation3D/Terrain3D/ImageServer");

Surface surface = new Surface();
surface.getElevationSources().add(elevationSource);
scene.setBaseSurface(surface);

You can also instantiate an ArcGISScene that's stored in a portalArcGIS portal, also known as a portal, is a website with applications and tools that can be used to create, manage, access, and share geospatial content and data. It supports security and authentication, developer credentials, content and data service management, user and group management, and site administration. A portal can be hosted in Esri's infrastructure or your own infrastructure.Learn more (such as ArcGIS Online) using its item ID or URL.

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ArcGISScene webScene =
        new ArcGISScene("https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=31874da8a16d45bfbc1273422f772270");

When the ArcGISScene first appears in the SceneView, you can focus the initial display at a specified view point with the ArcGISScene.setInitialViewpoint() method. If an initial view point is not defined, the scene will initially display at a global scale.

Layer

Each layerA layer is a reference to a collection of geographic data that is used to access and display data. The data for layers are typically provided by the basemap layer service and data services.Learn more in a scene references geographic data, either from an online service or from a local dataset. There are a variety of layers that can be added to a scene, each designed to display a particular type of data. Some layers display images, such as satellite photos or aerial photography, others are composed of a collection of featuresA feature is a single record, also known as a row, that represents a real-world entity. It typically contains a geometry (point, multipoint, polyline, or polygon) and attributes but it can also contain just attributes.Learn more to represent real-world entities using point, line, or polygon geometriesA geometry is a geometric shape, such as a point, polyline, or polygon, that contains one or more coordinates and a spatial reference.Learn more. In addition to geometry, features have attributesAttributes are fields and values for a single feature or non-spatial record. They are typically stored in a database or service such as a feature service.Learn more that provide details about the entity it represents.

Scenes can also contain scene layersA scene layer is a data layer is used to access and display 3D data from a scene service.Learn more enabling you to create advanced 3D visualizations. Scene layers can contain one of four data types: points, point cloud, 3D objects, or an integrated mesh. To learn more about scene layers, visit What is a scene layer? in the ArcGIS Pro documentation.

The Layer class is the base class for all types of layers. The type of layer you create depends on the type of data you want to display. To display feature data (point, line, or polygon geometry), for example, you can create a FeatureLayer that points to an online service (such as a feature serviceA feature service is a data service that provides access to spatial and non-spatial data in feature layers, feature layer views, and tables.Learn more) or a supported local dataset. Some layers, such as ArcGISVectorTiledLayer and AnnotationLayer cannot be displayed in a scene. Similarly, ArcGISSceneLayer is for 3D display only and cannot be displayed in a mapA map is a collection of layers that are displayed in 2D. It is typically composed of a basemap layer and data layers.Learn more.

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// Create a new trail heads feature layer from its URL.
FeatureLayer trailheadsLayer = new FeatureLayer(new ServiceFeatureTable(trailheadsURL));
// Create a new trails feature layer fom its URL.
FeatureLayer trailsLayer = new FeatureLayer(new ServiceFeatureTable(trailsURL));
// Create a new open spaces feature layer from its URL.
FeatureLayer openSpacesLayer = new FeatureLayer(new ServiceFeatureTable(parksOpenSpace));

// Add all feature layers to the map.
scene.getOperationalLayers().addAll(Arrays.asList(openSpacesLayer, trailsLayer, trailheadsLayer));

Camera

Scenes and scene views extend the concept of two dimensional viewpoints with a cameraA camera defines the rendering viewpoint of a 3D scene in a scene view.Learn more that represents the observer's position and perspective within three dimensions.

The following properties define the camera position:

• Geographic location on the surface (longitude and latitude)
• Altitude (height, in meters, above sea level)
• Heading (angle about the z axis the camera is rotated, in degrees)
• Pitch (angle the camera is rotated up or down, in degrees)
• Roll (angle the camera is rotated side-to-side, in degrees)

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// Define a longitude, latitude, and altitude for the camera location.
Point cameraLocation = new Point(-118.804, 33.909, 5330.0, SpatialReferences.getWgs84());

// Create a camera with the specified location, heading, pitch and roll.
Camera sceneCamera = new Camera(cameraLocation, 355.0, 72.0, 0.0);

A scene viewA scene view is a user interface that displays scene layers and graphics in 3D. It uses a camera to control the visible area of the scene and supports user interactions such as pan, zoom, tilt, and rotate.Learn more has an associated controller that manages the cameraA camera defines the rendering viewpoint of a 3D scene in a scene view.Learn more for the sceneA scene is a collection of layers that are displayed in 3D. It is typically composed of a basemap layer, data layers, and 3D data.Learn more. Each type of camera controller is designed to provide a specific user experience for interacting with the scene display. The camera controller and its properties can be changed at run time, enabling you to provide the scene view interaction experience best suited for the current context.

When a camera controller other than the default GlobeCameraController is active, the scene view's viewpoint cannot be assigned. Attempts to do so do not raise an exception, but they are ignored.

The following camera controllers are provided:

• GlobeCameraController (default)—Provides the default scene view camera behavior. Allows the user to freely move and focus the camera anywhere in the scene.
• OrbitGeoElementCameraController—Locks the scene view's camera to maintain focus relative to a (possibly moving) graphic. The camera can only move relative to the target graphic.
• OrbitLocationCameraController—Locks the scene view's camera to orbit a fixed location (map point). The camera can only move relative to the target map point.
• TransformationMatrixCameraController—Provides navigation by using a TransformationMatrix to control the camera's location and rotation. You need to pass this object to all TransformationMatrixCameraController functions.

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// Create an OrbitGeoElementCameraController, pass in the target graphic and initial camera distance.
OrbitGeoElementCameraController orbitGraphicController =
        new OrbitGeoElementCameraController(planeGraphic, 1000);

sceneView.setCameraController(orbitGraphicController);

SceneView

A scene viewA scene view is a user interface that displays scene layers and graphics in 3D. It uses a camera to control the visible area of the scene and supports user interactions such as pan, zoom, tilt, and rotate.Learn more is a user interface control that displays a single scene in your application. It contains built-in functionality that allows the user to explore the scene by zooming in and out, panning and rotating, or getting additional information about elements in the scene. Scene views may also contain graphicsA graphic is a visual element composed of a geometry, symbol, and attributes that is displayed on a map or scene.Learn more in one or more graphics overlaysA graphics overlay is a client-side, temporary container of graphics to display on a map view or scene view.Learn more.

After creating a scene viewA scene view is a user interface that displays scene layers and graphics in 3D. It uses a camera to control the visible area of the scene and supports user interactions such as pan, zoom, tilt, and rotate.Learn more, you typically set the sceneA scene is a collection of layers that are displayed in 3D. It is typically composed of a basemap layer, data layers, and 3D data.Learn more and the cameraA camera defines the rendering viewpoint of a 3D scene in a scene view.Learn more position. Unlike a map, a scene uses a camera to define the viewer's perspective and to determine the visible area. The perspective is defined by setting the camera's position, location, altitude (height), heading, and tilt.

Add an ArcGISScene to a SceneView control to display it. Changes you make to the scene, such as adding, removing, or reordering layers, will immediately be reflected in the display. The ArcGISScene.setInitialViewpoint() method will set the area shown when the scene loads.

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private SceneView sceneView;

// ...

// Create a new SceneView object and set its scene.
sceneView = new SceneView();
sceneView.setArcGISScene(scene);
// Change the display to the viewpoint specified by the given camera.
sceneView.setViewpointCamera(sceneCamera);

A scene viewA scene view is a user interface that displays scene layers and graphics in 3D. It uses a camera to control the visible area of the scene and supports user interactions such as pan, zoom, tilt, and rotate.Learn more control also allows you to:

• Adjust light, atmosphere, and space effects.
• Display image overlays on the scene surface.
• Lock the camera to a location or geoelementA geoelement refers to any geographic element in a map or map view that can be identified by its location to return attribute information.Learn more.
• Add analysis overlays to visualize analysis results.
• Identify and select features using a mouse or tap location.
• Export an image of the current display.
• Apply a time extent to filter the display of features.

Examples

Display a scene with elevation

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            ArcGISRuntimeEnvironment.setApiKey("YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN");

            // Create a scene with a basemap style.
            ArcGISScene scene = new ArcGISScene(BasemapStyle.ARCGIS_IMAGERY_STANDARD);

            // Add the SceneView to the stack pane.
            sceneView = new SceneView();
            sceneView.setArcGISScene(scene);
            stackPane.getChildren().add(sceneView);

            // Add base surface for elevation data.
            ArcGISTiledElevationSource elevationSource =
                    new ArcGISTiledElevationSource(
                            "https://elevation3d.arcgis.com/arcgis/rest/services/WorldElevation3D/Terrain3D/ImageServer");

            Surface surface = new Surface();
            surface.getElevationSources().add(elevationSource);
            scene.setBaseSurface(surface);

            // Add a camera and initial camera position.
            Camera camera = new Camera(28.4, 83.9, 10010.0, 10.0, 80.0, 0.0);
            sceneView.setViewpointCamera(camera);

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// Create a new scene view.
sceneView = new SceneView();

// Create a mobile scene package from a .mspk file.
mobileScenePackage = new MobileScenePackage("path/to/mspk/location");

// Load the mobile scene package
mobileScenePackage.loadAsync();

// Wait for the mobile scene package to load.
mobileScenePackage.addDoneLoadingListener(() -> {
    if (mobileScenePackage.getLoadStatus() == LoadStatus.LOADED && mobileScenePackage.getScenes().size() > 0) {
        // Set the first scene from the package to the scene view.
        sceneView.setArcGISScene(mobileScenePackage.getScenes().getFirst());
    } else {
        Alert alert = new Alert(Alert.AlertType.ERROR, "Failed to load the mobile scene package");
        alert.show();
    }
});

// Add the scene view to the stack pane.
stackPane.getChildren().add(sceneView);

Tutorials

Display a scene

Display a web scene

Samples

Choose camera controller

Change atmosphere effect

Animate images with image overlay

Open mobile scene package

Open scene (portal item)

Sync map and scene views

Services

• Try a tutorial

  Step-by-step code examples

• Visit the samples

  Learn what is possible

• Explore the API

  Read more about classes