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Add a layer to a local scene to visualize and interact with 3D building models developed using Building Information Modeling (BIM) tools.

screenshot

Use case

Building Scene Layers allow you to display and analyze detailed building models created from 3D BIM data. Unlike 3D object scene layers, which represent all features within a single layer, Building Scene Layers are organized into a hierarchy of sublayers representing individual building components such as walls, light fixtures, and mechanical systems. These sublayers are often grouped by disciplines like Architectural, Mechanical, or Structural. This structure enables deeper interaction and analysis of both interior and exterior features, providing insight into how a building is designed, used, and situated in its spatial context.

How to use the sample

When loaded, the sample displays a scene with a Building Scene Layer. By default, the Overview sublayer is visible, showing the building's exterior shell. Use the "Full Model" toggle to switch to the Full Model sublayer, which reveals the building's components. Pan around and zoom in to observe the detailed features such as walls, light fixtures, mechanical systems, and more, both outside and inside the building.

How it works

  1. Create a local scene object with the Scene(SceneViewingMode::Local, BasemapStyle::ArcGISTopographic) constructor.
  2. Create an ArcGISTiledElevationSource object and add it to the local scene's base surface.
  3. Create a BuildingSceneLayer and add it to the local scene's operational layers.
  4. Create a LocalSceneView object to display the scene.
  5. Set the local scene to the LocalSceneView.

Relevant API

  • ArcGISTiledElevationSource
  • BuildingSceneLayer
  • BuildingSublayer
  • LocalSceneView
  • Scene

Tags

3D, buildings, elevation, layers, scene, surface

Sample Code

AddBuildingSceneLayer.cppAddBuildingSceneLayer.cppAddBuildingSceneLayer.hAddBuildingSceneLayer.qml
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// [WriteFile Name=AddBuildingSceneLayer, Category=Layers]
// [Legal]
// Copyright 2025 Esri.
//
// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
// You may obtain a copy of the License at
// http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
//
// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
// limitations under the License.
// [Legal]

#ifdef PCH_BUILD
#include "pch.hpp"
#endif // PCH_BUILD

// sample headers
#include "AddBuildingSceneLayer.h"

// ArcGIS Maps SDK headers
#include "ArcGISTiledElevationSource.h"
#include "BuildingSceneLayer.h"
#include "BuildingSublayer.h"
#include "BuildingSublayerListModel.h"
#include "Camera.h"
#include "ElevationSourceListModel.h"
#include "Error.h"
#include "LayerListModel.h"
#include "LocalSceneQuickView.h"
#include "MapTypes.h"
#include "Point.h"
#include "Scene.h"
#include "SceneViewTypes.h"
#include "SpatialReference.h"
#include "Surface.h"
#include "Viewpoint.h"

using namespace Esri::ArcGISRuntime;

AddBuildingSceneLayer::AddBuildingSceneLayer(QObject* parent /* = nullptr */) :
  QObject(parent),
  m_scene(new Scene(SceneViewingMode::Local, BasemapStyle::ArcGISTopographic, this))
{
  // create a new elevation source from Terrain3D REST service
  ArcGISTiledElevationSource* elevationSource =
    new ArcGISTiledElevationSource(QUrl("https://elevation3d.arcgis.com/arcgis/rest/services/WorldElevation3D/Terrain3D/ImageServer"), this);

  // add the elevation source to the scene to display elevation
  m_scene->baseSurface()->elevationSources()->append(elevationSource);
}

AddBuildingSceneLayer::~AddBuildingSceneLayer() = default;

void AddBuildingSceneLayer::init()
{
  // Register classes for QML
  qmlRegisterType<LocalSceneQuickView>("Esri.Samples", 1, 0, "LocalSceneView");
  qmlRegisterType<AddBuildingSceneLayer>("Esri.Samples", 1, 0, "AddBuildingSceneLayerSample");
}

LocalSceneQuickView* AddBuildingSceneLayer::localSceneView() const
{
  return m_localSceneView;
}

// Set the view (created in QML)
void AddBuildingSceneLayer::setLocalSceneView(LocalSceneQuickView* localSceneView)
{
  if (!localSceneView || localSceneView == m_localSceneView)
  {
    return;
  }

  m_localSceneView = localSceneView;
  m_localSceneView->setArcGISScene(m_scene);

  // Sets the initial viewpoint.
  const Point point(-13045109.0, // x
                    4036614.0, // y
                    511.0, // z
                    SpatialReference::webMercator()); // spatialReference

  const Camera camera(point,
                      343.0, // heading
                      68.0, // pitch
                      0.0); // roll

  m_scene->setInitialViewpoint(Viewpoint(point, camera));

  // Adds building scene layer to scene.
  m_buildingSceneLayer = new BuildingSceneLayer(QUrl("https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=669f6279c579486eb4a0acc7eb59d7ca"), this);

  m_buildingSceneLayer->setAltitudeOffset(1.0);
  m_scene->operationalLayers()->append(m_buildingSceneLayer);

  connect(m_buildingSceneLayer, &BuildingSceneLayer::doneLoading, this, [this](const Error& e)
  {
    if (!e.isEmpty())
    {
      return;
    }

    // Get the overview and full model sublayers.
    for (BuildingSublayer* sublayer : (*m_buildingSceneLayer->sublayers()))
    {
      if (sublayer->modelName() == "Overview")
      {
        m_overviewSublayer = sublayer;
      }
      else if (sublayer->modelName() == "FullModel")
      {
        m_fullModelSublayer = sublayer;
      }
    }
    emit layerLoadedChanged();
  });
  emit localSceneViewChanged();
}

void AddBuildingSceneLayer::setFullModelAndOverviewVisibility(bool showFullModel)
{
  m_fullModelSublayer->setVisible(showFullModel);
  m_overviewSublayer->setVisible(!showFullModel);
}

bool AddBuildingSceneLayer::layerLoaded() const
{
  return m_buildingSceneLayer && m_buildingSceneLayer->loadStatus() == LoadStatus::Loaded;
}

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