Display a scene

Learn how to create and display a scene with a basemap layer and an elevation layer. Set properties of the scene's camera to control the 3D perspective.

Like a map, a scene contains layers of geographic data. It contains a basemap layer and, optionally, one or more data layers. To provide a realistic view of the terrain, you can also add elevation layers to define the height of the surface across the scene. The 3D perspective of the scene is controlled by the scene's camera, which defines the position of the scene observer in 3D space.

In this tutorial, you create and display a scene using the imagery basemap layer. The surface of the scene is defined with an elevation layer and the camera is positioned to display an area of the Santa Monica Mountains in the scene view.

The scene and code will be used as the starting point for other 3D tutorials.

Prerequisites

Create a new ArcGIS Maps Qt Creator Project

Use Qt Creator to create an app that displays a Scene centered on the Santa Monica Mountains in Southern California.

1. Start Qt Creator.

2. Click File > New File or Project. In the left frame, under Projects, select ArcGIS.

3. Select the ArcGIS Maps 200.4.0 Qt Quick C++ app project template, or a later version, and click Choose.

   More info

   You may see several selections for the ArcGIS project type. Be sure to select ArcGIS Maps 200.4.0 Qt Quick C++ app (or a later version).

4. At the Project Location dialog, name your project Display_a_scene. Click Next.

5. At the Define Build System dialog, select qmake for your build system. Click Next.

6. At the Define Project Details dialog, enter a description for this app (or leave it as is). Click 3D project. At the ArcGIS Online Basemap dropdown menu, select Imagery. Leave the rest of this dialog unchanged and click Next.

7. At the Kit Selection dialog, check the kit(s) you previously set up when you installed Qt. You should select a Desktop kit to perform all steps in this tutorial. Click Next.

   More info

   The Add as a subproject to root project option is only available if you have already created a root project. Ignore this option for this tutorial.

8. Verify your selections and click Finish.

Get an API key

An API key is required to enable access to services, web maps, and web scenes hosted in ArcGIS Online.

If you haven't already, go to your developer dashboard to get your API key. For these tutorials, use your default API key. It is scoped to include all of the services demonstrated in the tutorials.

Display a scene

1. In the Projects window, open the Sources folder. Open the main.cpp file. Paste the API key (that you retrieved from your dashboard) between the quotes on the line indicated. Then save and close the file.

   main.cpp

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       // 2. API key authentication: Get a permanent key that gives your application access to Esri
       // location services. Create a new API key or access existing API keys from
       // your ArcGIS for Developers dashboard (https://links.esri.com/arcgis-api-keys).
   
       const QString apiKey = QString("");
   

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2. In the Projects window, open the Headers folder. Double-click the file Display_a_scene.h to open it.

3. Add the declaration void setupScene(); under private:. Then save and close the file.

   Display_a_scene.h

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   private:
       Esri::ArcGISRuntime::SceneQuickView* sceneView() const;
       void setSceneView(Esri::ArcGISRuntime::SceneQuickView* sceneView);
   
       Esri::ArcGISRuntime::Scene* m_scene = nullptr;
       Esri::ArcGISRuntime::SceneQuickView* m_sceneView = nullptr;
   
       void setupScene();
   

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4. In the Projects window, open the Sources folder. Open the Display_a_scene.cpp file. This app will use a Camera object to display the scene. Add the following include statement.

   Display_a_scene.cpp

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   #include "Display_a_scene.h"
   
   
   #include "ArcGISTiledElevationSource.h"
   
   #include "Camera.h"
   

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5. Add this line to call to the new method, setupScene, that you will create.

   Display_a_scene.cpp

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   Display_a_scene::Display_a_scene(QObject* parent /* = nullptr */):
   
       QObject(parent),
   
       m_scene(new Scene(BasemapStyle::ArcGISImagery, 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);
   
   
   
       setupScene();
   
   }
   

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6. Create the new method named setupScene at the end of this file, after the closing brace of setSceneView().

   Display_a_scene.cpp

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   // Set the view (created in QML)
   void Display_a_scene::setSceneView(SceneQuickView* sceneView)
   {
       if (!sceneView || sceneView == m_sceneView)
       {
           return;
       }
   
       m_sceneView = sceneView;
       m_sceneView->setArcGISScene(m_scene);
   
       emit sceneViewChanged();
   }
   
   void Display_a_scene::setupScene()
   {
   
   }

7. Create an ElevationSource instance to define the base surface for the scene.

   More info

   An elevation source can define a surface with 3D terrain in a scene. Without an elevation source, the default globe surface is used to display the scene.

   Display_a_scene.cpp

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   void Display_a_scene::setupScene()
   {
   
     ArcGISTiledElevationSource* elevationSource = new ArcGISTiledElevationSource(QUrl("https://elevation3d.arcgis.com/arcgis/rest/services/WorldElevation3D/Terrain3D/ImageServer"), this);
   

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8. Create a Surface instance and append the elevationSource to it.

   Display_a_scene.cpp

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     ArcGISTiledElevationSource* elevationSource = new ArcGISTiledElevationSource(QUrl("https://elevation3d.arcgis.com/arcgis/rest/services/WorldElevation3D/Terrain3D/ImageServer"), this);
   
     Surface* elevationSurface = new Surface(this);
     elevationSurface->elevationSources()->append(elevationSource);
   

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9. Set the ElevationExaggeration value (to improve elevation visibility), and then set the elevationSurface for m_scene.

   Display_a_scene.cpp

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     Surface* elevationSurface = new Surface(this);
     elevationSurface->elevationSources()->append(elevationSource);
   
     elevationSurface->setElevationExaggeration(2.5);
     m_scene->setBaseSurface(elevationSurface);
   

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10. Inside of the setSceneView() method, create a Camera with the given parameters.

    More info

    The position from which you view the scene from is defined by a Camera. The following properties of the camera are used to define an observation point in the scene:

    • latitude: The measurement of distance north or south of the Equator
    • longitude: The measurement east or west of the prime meridian
    • altitude: The distance above sea level
    • heading: Azimuth of the camera's direction
    • pitch: Up and down angle
    • roll: Side-to-side angle
    Display_a_scene.cpp

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    // Set the view (created in QML)
    void Display_a_scene::setSceneView(SceneQuickView* sceneView)
    {
        if (!sceneView || sceneView == m_sceneView)
        {
            return;
        }
    
        m_sceneView = sceneView;
        m_sceneView->setArcGISScene(m_scene);
    
        constexpr double latitude = 33.909;
        constexpr double longitude = -118.805;
        constexpr double altitude = 5330.0;
        constexpr double heading = 355.0;
        constexpr double pitch = 72.0;
        constexpr double roll = 0.0;
        const Camera sceneCamera(latitude, longitude, altitude, heading, pitch, roll);
        m_sceneView->setViewpointCameraAndWait(sceneCamera);
    

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11. Press Ctrl + R to run the app.

You should see a scene with the topographic basemap layer centered on the Santa Monica Mountains in California. Double-click, drag, and scroll the mouse wheel over the scene view to explore the scene.

What's next?

Learn how to use additional API features, ArcGIS location services, and ArcGIS tools in these tutorials:

• Display a map
• Add a feature layer
• Add a point, line, and polygon
• Search for an address
• Find a route and directions