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.
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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
Before starting this tutorial:
-
You need an ArcGIS Location Platform or ArcGIS Online account.
-
Your system meets the system requirements.
-
The ArcGIS Runtime API for Qt is installed.
Choose your API
You can do this tutorial in C++ or QML:
Steps for C++
Create a new ArcGIS Runtime Qt Creator Project
Use Qt Creator to create an app that displays a
Scene
centered on the Santa Monica Mountains in Southern California.
-
Start Qt Creator.
-
Click File > New File or Project. In the left frame, under Projects, select ArcGIS.
-
Select the ArcGIS Runtime 100.15 Qt Quick C++ app project template, or a later version, and click Choose.
You may see several selections for the ArcGIS project type. Be sure to select ArcGIS Runtime 100.15 Qt Quick C++ app (or a later version).
-
At the Project Location dialog, name your project Display_a_scene. Click Next.
-
At the Define Build System dialog, select qmake for your build system. Click Next.
-
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.
-
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.
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.
-
Verify your selections and click Finish.
Get an access token
You need an access token to use the location services used in this tutorial.
-
Go to the Create an API key tutorial to obtain an access token using your ArcGIS Location Platform or ArcGIS Online account.
-
Ensure that the following privilege is enabled: Location services > Basemaps > Basemap styles service.
-
Copy the access token as it will be used in the next step.
To learn more about other ways to get an access token, go to Types of authentication.
Set your API key
-
In the Projects window, open the Sources folder. Open the main.cpp file.
-
Paste the access token between the double quotes on the line indicated. Save and close the file.
main.cpp51 52 53 54// 2. API key authentication: Get a long-lived access token that gives your application access to // ArcGIS location services. Go to the tutorial at https://links.esri.com/create-an-api-key. // Copy the API Key access token. const QString accessToken = QStringLiteral("");
Display a scene
-
In the Projects window, open the Headers folder. Double-click the file Display_a_scene.h to open it.
-
Add the declaration
void setup
underScene(); private
. Then save and close the file.: Display_a_scene.h41 42 43 44 45 46 47private: 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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In the Projects window, open the Sources folder. Open the Display_a_scene.cpp file and, if present, remove the following code. Basemap is not used.
Display_a_scene.cpp15 16 17 18#include "Display_a_scene.h" #include "ArcGISTiledElevationSource.h" #include "Basemap.h"
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Delete the code from the body of the constructor.
Display_a_scene.cpp28 29 30 31 32 38 39Display_a_scene::Display_a_scene(QObject* parent /* = nullptr */): QObject(parent), m_scene(new Scene(BasemapStyle::ArcGISImageryStandard, 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); }
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Add this line to call to the new method,
setup
, that you will create.Scene Display_a_scene.cpp24 25 26 27 28 30 31Display_a_scene::Display_a_scene(QObject* parent /* = nullptr */): QObject(parent), m_scene(new Scene(BasemapStyle::ArcGISImageryStandard, this)) { setupScene(); }
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Create the new method named
setup
at the end of this file, after the closing brace ofScene set
.Scene View() Display_a_scene.cpp42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54// 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() { }
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Create an instance to define the base surface for the scene.
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.cpp45 46 47void Display_a_scene::setupScene() { ArcGISTiledElevationSource* elevationSource = new ArcGISTiledElevationSource(QUrl("https://elevation3d.arcgis.com/arcgis/rest/services/WorldElevation3D/Terrain3D/ImageServer"), this);
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Create a
Surface
instance and append theelevation
to it.Source Display_a_scene.cpp48 49ArcGISTiledElevationSource* 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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Set the
Elevation
value (to improve elevation visibility), and then set theExaggeration elevation
forSurface m
._scene Display_a_scene.cpp50 51 52Surface* elevationSurface = new Surface(this); elevationSurface->elevationSources()->append(elevationSource); elevationSurface->setElevationExaggeration(2.5); m_scene->setBaseSurface(elevationSurface);
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Inside of the
set
method, create aScene View() Camera
with the given parameters.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.cpp42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51// 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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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.
Steps for QML
Create a new ArcGIS Runtime Qt Creator Project
Use Qt Creator to create an app that displays a
Scene
centered on the Santa Monica Mountains.
-
Start Qt Creator.
-
Click File > New File or Project. In the left frame, under Projects, select ArcGIS.
-
Select the ArcGIS Runtime 100.15 Qt Quick QML app project template, or a later version, and click Choose.
You may have several selections for the ArcGIS project type. Be sure to select ArcGIS Runtime 100.15 Qt Quick QML app (or a later version).
-
On the Project Location dialog, name your project Display_a_scene. Click Next.
-
On the Define Build System dialog, select qmake for your build system. Click Next.
-
On the Define Project Details dialog, give this app a description or leave it as is. Click 3D project. At the ArcGIS Online Basemap dropdown menu, select Imagery. For your application, this selection will create a
Surface
using anArcGISTiledElevationSource
from an ArcGIS image server. Leave the rest of this dialog unchanged and click Next. -
On the Kit Selection dialog, check the kit(s) you previously set up when you installed Qt. You should select a Desktop kit to run this tutorial. Click Next.
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.
-
Verify your selections and click Finish.
Get an access token
You need an access token to use the location services used in this tutorial.
-
Go to the Create an API key tutorial to obtain an access token using your ArcGIS Location Platform or ArcGIS Online account.
-
Ensure that the following privilege is enabled: Location services > Basemaps > Basemap styles service.
-
Copy the access token as it will be used in the next step.
To learn more about other ways to get an access token, go to Types of authentication.
Set your API key
-
In the Projects window, open the Sources folder and open the main.cpp file.
-
Paste the access token between the double quotes on the line indicated. Save and close the file.
main.cpp46 47 48 49// 2. API key authentication: Get a long-lived access token that gives your application access to // ArcGIS location services. Go to the tutorial at https://links.esri.com/create-an-api-key. // Copy the API Key access token. const QString accessToken = QString("");
Use an image server and camera to display a scene
-
Within the SceneView, add code to set a 3D
Viewpoint
on aCamera
, which you will add in the next step.main.qml33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43// add a surface, surface is a default property of scene Surface { // add an arcgis tiled elevation source...elevation source is a default property of surface ArcGISTiledElevationSource { url: "https://elevation3d.arcgis.com/arcgis/rest/services/WorldElevation3D/Terrain3D/ImageServer" } } } Component.onCompleted: { // set viewpoint to the specified camera setViewpointCameraAndWait(camera); }
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Add the following code to create a
Camera
. Provide aPoint
for the camera location and provide camera properties.The position you view the scene from is defined by a
Camera
. The following properties of thecamera
are used to define an observation point in the scene:- 3D location: Longitude (x), latitude (y), and altitude (z)
- heading: Azimuth of the camera's direction
- pitch: Up and down angle
- roll: Side-to-side angle
main.qml44 45 46 47 48 49 50Component.onCompleted: { // set viewpoint to the specified camera setViewpointCameraAndWait(camera); } } Camera { id: camera heading: 355.0 pitch: 72.0 roll: 0.0 Point { x: -118.794 y: 33.909 z: 5330.0 spatialReference: SpatialReference { wkid: 4326 } } }
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Press Ctrl + R to run the app.
You will 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: