ArcGIS Tutorial: What is an ArcGIS 3D Analyst extension? Two

　　3D Unique Concept

When moving to a 3D viewing environment, you need to be aware of some new concepts.

• There are additional symbology options available for 3D vector features.
• Vector layers can be displayed as rasters to improve display performance.
• ArcGlobe uses caching to support a fast display of large datasets.

　　Different concepts in 3D and 2D

Some of the concepts that are widely accepted in 2D are quite different from those used in 3D.

• Layers in a 3D view are not just for display, but for describing surfaces as well. This means that the layers can have different roles in the 3D view.
• Because the data can be viewed from an oblique angle, the 3D view range cannot be described as a simple rectangle (described in 2D as a simple rectangle). This means that the current range in the 3D view must be handled in a different way than 2D.
• Layer drawing precedence is no longer as simple as the so-called order in the table of contents.

　　Two sets of 3D visualization applications

The two sets of 3D visualization applications, ArcGlobe and ArcScene, are also part of the ArcGIS 3D Analyst expansion module.

While leveraging all the information provided in your data, you can manage large amounts of data with ArcGlobe. ArcGlobe displays the data of the space registration on the 3D Earth surface with the actual earth position. When you look at the entire Earth or some of these areas, you can manipulate the Earth and then study and analyze the Earth's data. You can view data that spans the globe and seamlessly zoom in to very detailed local data.

ArcScene manages 3D GIS data, performs 3D analysis, and makes it easy to create 3D features and display layers in a planar view. You can create 3D features based on existing two-dimensional (2D) GIS data, or you can digitize new 3D vector features and graphics in ArcMap using a surface that provides z-values.

　　Using 3D Analyst in ArcCatalog and ArcMap

In ArcCatalog, 3D Analyst can be used to manage 3D GIS data and create a layer with a viewable 3D attribute. In Arccatalog, you can preview 3D scenes and data using the 3D navigation tools in ArcScene.

In ArcMap, 3D analyst can create new surfaces from GIS data and analyze the surface, attribute values at a location on the query surface, and the visibility of parts of the surface from different locations. It is also possible to determine the surface area and volume on the upper and lower surfaces and create profile plots along the 3D lines on the surface.

ArcGIS Tutorial: What is an ArcGIS 3D Analyst extension? Two