What is sharing in 3D?

Sharing constitutes any way you can present your ArcGIS data and analysis results to others to help spread a better understanding of a particular problem or solution. By leveraging your methods of sharing to sharing in 3D, you can target a wider variety of the public. 3D visualization is important for providing a greater sense of realism which can be critical in certain industries. Once the story can come alive in 3D, then decisions and solutions can be achieved with greater understanding.

Methods of sharing are often determined by the type of audience you are connected with and how they best receive this information. Just as there are many fields of industry, there are also many options for sharing. These options range from some of the simplest and fastest (a 3D screen capture), to packaging all of your 3D GIS data and sharing it as a GIS service on the web (such as a globe service).

The different ways you can share or present your 3D data and analysis results using ArcGlobe and ArcScene are listed in the table below.

Method

Created from

Ways to share it

How to consume it

High-resolution screenshot of 3D content

ArcGlobe or ArcScene

  • Over the network or by e-mail
  • Posted on a website
  • Presented in a slideshow

Any picture viewer or images can also be printed.

Video animation of 3D spaces and environments

ArcGlobe or ArcScene

  • Export to a video file (.avi, .mov) to share over the network or by e-mail.
  • Post it to your ArcGIS online account.

Quicktime or Windows media player.

ArcGlobe, ArcScene, ArcGIS Explorer, or ArcReader 3D.

Layer package with 3D properties

ArcGlobe or ArcScene

  • Over the network or by e-mail
  • ArcGIS Online

ArcMap, ArcGlobe, ArcScene, and ArcGIS Explorer.

NoteNote:

ArcMap cannot display 3D properties.

KML file

ArcGlobe

  • Over the network or by e-mail
  • Post it on a website to download as a file or as a hyperlink.

ArcGlobe, ArcGIS Explorer or Google Earth.

globe service

(which can include saved animation files)

ArcGlobe

  • ArcGIS Server
  • ArcGIS Online

ArcGlobe, ArcReader 3D, ArcGIS Explorer.

Any custom application using the globe control.

geoprocessing service for 3D analytic tools

The Results window from ArcGIS for Desktop.

  • ArcGIS Server
  • ArcGIS Online

ArcGIS for Desktop.

In the table below are examples of how leading industries are currently utilizing the ability to share 3D GIS.

Methods used to share 3D GIS

Industry

Screenshots

Video animations

Published globe services, layer packages & KML

ArcGIS Online

Facilities management—virtual campus models

Screen capture from ArcGlobeExported video animationArcGlobe consuming a globe service
  • Globe services
  • Layer packages
  • Geoprocessing services for 3D tasks

Local government—Virtual cities

3D virtual city screen captureVideo animation for line-of-sight analysisVirtual city globe service
  • Globe services
  • Layer packages
  • Geoprocessing services for 3D tasks

Defense and public safety

Topography draped over terrainRidgeline defenseThreat dome simulation
  • Globe services
  • Layer packages
  • Geoprocessing services for 3D tasks

Civil Engineering and Natural Resources

Screen capture for proposed bridge developmentExported animation of various stratigraphic information and well sites3D globe service of a terrain surface
  • Globe services
  • Layer packages
  • Geoprocessing services for 3D tasks

When sharing in 3D by way of layer packages and globe services, the experience is the same as you would expect from ArcMap. Interoperable results are created to share between the ArcGIS applications (ArcMap, ArcGlobe, ArcScene, ArcReader, ArcGIS Explorer, and so on).

Layer packages are a convenient way to share your data if you are primarily interested in further editing or analysis. The package creates a snapshot of the current state and the associated data. All of the 3D symbology and other 3D display properties are maintained and remain enabled for layers in ArcGlobe and ArcScene. The exported layer package (LPK) can be hosted on ArcGIS online, to later be downloaded and unpacked to consume in ArcGIS. If you are sharing to someone within an organization that does not have access to ArcGIS for Desktop, layer packages can be viewed inside ArcGIS Explorer, a 3D viewer the consumer can download for free.

Globe services allow you to create a representation of your entire GIS resource and make it available to other computers on a network or the web using ArcGIS Server. There are typically three steps to using information through ArcGIS Server. First, you author (create) GIS resources, and you share GIS resources by publishing them as services, then you use the services in client applications.

Learn more about how you can work with ArcGIS Server

Some common reasons for publishing globe services to share your 3D content include:

Learn more about how you can get started creating a globe service

Related Topics

8/16/2013