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4. Visualizing Data in 3D Using ArcSCENE
Visualizing Vector Data
This exercise uses a building footprint shapefile and visualizes the height of the building by extruding based on height data in the shapefile. This extrusion process can me used with any shapefile and based on any quantitative field in the shapefile's attribute table. For a building height extrusion in New York City, use the Building_Attributes.shp files (there is one file per borough) located at X:\NewYorkCity\BaseData\Buildings\BuildingFootprints2005. The field representing height is called "floors_12." This field was made as an approximation for height, by multiplying the number of floors by an average height of 12 feet.
1. Open ArcScene. (You will find it at Programs > ArcGIS > ArcScene.) Notice that the interface is very similar to that of ArcMap.
2. Add Data. You do this exactly the same way as you would in ArcMap, using the "Add Data" button in the main toolbar.
1. Open ArcScene. (You will find it at Programs > ArcGIS > ArcScene.) Notice that the interface is very similar to that of ArcMap.
2. Add Data. You do this exactly the same way as you would in ArcMap, using the "Add Data" button in the main toolbar.
Once you've added your data, it will appear in the window. It will probably appear floating askew, without any volumes. This is because you have not yet assigned an attribute with which ArcScene will create volumes.
3. Adding 3D attributes to your map works much like changing or adding symbology to a 2D project in ArcMap. Right Click on your data layer name in the table of contents and select Properties. (Note that one of the tabs in the resulting dialogue box is named "Symbology." The functions in this tab operate the same as those in ArcMap.)
3. Adding 3D attributes to your map works much like changing or adding symbology to a 2D project in ArcMap. Right Click on your data layer name in the table of contents and select Properties. (Note that one of the tabs in the resulting dialogue box is named "Symbology." The functions in this tab operate the same as those in ArcMap.)
4. The Expression Builder dialogue box will appear. Note that the "Fields" box on the left contains the data fields associated with this layer. You can extrude your layer based on any of these fields by double-clicking its name in the "Fields" box. You can also manipulate its extrusion through any of the mathematic functions in the "Functions" box or using the calculator buttons on the right. (In the example below, the data layer will be extruded by values in the "Elev_Ft" field.) When you are finished building your expression, click OK.
Visualizing Raster Data
1. Open ArcScene. (You will find it at Programs > ArcGIS > ArcScene.) Notice that the interface is very similar to that of ArcMap.
2. Add Data. You do this exactly the same way as you would in ArcMap or as you would add vector data to ArcScene, using the "Add Data" button in the main toolbar.
2. Add Data. You do this exactly the same way as you would in ArcMap or as you would add vector data to ArcScene, using the "Add Data" button in the main toolbar.
Once you've added your raster data, it will appear in the window. It will probably appear floating askew, rather than the usual orthographic view you see in ArcMap.
Raster data assigns a value to each pixel of the raster image. We usually visualize this data by assigning a color to the values. In the example above, the raster image contains elevation data, with highest elevations represented as white and lowest elevations represented as black.
To 3-dimensionally visualize raster data, we change the Base Height of each pixel.
3. Right-Click on the layer name in the Table of Contents. Select Properties. In the Layer Properties dialogue box that appears, go to the Base Heights tab. There, select "Obtain heights for layer from surface." This indicates that the values already associated with the raster's pixels are the values you'd like to use for their heights.
Raster data assigns a value to each pixel of the raster image. We usually visualize this data by assigning a color to the values. In the example above, the raster image contains elevation data, with highest elevations represented as white and lowest elevations represented as black.
To 3-dimensionally visualize raster data, we change the Base Height of each pixel.
3. Right-Click on the layer name in the Table of Contents. Select Properties. In the Layer Properties dialogue box that appears, go to the Base Heights tab. There, select "Obtain heights for layer from surface." This indicates that the values already associated with the raster's pixels are the values you'd like to use for their heights.
