Displaying 2D features in ArcGlobe
Release 9.2 Last modified February 29, 2008	Print all topics in : "Displaying features in 3D"

About displaying 2D features in ArcGlobe

When you add a layer to ArcGlobe, features with 3D geometries (for example, pointZ, polylineZ, polygonZ, and multipatch shapes) are automatically drawn in 3D, but you may have other 2D data sources you need to visualize in 3D that do not have z-values defined. To view 2D features in 3D, you need to define their z-values. You may also want to override the z-values within 3D features and display them using another method.

The default behavior when adding 2D features into ArcGlobe is to rasterize the layer and add it as an image draped over the surface.

There are two ways to set the base heights of features in 3D without requiring 3D geometry:

1. Using an attribute or constant value
   
2. Draping features on a surface
   

You may also want to extrude flat geometries into 3D shapes. Points can be extruded into vertical lines, polylines can be extruded into vertical walls, and polygons can be extruded into 3D solids.

You can combine base height and extrusion settings within ArcGlobe. For example, you could drape building footprints over an elevation surface, then extrude them by a height attribute to create a realistic city 3D view, all without requiring 3D features.

Learn more about using extrusion as 3D symbology

There are four methods used to extrude feature data. Each calculation is based on using either a constant or attribute value applied with one of the four methods.

Click here for steps how to extrude features applying these methods

How to define the z-values for a layer

Setting the base height from an attribute

1. In ArcGlobe, right-click the layer and click Properties.
   
2. Click the Elevation tab.
   
3. Click the option to Use constant value or expression.
   
4. Click the Calculate button.
   
5. Double-click the field that will provide the z-value for the features.
   
6. Click OK on all dialog boxes.
   
The 2D features are now drawn in ArcGlobe using the attribute you selected as the z-value.

Tips

You can use any valid SQL expression in step 6 (for example, "([LEVEL] * 10) + [BASE]"). The layer must not be rasterized (uncheck the Rasterize feature layer setting on the Globe Display tab). To use only these calculated values for heights, the layer must be set to floats independent of the globe surface; otherwise, the calculated values will be used as offsets from the globe surface.

Setting the base height from a surface

1. In ArcGlobe, right-click the layer and click Properties.
   
2. Click the Elevation tab.
   
3. Click the option to Drape layer on globe surface.
   
4. Click OK.
   
The layer is now drawn in 3D using the globe surface to provide the z-values.

Tip

The layer can be rasterized for faster rendering (check the Rasterize feature layer setting on the Globe Display tab).

Please visit the Feedback page to comment or give suggestions on ArcGIS Desktop Help.
Copyright © Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.