Lab 5: 3D Terrain Visualization

 

In this lab, you will use ArcScene and ArcGlobe to do 3D visualization and animation. There are two major topics you will learn from the lab exercises: 1) using ArcGIS (ArcScene and ArcGlobe) to perform 3D visualization, and 2) using ArcScene to perform fly-by animation. Type the answers to all questions at the end of each task, attach your map, and submit them to the instructor. The lab data for the ESRI virtual campus courses can be downloaded from I:\Students\Instructors\Geoffrey_Duh\GEOG4593\Lab5.

 

Instructions

1.      Complete the "3D Visualization Techniques Using ArcGIS 10" online course on ESRI Virtual Campus using the course access code that the instructor provided. Please review the questions below before you start the online course so that you produce the required graphics along the way. When finished, make sure you are familiar with the visualization and 3D navigation skills introduced in the online class. You will need to use these skills to complete the animation (see #3 below) for the lab.

 

2.      Open the I:\Students\Data\GIS\ArcTutor\10\ArcGIS_10_Tutorial_PDFs\extensions\3d-analyst-tutorial.pdf. Complete exercise #5 Working with Animations (pages 70 to 92). The tutorial data can be found at: I:\Students\Data\GIS\ArcTutor\10\3DAnalyst. Make sure you learn the use of the following animation components through this exercise:

*        Keyframes: camera keyframe, layer keyframe, and scene keyframe

*        Tracks: camera track and layer track

*        Group animation

 

3.      Select a dataset that you used in the "3D Visualization Techniques Using ArcGIS 10" online course and create a flyby animation using the techniques that you learn in the 3D Analyst tutorial. When the animation is finished, use the Export Animation tool on the Animation toolbar to record your animation in Microsoft .avi format. Set the compression ratio to Microsoft Video 1 with a compression quality of around 70. If the output file is too large (say, larger than 200MB), then you can set the compression quality to 50 or smaller. Copy you .avi file to I:\Students\Public folder (or its subfolder) and provide the information for Question 3 in your report.

 

Questions

  1. Use the information you acquired in the "Identify Data Types" exercise to complete the table below.

 

2D feature class

3D feature class

Raster

TIN

Multipatch

Unit03_SteeleShale

 

 

 

 

X

Tensleep Fault

X

 

 

 

 

Well Traces

 

X

 

 

 

Well Formation Tops

 

X

 

 

 

Topographic Surface

 

 

 

X

 

Tensleep A Sandstone

 

 

X

 

 

 

  1. Create and submit screen shots for the following exercises. For each image, write a short description (or a caption) of what visualization techniques were used to create the visualization.

 

  1. Provide the filename of your flight movie avi and its folder path in the space below, so that the instructor can have access to the move file. Make sure you put the file under the I:\Students\Public folder (or its subfolder). Click here to see a demo of the animated flight.

Path (e.g., I:\Students\Public\DTA_mylab5)

 

File Name (e.g., myname_lab5.avi)