Esri CityEngine | Learn More about the Various Features and Functions

GIS Data Support

CityEngine supports the use of geospatial data such as Esri Shapefile, File Geodatabase (GDB), KML, and OpenStreetMap (OSM), allowing you to work with existing GIS features – like parcels, building footprints and street center lines – when constructing 3D urban landscapes. Rotterdam

Industry-Standard 3D Formats

CityEngine works with many 3D formats, including Collada®, Autodesk® FBX®, DXF, 3DS, Wavefront OBJ, and e-on® software Vue. Constructed 3D content can also be exported out to Pixar's RenderMan® RIB format and NVIDIA's mental ray® MI format.

Rule-based Modeling Core

Procedural modeling offers the ability to generate and texture detailed 3D buildings and street geometries out of 2D data. Many example rules are included with CityEngine and new custom rules can be authored using your own textures and 3D assets.

Parametric Modeling Interface

CityEngine exposes a set of interactive controls to adjust rule parameters, allowing experimentation with model construction settings such as the height, roof form or age of a building. Parameter modifications will automatically invoke regeneration of the 3D model. Modern Streets

Dynamic City Layouts

A toolset is provided to design and edit urban layouts with streets, blocks and parcels. Street construction or block subdivision is controlled via parametric interfaces, giving immediate visual feedback. Paris

Facade Wizard

Create rules from an image or textured mass model with an easy-to-use facade authoring tool. The resulting facade rules are size-independent, contain level-of-detail and can be extended.

Map-Controlled City Modeling

Parameters of buildings and streets can be controlled globally using maps ( e.g., land use), allowing for easy city modeling and quick changes. Terrains can be imported, aligned, and exported. Medieval Town

Street Networks Patterns

CityEngine offers unique street growth tools to quickly design urban layouts. Street patterns such as grid, organic or circular are available, and the topography of the terrain is taken into account. NYC2259

Reporting (BIM for Cities)

Customized rule-based reports can be generated to analyze urban designs, including the calculation of important urban properties such as GFA (Gross Floor Area), FAR (Floor Area Ratio), and so on. Reports are updated automatically and instantaneously.

Python

Streamline repetitive or process-specific tasks with the integrated Python® scripting interface, such as, writing out arbitrary meta-data or instancing information for each building, import FBX® cameras etc.

Available for All Platforms

CityEngine is available for Windows (32/64bit), Mac OSX (64bit), and Linux (64bit). It can be licensed either for single (node-locked license) or concurrent use (floating license, including license borrowing).