{"id":2533902,"date":"2024-10-17T05:38:45","date_gmt":"2024-10-17T12:38:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&#038;p=2533902"},"modified":"2025-03-07T07:44:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T15:44:00","slug":"3d-object-layer-a-comprehensive-overview","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-online\/3d-gis\/3d-object-layer-a-comprehensive-overview","title":{"rendered":"3D Object Layer: A Comprehensive Overview"},"author":362592,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":""},"categories":[23771,615021,37151],"tags":[27971,32331,27911,23571],"industry":[],"product":[36831,36551,36561],"class_list":["post-2533902","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-3d-gis","category-aec","category-design-planning","tag-editing","tag-how-to","tag-tutorial","tag-whats-new","product-js-api-arcgis","product-arcgis-online","product-arcgis-pro"],"acf":{"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/train-station-zurich-wgs84-826-465.jpg","wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/train-station-zurich-wgs84-1920-1080.jpg","authors":[{"ID":362592,"user_firstname":"Nikola","user_lastname":"Marincic","nickname":"Nikola Marincic","user_nicename":"nmarincic","display_name":"Nikola Marincic","user_email":"nmarincic@esri.com","user_url":"https:\/\/developers.arcgis.com\/javascript\/latest\/","user_registered":"2024-09-30 06:57:36","user_description":"Nikola is a product engineer on the ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript team, specializing in enhancing the 3D capabilities of Web GIS. With a background as a former architecture professor, he is committed to developing well-designed and structured products. In his spare time, Nikola enjoys composing music and running.","user_avatar":"<img data-del=\"avatar\" src='https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/09\/nikola-marincic-headshot-extended-Medium-465x465.jpeg' class='avatar pp-user-avatar avatar-96 photo ' height='96' width='96'\/>"}],"short_description":"3D object layer allows Esri users to edit 3D models directly in the browser, enhancing collaboration and efficiency.","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<p>In web GIS, the demand for managing a wide variety of 3D data is rapidly growing. The support for 3D models is especially important due to their widespread use across various industries. Thus far, scene layers have been the means to address this demand. However, this 3D object workflow requires all necessary data to be managed locally (as a multipatch feature class) and published as a web layer for visualization. While this method works well for static 3D content that doesn\u2019t need frequent updates, it lacks flexibility; any data changes require the layer to be republished.<\/p>\n<p>In June 2023, Esri introduced the <strong>3D object layer<\/strong>. You can now:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Host your 3D models in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/en-us\/arcgis\/products\/arcgis-online\/overview\">ArcGIS Online<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/en-us\/arcgis\/products\/arcgis-enterprise\/overview\">ArcGIS Enterprise<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Edit (add, update, delete) these 3D features directly on the web using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/en-us\/arcgis\/products\/3d-scene-viewer\">Scene Viewer<\/a> or custom web apps built with <a href=\"https:\/\/developers.arcgis.com\/javascript\/latest\/\">ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>As a result, ArcGIS can function as a \u201csystem of record\u201d for geolocated 3D objects such as buildings, building parts, street furniture, bridges, or underground structures.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2537352,"id":2537352,"title":"Train station 3D model","filename":"train-station-zurich-wgs84-scaled.jpg","filesize":540512,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/train-station-zurich-wgs84-scaled.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-online\/3d-gis\/3d-object-layer-a-comprehensive-overview\/screenshot-30","alt":"A 3D model of the Zurich train station is visualized in the global scene in Scene Viewer.","author":"362592","description":"3D Object Scene layers allow geolocating complex 3d models","caption":"A highly detailed 3D model capturing Zurich's train station, geolocated within a realistic and accurate 3D environment. The model is securely stored in the 3D object layer, and it can be edited at any time without republishing the layer.","name":"screenshot-30","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2533902,"date":"2024-10-21 08:51:17","modified":"2024-10-21 13:10:20","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":1297,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/train-station-zurich-wgs84-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/train-station-zurich-wgs84-scaled.jpg","medium-width":464,"medium-height":235,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/train-station-zurich-wgs84-scaled.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":389,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/train-station-zurich-wgs84-scaled.jpg","large-width":1920,"large-height":973,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/train-station-zurich-wgs84-1536x778.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":778,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/train-station-zurich-wgs84-2048x1037.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1037,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/train-station-zurich-wgs84-826x418.jpg","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":418,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/train-station-zurich-wgs84-1920x972.jpg","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":972}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<p>You can upload models in various <a href=\"#formats\">formats<\/a>. Upon upload, your models are securely stored in the 3D object layer without loss and are accurately geolocated. Once you store a 3D model, you can easily update its position, orientation, scale, and other custom attributes without altering the source files.<\/p>\n<p>This blog post aims to provide you with all the basics to get you started.<br \/>\nBelow is a preview of the key areas we will be delving into:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"#value\">The value of 3D object layers<\/a> | <a href=\"#publish\">Publishing<\/a> | <a href=\"#sharing\">Sharing<\/a> | <a href=\"#editing\">Editing<\/a> | <a href=\"#caching\">Caching<\/a> | <a href=\"#bestPractices\">Best practices<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<section id=\"value\">\n<h4><\/h4>\n<h2>The value of 3D object layers<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<p>We believe there is significant potential for new applications across various industries:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Architects, engineers, and urban planners can now georeference and evaluate their designs directly within a 3D context, leveraging the new <a href=\"https:\/\/learn.arcgis.com\/en\/paths\/getting-started-with-3d-maps-in-arcgis-online\/\">3D basemaps<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Government agencies can further streamline and digitize the electronic submission process for building and planning documentation. They can also provide public access to downloadable 3D assets, enabling faster and more efficient workflows for their users.<\/li>\n<li>Archaeologists can create and update 3D models of excavation sites, preserving detailed records of their findings. Alternatively, historical sites can be virtually reconstructed, enhancing our understanding of civilizations and enriching educational practices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2537392,"id":2537392,"title":"An ETH Zurich building.","filename":"zurich-eth-building-wgs84-scaled.jpg","filesize":614981,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/zurich-eth-building-wgs84-scaled.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-online\/3d-gis\/3d-object-layer-a-comprehensive-overview\/screenshot-31","alt":"Image displaying individual floors of a building without an envelope, with floors color-coded based on their usage.","author":"362592","description":"Models of existing buildings or their exported parts can be seamlessly integrated within the context provided by other 3D layers.","caption":"Models of existing buildings or their exported parts can be seamlessly integrated within the context provided by other 3D layers.","name":"screenshot-31","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2533902,"date":"2024-10-21 09:32:44","modified":"2024-10-21 12:42:37","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":1429,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/zurich-eth-building-wgs84-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/zurich-eth-building-wgs84-scaled.jpg","medium-width":464,"medium-height":259,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/zurich-eth-building-wgs84-scaled.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":429,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/zurich-eth-building-wgs84-scaled.jpg","large-width":1920,"large-height":1072,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/zurich-eth-building-wgs84-1536x858.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":858,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/zurich-eth-building-wgs84-2048x1143.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1143,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/zurich-eth-building-wgs84-826x461.jpg","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":461,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/zurich-eth-building-wgs84-1920x1072.jpg","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":1072}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h3>Implementation overview<\/h3>\n<p>The capabilities of the 3D object layer are achieved by integrating a 3D object scene layer with a 3D object feature layer. The scene layer enables efficient display, while the associated feature layer serves as a database, enabling ad-hoc editing and querying. There may be a temporary performance impact during the editing process, as edited features are drawn from the feature layer rather than the optimized scene layer cache. The extent of this impact on your workflow will depend on the number and complexity of the edits. However, once editing is complete\u2014or at regular intervals\u2014you can rebuild your 3D object layer through a process known as <a href=\"#caching\">caching<\/a>, restoring it to its full efficiency.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<section id=\"publish\">\n<h2>Publishing a 3D object layer<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<p>Now that we have some background, let\u2019s explore how to create and publish a 3D object layer. For publishing, you can use either <strong>ArcGIS Online<\/strong> or <strong>ArcGIS Pro 3.2 or newer<\/strong> versions. ArcGIS Online provides a more streamlined workflow for publishing an empty layer. However, since this feature is newly available, it currently only supports publishing in the geographic coordinate system WGS 1984 spatial reference.\u00a0Since our example uses a projected coordinate system, we will set up our project and publish our layer using ArcGIS Pro.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h3>Setting up your project in ArcGIS Pro<\/h3>\n<p>Choosing the appropriate spatial reference for a GIS project is crucial. To ensure compatibility of the 3D object layer with your project, you should publish it using the same spatial reference.<\/p>\n<p>To visualize your data on the globe, use a <strong>Global Scene<\/strong> and make sure your 3D object layer is published using the WGS 1984 coordinate system. To work in a projected coordinate system (PCS) suitable for your geographic area, use a <strong>Local Scene<\/strong>. Ensure that your data (including basemaps and layers) and your 3D object layer are published in that PCS. This setup ensures maximum accuracy in georeferencing your 3D content.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"blockquote","content":"<p>While Web Mercator is a commonly used PCS for visualizing web GIS content, it introduces significant distortions and scale variations. We do not recommend using it in a local scene (projected) or as a spatial reference for publishing 3D object layers.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<p>This blog post uses <strong>LV95<\/strong>, the PCS used in Switzerland, as an example. The workflow ensures maximal precision in georeferencing 3D models in Switzerland. All necessary layers, including basemaps, elevation layers, and 3D building objects, are publicly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/home\/user.html?user=EsriSuisse_Content\">available<\/a> in LV95, allowing you to follow along.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<p>As a next step, you need to publish a 3D object layer that will host your 3D models.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"sidebar","content":"<h3>Publishing steps in ArcGIS Pro<\/h3>\n<h4>Creating a 3D object feature class<\/h4>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Open ArcGIS Pro<\/strong> and create a new local or global scene. (we will create a local scene).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Save<\/strong> your project in the desired location. This will generate a <strong>geodatabase file (.gdb)<\/strong> with the project name under Databases in the Catalog panel.<\/li>\n<li>To add a <strong>3D object feature class<\/strong> (stores and manages 3D geometry-type features in a geodatabase), right-click on the .gdb file, select New, and then choose <strong>Feature Class.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Name your feature class<\/strong> and select <strong>3D Object<\/strong> as its type. Click Next.<\/li>\n<li>In the Fields section, you can add <strong>custom attributes<\/strong> to describe your future 3D features. In our example, we added two attributes: name [Text] and type [Long]). Click Next.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Select the spatial reference <\/strong>for your feature class. Type <em>lv95<\/em> in the search bar. The filter will show you CH1903+ LV95. Click Finish.<\/li>\n<li>Once completed, a new layer with a 3D object feature class as data source will appear in <strong>Scene<\/strong> &gt; <strong>3D Layers <\/strong>in the Contents<\/li>\n<li><strong>Add the storage format<\/strong> that enables support for uploading and downloading models on the web. Open Analysis &gt; Tools, search for <strong>Add 3D Formats to Multipatch<\/strong>, select your layer, check <em>Khronos Group glTF binary (.glb)<\/em>, and click Run. The green checkmark indicates the successful storage format addition.<\/li>\n<li>You now have an option to add a 3D feature in Pro, but we will proceed to <strong>publish an empty 3D object layer:<\/strong> Open the <strong>Create Features<\/strong> pane. In the &#8220;Templates&#8221; section, click the right-pointing arrow to apply the default editing template.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h4><\/h4>\n<section id=\"publishingPro\">\n<h4>Publishing a 3D object layer<\/h4>\n<\/section>\n<ol>\n<li>Now, we will share this as a 3D object layer on the web. Ensure you are signed in to the correct portal. Right-click your layer in the Contents tab, point to Sharing, and click <strong>Share as a Web Layer<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>In the newly opened pane, <strong>name the layer<\/strong>, add descriptive text and tags, and select <strong>who to share it with<\/strong> (we will cover sharing in detail in the &#8220;<a href=\"#sharing\">Sharing 3D object layers<\/a>&#8221; chapter).<\/li>\n<li>In the first subsection of <strong>Configuration<\/strong>, under Caching, choose <strong>Cache Online<\/strong>. In the second subsection, <strong>enable editing<\/strong>, allowing <strong>Add<\/strong>, <strong>Delete<\/strong>, and <strong>Update<\/strong>. Make sure the <strong>Attributes and geometry<\/strong> radio button is checked.<\/li>\n<li>At the bottom of the window, click <strong>Analyze<\/strong> to ensure no errors\/warnings are found. Click <strong>Publish<\/strong>. Note that publishing will take time, especially the caching phase.<\/li>\n<li>Once the layer is published, you can verify it in ArcGIS Online by clicking the <strong>Manage the web layer<\/strong> link in the success message. In the portal, you will find three new items with the same name: a 3D object scene Layer, a 3D object feature layer, and a service definition. The 3D object scene layer and the 3D object feature layer together form a <strong>3D object layer<\/strong>, combining fast visualization with editing\/query capabilities.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3>Publishing steps in ArcGIS Online<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Sign in<\/strong> to your ArcGIS organizational account.<\/li>\n<li>On the ribbon, click on <strong>Content, <\/strong>then open the <strong>My Content<\/strong> tab and select <strong>New Item<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>In the newly opened modal window, click <strong>Scene layer<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Click the <strong>3D object<\/strong> radio button to create an empty 3D object layer and the <strong>Next<\/strong> button to confirm.<\/li>\n<li>The next page informs you about the layer\u2019s spatial reference (WGS 1984) and displays the default configured feature attributes. Click <strong>Next<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Choose the title of the item <\/strong>and the folder in which it should be saved. Assign categories and tags and write a summary describing the layer. Click <strong>Save<\/strong> to start the publishing process. Note that the publishing process takes a few minutes to complete.<\/li>\n<li>Once the publishing is complete, the scene layer item details page is opened automatically. You will find two new items with the same name in the portal: a 3D object scene layer and a 3D object feature layer, forming a 3D object layer.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","image_reference":false,"layout":"standard","image_reference_figure":"","snippet":"","spotlight_name":"","section_title":"","position":"Center","spotlight_image":false},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<p>If you do not have layer publishing permissions but still want to test 3D object layers, we recommend checking out the <a href=\"https:\/\/developers.arcgis.com\/javascript\/latest\/sample-code\/editing-scenelayer-applyedits\/\">SceneLayer Upload 3D Models and ApplyEdits<\/a>\u00a0sample from the ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript documentation. This sample allows\u00a0you to upload, georeference, and edit a 3D model from your file system.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<section id=\"sharing\">\n<h2>Sharing 3D object layers<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<p>When sharing a 3D object layer with other people, you need to think about two key questions:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Who should be able to perform edits (add, update, and delete models)?<\/li>\n<li>Who should be able to view the layer and its edits?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To define your sharing setup, you have two tools at your disposal: The layer\u2019s <strong>sharing settings<\/strong> and the option to <strong>enable or disable editing<\/strong>. Different sharing scenarios require different combinations of these two settings. Let\u2019s dive in and explore what you need to know.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h3>Understanding sharing settings<\/h3>\n<p>Each layer has three default sharing options: Owner, Organization, and Everyone (public). When you publish a layer, you are its owner. Administrators in your organization have owner-type permissions on all items. For that reason, we will count them as owners too. In ArcGIS Pro, you set the default sharing options in <a href=\"#publishingPro\">the first step<\/a>\u00a0of &#8220;Publishing a 3D object layer.&#8221; In ArcGIS Online, clicking on the item\u2019s sharing button opens a Share dialog where you can set the default sharing level and group sharing. Publishing a 3D object layer creates two items\u2014a 3D object scene layer and a 3D object feature Layer. <strong>The sharing options for both layers must match<\/strong>.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h4>Group sharing<\/h4>\n<p>In the ArcGIS ecosystem, groups provide a flexible way to broaden users&#8217; access to resources inside and outside your organization. By using group sharing, you can extend access beyond the default levels of Owner, Organization, and Public. For instance, if your default sharing level is Owner and you share a layer with a group of four members (excluding the owner), all five members will have access to the layer.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"#publishingPro\">first step<\/a> of &#8220;Publishing a 3D object&#8221; in ArcGIS Pro covers group sharing. In ArcGIS Online, within the Share dialog, you can click <strong>Edit group sharing<\/strong> under &#8220;Set group sharing,&#8221; select the groups you wish to grant access to, and then click <strong>Apply<\/strong>. Check the following <a href=\"https:\/\/doc.arcgis.com\/en\/arcgis-online\/share-maps\/create-groups.htm\">article<\/a> to learn more about creating groups in ArcGIS Online.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h3>Understanding enabling\/disabling layer editing<\/h3>\n<p>Editing on the 3D object layer must be enabled once to activate its capabilities. After this initial activation, you can disable editing, restricting edits to only the owner(s).<\/p>\n<p>In ArcGIS Pro, you enable editing by checking the <strong>Enable editing<\/strong> option in <a href=\"#publishingPro\">the first step<\/a> of &#8220;Publishing a 3D object layer.&#8221; You can verify this in the ArcGIS Portal after publishing. Open the item page for the associated feature layer, click the <strong>Settings<\/strong> tab, and scroll down to the &#8220;Feature Layer (hosted)&#8221; section. Ensure that the options for <strong>Enable editing<\/strong> and <strong>Keep track of changes to the data (add, update, delete features)<\/strong> are checked, along with the options for <strong>Add<\/strong>, <strong>Delete<\/strong>, <strong>Update,<\/strong> and <strong>Attributes and geometry<\/strong>. If you forgot to enable editing in ArcGIS Pro, check all the above options and click Save to confirm the changes.<\/p>\n<p>To <strong>disable editing <\/strong>(after it has been enabled), simply uncheck <strong>Enable editing <\/strong>on the same page and click Save. Note that creating an empty 3D object layer in ArcGIS Online automatically activates editing capabilities.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2537422,"id":2537422,"title":"Enable\/disable editing","filename":"sharing-settings-feature-layer.jpg","filesize":112220,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/sharing-settings-feature-layer.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-online\/3d-gis\/3d-object-layer-a-comprehensive-overview\/screenshot-32","alt":"Screenshot from ArcGIS Online showing enable\/disable editing options.","author":"362592","description":"This setup (on the associated feature layer) indicates that layer editing is enabled. ","caption":"This setup (on the associated feature layer) indicates that layer editing is enabled. ","name":"screenshot-32","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2533902,"date":"2024-10-21 09:50:20","modified":"2024-10-21 12:53:05","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2000,"height":875,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/sharing-settings-feature-layer-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/sharing-settings-feature-layer.jpg","medium-width":464,"medium-height":203,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/sharing-settings-feature-layer.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":336,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/sharing-settings-feature-layer.jpg","large-width":1920,"large-height":840,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/sharing-settings-feature-layer-1536x672.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":672,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/sharing-settings-feature-layer.jpg","2048x2048-width":2000,"2048x2048-height":875,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/sharing-settings-feature-layer-826x361.jpg","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":361,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/sharing-settings-feature-layer-1920x840.jpg","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":840}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h3>Sharing scenarios<\/h3>\n<p>Combining sharing settings and enabling\/disabling editing enables many layer-sharing scenarios. To implement the following scenarios, we assume you have initially enabled layer editing. If you are following along, choose one of the sharing scenarios offered below and implement it.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"sidebar","content":"<h3>Configuring sharing scenarios<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Owner-only viewing and editing:\u00a0<\/strong>If the sharing level is set to Owner for both layers (the default option in ArcGIS Pro), only the owners can view and edit the layer.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Organization viewing\u2014editing according to user roles:\u00a0<\/strong>If you share your layers with your organization and the editing is enabled, the user roles within your organization will define layer editing permissions. For example, users with Editor or Publisher rights can make edits, while users with the Viewer role can only view the layer and its edits.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Organization viewing\u2014owner editing:\u00a0<\/strong>If you shared your layers with your organization per the previous example, disabling editing on the feature layer will keep the viewing permissions intact but restrict editing permissions to the owners.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Public viewing\u2014owner editing:\u00a0<\/strong>Here, anyone can see the layer and its edits, but only the owners can perform edits. If using ArcGIS Pro, you must first check <strong>Approve for Public Data Collection<\/strong> in the Configuration tab. Then <strong>enable editing<\/strong> and allow editors to <strong>Add<\/strong>, <strong>Delete<\/strong> and <strong>Update<\/strong> attributes and geometry. After your layer is successfully published, disable editing.\u00a0\u00a0If you initially had a different sharing configuration for your 3D object layer and wish to transition to this one, first disable editing on the feature layer and then set the sharing level to &#8220;Everyone (public)&#8221; for both layers.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Restricted viewing\u2014owner editing:<\/strong> This configuration allows granular access to view the layer, while editing access is restricted only to the owners. Set the default sharing level and extend the access by choosing which groups to share the layer with. Make sure the groups you share with are not shared update groups (we explain this in the following scenario). Finally, disable editing.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Restricted viewing\u2014restricted editing:<\/strong> This scenario makes use of shared update groups to manage who can make edits. All group members will be able to edit the layers shared with it. When creating a shared update group, ensure the <strong>Shared update<\/strong> option is enabled within &#8220;Group designations&#8221; from the beginning, as this option cannot be modified once the group is created. Share both layers with the shared update group. If necessary, include other non-shared update groups to provide more granular viewing permissions. Finally, disable the editing on the feature layer to restrict editing access to the owners and Shared Update group members.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","image_reference":false,"layout":"standard","image_reference_figure":"","snippet":"","spotlight_name":"","section_title":"","position":"Center","spotlight_image":false},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<section id=\"editing\">\n<h2>Editing 3D models in Scene Viewer<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<p>Now that our 3D object layer is ready and sharing levels are sorted out, we can proceed to upload some 3D models. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/en-us\/arcgis\/products\/3d-scene-viewer\">Scene Viewer<\/a> allows a simple, out-of-the-box setup, which is a great place to start with 3D object layer editing.<\/p>\n<section id=\"sceneCreation\">\n<h3>Prerequisites<\/h3>\n<\/section>\n<p>Since our example features a local scene with an LV95 spatial reference, we utilize the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/home\/item.html?id=03af6dc44c1e4c948eb87bbaef248f7a\">LV95 Swiss Topographic (with Contours and Hillshade)<\/a> layer as a basemap. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/home\/item.html?id=0eab5ffc50da4cd2afe767c2f2851e30\">LV95 Swiss Terrain 3D<\/a>\u00a0serves as the ground layer, while the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/home\/item.html?id=ba2c0bf1accb45a1b3219357da730dd7\">Swissbuildings 3D LOD2 lv95<\/a>\u00a0layer represents the 3D buildings. You can access this example scene at the following <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arcgis.com\/home\/item.html?id=067ada556ed84bb3aa5c65b4f2a7c15d\">link<\/a>. If you wish to follow along using this scene, you should publish your 3D object layer using LV95 spatial reference. Otherwise, ensure your layer is published in the same spatial reference as the rest of your project.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2537282,"id":2537282,"title":"Zurich city center.","filename":"zurich-aerial-lv95-scaled.jpg","filesize":818264,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/zurich-aerial-lv95-scaled.jpg","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-online\/3d-gis\/3d-object-layer-a-comprehensive-overview\/screenshot-27","alt":"Scene Viewer screenshot displaying an aerial view of Zurich's city center.","author":"362592","description":"The provided web scene featuring the city center of Zurich, Switzerland. ","caption":"The provided web scene featuring the city center of Zurich, Switzerland. ","name":"screenshot-27","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2533902,"date":"2024-10-21 07:51:10","modified":"2024-10-21 13:01:34","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","type":"image","subtype":"jpeg","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2560,"height":1440,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/zurich-aerial-lv95-213x200.jpg","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/zurich-aerial-lv95-scaled.jpg","medium-width":464,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/zurich-aerial-lv95-scaled.jpg","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":432,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/zurich-aerial-lv95-scaled.jpg","large-width":1920,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/zurich-aerial-lv95-1536x864.jpg","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":864,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/zurich-aerial-lv95-2048x1152.jpg","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":1152,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/zurich-aerial-lv95-826x465.jpg","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2024\/10\/zurich-aerial-lv95-1920x1080.jpg","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":1080}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"blockquote","content":"<p>Using the previously mentioned LV95 items requires an ArcGIS Online organizational subscription or an ArcGIS Developer account but does not consume credits.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h3>Steps to upload and place the model<\/h3>\n<p>Now, you should open the web scene, add the 3D object layer, and upload a 3D model.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"kaltura","video_id":"1_puy9l871","time":false,"start":0,"stop":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h3>Tools for accurate model placement<\/h3>\n<p>To enhance your editing experience, click on <strong>Settings<\/strong> at the top of the editor. This will reveal tooltips and snapping options.\u00a0If you wish to place or update your models using numerical coordinates, toggle on <strong>Enable tooltips<\/strong>. To be able to place your models precisely on corners, edges, or surfaces of other features, toggle on <strong>Enable snapping<\/strong>. Additionally, make sure to activate <strong>Geometry guides<\/strong> and <strong>Feature to feature<\/strong> options. In the &#8220;Snapping layers&#8221; collapsible panel underneath, select the layers to which your features will snap.<\/p>\n<h4>Snapping<\/h4>\n<p>If snapping is activated and the relevant snapping layers are enabled, your model will automatically align with the <strong>corners<\/strong>, <strong>edges<\/strong>, or <strong>surfaces<\/strong> of nearby features during placement. You will notice orange lines indicating the alignment.<\/p>\n<h4>Tooltips<\/h4>\n<p>To utilize tooltips while placing your model, press the\u00a0<strong>Tab<\/strong>. A modal will appear next to the cursor with five editable fields:\u00a0<strong>X, Y, Z, Orientation,<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>Scale<\/strong>, along with three lock widgets for the axes. You can now manually input the values in these fields. To leave this mode, press Esc on your keyboard.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<section id=\"update\">\n<h3>Manipulating the stored model<\/h3>\n<\/section>\n<p>We have successfully geolocated the model and added it to the layer. If you decide to change the model&#8217;s position, rotation, or scale at a later stage or remove it entirely, you can easily do this using the editor widget. As we have mentioned in the beginning, performing any of these operations (add, update, delete) in any supported client does not require republishing the 3D object layer.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"kaltura","video_id":"1_52zzbf0n","time":false,"start":0,"stop":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<section id=\"formats\">\n<h3>Supported 3D formats<\/h3>\n<\/section>\n<p>Currently, you can upload and persistently store your 3D models in the following formats:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>COLLADA (.dae), Autodesk Filmbox (.fbx), Autodesk Drawing (.dwg), Industry Foundation Classes (.ifc), Universal Scene Description (.usdc, .usdz), Wavefront (.obj), GL Transmission Format (.glTF), and Binary GL Transmission Format (.glb) files.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h3>Model units and file sizes<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>If the intrinsic unit of the 3D model is not specified when loaded into a global scene, it will be interpreted as a meter (1 unit = 1 meter). Conversely, if the model is loaded into a local scene, the assumed unit corresponds to the unit of the projected coordinate system.<\/li>\n<li>Per specification, glTF models (.glb and .glTF) will always be interpreted as modeled in meters. To learn about their support in web 3D workflows, refer to the following <a href=\"https:\/\/developers.arcgis.com\/javascript\/latest\/visualization\/3d-visualization\/visualizing-points-3d\/#use-a-custom-3d-model-in-gltf-format\">article<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>We expect uploaded models, including textures, to be up to 100Mb in size for reasonable display and editing performance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"blockquote","content":"<p>When using the editor widget, you might notice differences in texture quality during the editing process. Specifically, when a model is selected in the editor widget, the texture will match the exported model. However, once the editing is completed and before the layer is cached, the texture quality may be reduced to improve performance. This behavior is expected and will persist until the edits are cached. <\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<section id=\"caching\">\n<h2>Caching 3D object layers<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<p>Editing 3D object layers involves a two-phase workflow involving feature editing and caching.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Editing<\/strong> the 3D object layer temporarily affects display and loading performance. This impact varies depending on the complexity of the models and the number of edits. The more edits you make, without rebuilding the scene layer cache, the more the scene performance will be impacted, as all new or updated models will displayed in full detail. Uploading more objects to the 3D object layer in one session will increase the time required to optimize them for performance in the subsequent phase.<\/p>\n<p>Once editing is complete, a process known as <strong>caching<\/strong> is used to rebuild the 3D object layer with all the changes made during the editing phase. This, in turn, restores the optimal loading and display performance, even with numerous newly added 3D features. Keep in mind that caching is a computationally intensive server-side operation. Its usage incurs costs measured in <a href=\"https:\/\/doc.arcgis.com\/en\/arcgis-online\/administer\/credits.htm\">credits<\/a>. The more data needs to be cached, the more credits the operation will require.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"sidebar","content":"<h3>Steps to rebuild the cache<\/h3>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Sign in<\/strong> to ArcGIS Online as the layer owner or an administrator.<\/li>\n<li>Open the item details page for the layer you wish to rebuild, click the <strong>Settings<\/strong> tab, and scroll down to the &#8220;Scene layer (hosted)&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>Under &#8220;Manage Scene Layer Cache,&#8221; click <strong>Rebuild Cache<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Choose What to Rebuild:\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Selected layers<\/strong>: Rebuilds geometry and nonspatial attribute changes for the layer(s) you choose.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Partial update<\/strong>: Rebuilds only parts of the layer that have changed since the last update for the layer(s) you select.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Full cache<\/strong>: Rebuilds the entire 3D object layer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Click <strong>Rebuild Cache.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Review the cost in terms of credits shown in the following dialog. If you agree, click\u00a0OK\u00a0to confirm.<\/li>\n<li>Click the <strong>Job Status<\/strong> button to monitor the cache rebuild status.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","image_reference":false,"layout":"standard","image_reference_figure":"","snippet":"","spotlight_name":"","section_title":"","position":"Center","spotlight_image":false},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<section id=\"bestPractices\">\n<h2>Best practices<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<p>It is difficult to provide a one-size-fits-all strategy for effectively balancing editing and caching. This challenge arises from the wide range of possible scenarios involving model sizes\/complexity, the number of models, and the number of editors and edits they make. Therefore, the most effective approach is to learn through experience by adhering to the following best practices.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h3>Optimize models and textures<\/h3>\n<p>3D models are created for different purposes. Some will be appropriate for your use case, while others might cause issues.<\/p>\n<p>The most common issues involve the complexity of the model\u2019s geometry and the size of its textures. High geometric complexity can lead to visualization problems, especially when automatic Level of Detail (LoD) simplification reaches its optimization limits. Large textures can also be an issue as they will take up much of your valuable storage space and slow down uploads and downloads.<\/p>\n<p>In scenarios where you are working with a limited number of 3D models and have powerful client-side hardware, optimization may not be necessary, even for overly complex models. In case a need for optimization arises, consider the following steps:<\/p>\n<h4>Simplify geometry<\/h4>\n<p>Use your preferred 3D modeling software to reduce the complexity of exported geometry. For instance, in Blender, you can un-subdivide the mesh or utilize the &#8220;limited dissolve&#8221; feature to eliminate unnecessary vertices and edges separating flat regions. If exporting an IFC model from Revit, adjust the tessellation level in the &#8220;Level of Detail&#8221; tab, which will simplify some Revit elements like elbows, floors, railings, pipe fittings, etc. Depending on your needs, choose between extra low, low, or medium level of detail.<\/p>\n<h4>Reduce texture size<\/h4>\n<p>Large textures are among the most common contributors to large model file sizes. Consider downscaling your textures if they contain details that do not contribute to your visualization.<\/p>\n<h4>Selective exporting<\/h4>\n<p>If you are exporting purely for visualization, consider including only the layers relevant to your visualization. This typically involves removing some interior walls, furniture and fixtures, construction details, plumbing, electrical and HVAC components, site utilities, and other elements that do not contribute to the visualization.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h3>Plan your edits, test, and iterate<\/h3>\n<p>Group your edits logically to minimize the number of cache rebuilds. If you notice significant performance degradation after adding a certain number of models, consider concluding the editing session and caching the changes made to the layer before starting again. Document your findings (including the number and average complexity of models added before impact degradation), and use this knowledge to refine your editing and caching strategy. This can help maintain performance and reduce the frequency of performance degradation during the editing phase.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h3>Regularly rebuild the cache<\/h3>\n<p>If the project requires ad-hoc editing over time, <a href=\"https:\/\/doc.arcgis.com\/en\/arcgis-online\/create-maps\/manage-scheduled-tasks.htm\">schedule<\/a> regular cache rebuilds to integrate changes and restore the scene layer to its full efficiency. This helps maintain optimal performance, especially after significant editing sessions.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h3>Educate Your Team<\/h3>\n<p>Ensure that all team members involved in editing scene layers understand these best practices. Consistently applying these guidelines will help maintain performance and efficiency across the board.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"<h2>What\u2019s next?<\/h2>\n<p>This was the first blog post in a blog post series on 3D object layers. In it, you learned about the utility and potential of this innovative feature. You also familiarized yourself with the publishing process and examined various sharing options. Additionally, you learned how to use Scene Viewer to upload, georeference models, and cache changes effectively in ArcGIS Online. This blog also lays the foundation for upcoming posts covering more advanced topics.<\/p>\n<p>In the next installment of our series, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/js-api-arcgis\/developers\/3d-object-layer-in-arcgis-maps-sdk-for-javascript\/\">3D Object Layer in ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript<\/a>, you will learn how to utilize <a href=\"https:\/\/developers.arcgis.com\/javascript\/latest\/\">ArcGIS Maps SDK for JavaScript<\/a> for 3D model editing workflows. The foundational functionality will be covered first, and then you will delve into the details of the layer implementation. This will enable you to implement custom <a href=\"https:\/\/developers.arcgis.com\/javascript\/latest\/3d-object-workflows\/\">3D object layer editing workflows<\/a> tailored to your needs. Stay tuned for a deeper exploration of these advanced concepts, which will enhance your understanding and utilization of 3D object layers.<\/p>\n"}],"related_articles":"","show_article_image":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.9 (Yoast SEO v25.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>3D Object Layer: A Comprehensive Overview<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"3D object layer allows Esri users to upload and edit 3D models directly in the browser, introducing new, collaborative GIS workflows.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-online\/3d-gis\/3d-object-layer-a-comprehensive-overview\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"3D Object Layer: A Comprehensive Overview\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"3D object layer allows Esri users to upload and edit 3D models directly in the browser, introducing new, collaborative GIS workflows.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-online\/3d-gis\/3d-object-layer-a-comprehensive-overview\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"ArcGIS Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/esrigis\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-03-07T15:44:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@ESRI\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"19 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":[\"Article\",\"BlogPosting\"],\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-online\/3d-gis\/3d-object-layer-a-comprehensive-overview#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-online\/3d-gis\/3d-object-layer-a-comprehensive-overview\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Nikola Marincic\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/#\/schema\/person\/1a02ff5b03ab807ecb861b2dc6e73e79\"},\"headline\":\"3D Object Layer: A Comprehensive Overview\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-10-17T12:38:45+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-03-07T15:44:00+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/arcgis-online\/3d-gis\/3d-object-layer-a-comprehensive-overview\"},\"wordCount\":6,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/#organization\"},\"keywords\":[\"editing\",\"How to?\",\"Tutorial\",\"what's new\"],\"articleSection\":[\"3D Visualization &amp; 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