Module 3: 3D Visualization

In this weeks assignment we did something a bit different. We did 4 training courses on ESRI's training website with a accompanying exam after each course's project exercise. The courses were as follows Introduction to 3D Visualization, Performing Line of Sight Analysis, Performing Viewshed Analysis in ArcGIS Pro and Sharing 3D Content Using Scene Layer Packages. The goal of all 4 of these courses is to be able to not only edit but to also construct and publish a complete 3D project in ArcPro. The first course was just to give us a solid basis on not only what a 3D project would look like but how to work in one as well. This gave me a solid feel for not only the applications of 3D for model building which I believe in some scenarios could make all the difference. But it also allows you to make a much aesthetically pleasing map which is essential for the creation of maps. If they aren't interactive or interesting to the people who need them then they are incomplete even when finished. 

We learned a extensive amount of new tools between all of these courses like for course two we learned how to use things like the Construct Sight Lines (3D Analyst Tools) which allows you to create sight lines orientating out from one or multiple observing points. This was built off of even more with the Line Of Sight (3D Analyst Tool) which lets you determine if those sight lines are even visible with whatever your given topography is on your project. The Add Z Information (3D Analyst Tools) helped me to be able calculate the 3D shapes and to add to their attribute table. With this tool you can even calculate the lengths of whatever your sight lines are. If any of these lines don't work because they aren't visible or don't fall in your desired path then they can be erased with the Delete Features ( Data Management Tools) feature which will remove these features from the layer. The third assignment consisted of altering light sources to fall without our desired parameters which we used a couple different features to alter while working through the exercise. The main tool we used in this course was the Viewshed (3D Analyst Tool) which allows the user to take whatever Raster you have and input your observing features. This will clean up your coverage and help to better understand what areas will be reached by in this case lighting.

 The fourth and final part of this assignment had us altering a portion of Portland, Oregon to further define the buildings and trees in this part of the map. We ran through a couple different tools like the Add Surface Information tool which helps to add fields in whatever feature class you wish too. The Feature to 3D By Attribute tool was also used for being able turn our desired layers into 3D so that we can utilize the 3D aspects of being able to map our models. The main part of this final assignment was to use the tool Create 3D Object Scene Layer Package tool which allows us to take our 3D map and turn it into a scene layer which can be published online. This was the final and main step for this exercise and after finishing the final touches on our map I published it on ArcGis.com and make it viewable for anyone who wanted to read it. This project specializes in a study of a part of Portland, Oregon. So all the required information online was filled with the respective descriptions. 

This project was a great learning experience and I was able to really gain some great new skills while using GIS and ArcPro. I feel like the applications of 3D in mapping and model building is extremely essential. Being able to properly learn and use these skills I learned this week will make all the difference I feel in my GIS career. This was a great week of learning and I look forward to the rest to come!