Three-dimensional visualization in GIS is an important tool for spatial data analysis. Unlike traditional two-dimensional map representations, 3D mode allows you to take into account the elevation of objects, terrain, and their spatial position. This is especially important when working with geological structures, engineering structures, urban development projects, and infrastructure assets.

The GISCARTA platform supports 3D display of vector layers and provides tools for adjusting the elevation, offset, and spatial visualization of objects, expanding analysis and modeling capabilities.

3D capabilities on the GISCARTA platform
– Adding Z-coordinates: elevations to polygonal features
– Adding 3D models of point features

How to configure a layer in 3D?

Polygon layer

Step 1. In the layer settings, go to the 3D section. There, select the numeric field that will be used to adjust the height of polygonal features. This can be either an absolute value or a numeric value from an attribute.

Step 2. You need to set the following parameters:

Vertical Multiplier. This refers to the object's height and is a coefficient by which the value in the field used to set the height for each object will be multiplied.

Offset Relative to Ground. This determines the object's position relative to the ground surface. It can be specified as an absolute number for all objects, meaning the layer will have the same offset, or it can be specified from a numeric field, meaning each object will have its own offset depending on the attribute value. You can also use the layer's Z-coordinate from the object's geometry. In this case, each point will have a third coordinate and be positioned in space based on its own geometry.

The following units of measurement for height and offset are available on the platform:

• meters

• feet

• kilometers

• miles

• inches

Point Layers

Step 1. Go to the Layer Stylization section.

Step 2. In the symbol selection tab, select the 3D section and the desired 3D model of the object.

You can add 3D models in glb and obj format to the platform. More details on adding 3D models can be found in the docs.

An example of using 3D models on GISCARTA

An example of using 3D models on GISCARTA

More detailed information about the 3D function on the GISCARTA platform can be found in the docs.

FAQ

How do I enable 3D for a polygon layer in GISCARTA?
Go to the layer settings, open the 3D section, and select a numeric field to define the height of polygon features.

Can I control how high or low objects appear above the ground?
Yes, you can use the Vertical Multiplier and Offset Relative to Ground settings, including values from attributes or Z-coordinates.

How are 3D models added to point layers?
In the Layer Stylization section, choose a symbol from the 3D tab and select the desired 3D model (e.g., OBJ or GLB format).

Key Takeaways

GISCARTA allows 3D visualization of vector layers by adjusting height, offset, and vertical scaling.Polygon layers can be extruded using attribute values or Z-coordinates.Point layers support custom 3D models for realistic spatial representation.