3D layers reference caches of 3D data. To avoid copying data and building caches on the ArcGIS Data Store object store machines, you can create a cache dataset, place it in a user-maintained folder or cloud storage location, and publish a layer that references the file.
The cache content remains in the folder or cloud storage location even if you delete the layer that references it.
Prepare the layer content
Before you can publish the 3D layer, create an extracted scene layer package, i3sRest content, or 3D tiles dataset and place it in a file share or cloud storage location that you register with a federated server.
Create an extracted scene layer package
If you will use a file share data store, you can create a scene layer package dataset (.eslpk file).
To create scene content and make it available in a file or cloud storage location that is registered with an ArcGIS GIS Server site, complete the following steps:
- Use one of the following geoprocessing tools to create an extracted scene layer package (.eslpk file) in the desired file share:
- Add the file share as a user-managed data store in ArcGIS Enterprise.
Alternatively, you can register the data source in ArcGIS Pro. The minimum release to register a folder to create a data store item is ArcGIS Pro 2.5.
- If you are preparing the data for others to use, share the data store item with the appropriate group or the organization.
Create i3sRest content
If you will use a cloud storage data store, you can create i3sRest content.
To create content and make it available in a file or cloud storage location that is registered with an ArcGIS GIS Server site, complete the following steps:
- Do one of the following to create i3sRest content:
- Use the i3REST open specification to create a tool that creates 3D content, and place the content in the cloud storage location.
- Download i3sconverter.exe from GitHub to create 3D content, and place the content in the cloud storage location.
- Add the cloud storage location as a user-managed data store in ArcGIS Enterprise.
Alternatively, you can register the data source in ArcGIS Pro. The minimum release to register a cloud storage location is ArcGIS Pro 3.0.
- If you are preparing the data for others to use, share the data store item with the appropriate group or the organization.
Create a 3D tiles dataset
A 3D tiles dataset is composed of a folder containing a .json file named tileset.json at the root level of the folder and subfolders that contain the 3D caches. The 3D tiles dataset name corresponds to the name of the top-level folder.
Tip:
The tileset.json file and the folders containing the 3D content must be in the same folder in the file share or cloud storage location. In other words, the .json file and the 3D content folders cannot be nested in different subfolders.
To create a 3D tiles dataset and prepare the content to reference, complete the following steps:
- Create a 3D tiles dataset using one of the following:
- Copy the 3D tiles dataset (the top-level folder and its contents) and place it in a cloud storage location or file share.
- Register the storage location where you placed the 3D tiles dataset as a data store with the appropriate federated ArcGIS Server site, by doing one of the following:
- Add a cloud storage data store in the portal.
- Add a folder data store in the portal.
- Register a folder or cloud data store in ArcGIS Pro.
- If you are preparing the data for others to use, share the data store item with the appropriate group or the organization.
Publish a 3D layer
You must have access to the data store item created in the previous section and privileges to publish server-based layers and create, update, and delete content.
You can publish in the portal, as described below, or publish from ArcGIS Pro, as described in the ArcGIS Pro help.
To publish from the portal a 3D layer that references the cache dataset in a file or cloud storage location, complete the following steps:
- Sign in to the portal.
You must be a member of the default publisher or administrator role or a member of a custom role with privileges to publish server-based layers and create, update, and delete content.
- On the My content tab of the Content page, click New item.
- Choose 3D layer, and click Next.
- Choose Select a dataset in a data store, and click Next.
- Select the data store item you created when preparing the content.
- Browse to and select the cache dataset in the data store.
- If you are publishing from a 3D tiles dataset, choose a type from the Layer type drop-down list.
This information will be stored with the 3D tiles layer item to indicate how it can be used.
- Mesh—Use for textured continuous meshes that capture realistic features that contain all information in one layer such as buildings, vegetation, and terrain. These types of layers can be used in Scene Viewer or ArcGIS Pro 3.2 and later.
- 3D objects—Use for discrete objects modeled in three dimensions such as buildings. 3D objects can be textured or untextured and often contain attribute information. These types of layers can be used in ArcGIS Pro 3.2 and later.
- Click Next.
- Choose the server to which the layer will be published.
The list includes only the servers with which the selected data store is registered.
- Click Next.
- Provide a title.
- Choose a folder in My content where you want to save the layer.
Alternatively, you can choose Create new folder from the menu and provide a folder name to save the item in a new folder.
- Optionally, provide tags that describe the item.
Separate the terms with commas (for example, Federal land is considered one tag, and Federal, land is considered two tags).
As you type, you can choose any of the suggested tags that appear; suggestions are generated from tags you previously added.
- Optionally, provide a summary that describes the item.
- Click Save.
A 3D layer is created in My content.
By default, only you have access to the layer item. You can share it with others.
If the layer references an extracted scene layer package or i3sRest content, you can update the content by replacing the layer with a second layer.