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3D Mapping—Cesium (Alpha)

Feature availability

  • Free
  • Lite
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  • Lite Pro
  • Pro Business

Description

Cesium is a powerful, open-source JavaScript library designed for creating 3D globes and maps on the web. It enables developers to build rich, interactive, and visually compelling geospatial applications that can run in any modern web browser without the need for plugins. Cesium is built on WebGL for hardware-accelerated graphics, and it provides a wide range of features, including high-resolution global satellite imagery, dynamic data visualization, 3D terrain and city models, and support for a variety of data formats. Its robust API and extensive documentation make it a popular choice for developers in industries such as aerospace, defence, real estate, and education, who require precise and detailed geospatial visualizations.
  • WebGL: A web technology that allows for rendering graphics within any compatible web browser without requiring additional plugins.
  • API: Application Programming Interface, a set of rules that allows different software entities to communicate with each other.
 
 

Contents

 
 

Open the 3D viewer

  1. In the top-right corner of the Map View, click the 3D button above the Street View button.
  2. Select the overlay to view in 3D.
    The 3D Viewer will open.

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Move the Map

 
 

Mouse

Touch

Pan View

Left click + drag

Click and hold the left mouse button, then drag to pan the view.

Pan View

One finger drag

Drag across the screen with one finger to pan the view.

Zoom View

Right-click + drag

 
OR
 

Mouse wheel scroll

To zoom, either scroll with the mouse wheel or click and hold the right mouse button, then drag up or down.

Zoom View

Two finger pinch

Pinch with two fingers to zoom in or out.

Tilt View

Two-finger drag, same direction

Drag up or down with two fingers simultaneously to tilt the view, allowing you to see the map from an angle.

Rotate View

Middle click + drag

 
OR
 

Ctrl + Left/Right click + drag

Press and hold the middle mouse button or Ctrl key plus the right mouse button, then drag to rotate the view.

Rotate View

Two-finger drag, opposite direction

Touch with two fingers and move in opposite directions to rotate the view.

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Capture Image "To Map" or "To Overlay"

  1. Under Capture Image, click "TO MAP" or "TO OVERLAY".
    TO MAP: The image will be saved directly to the map.
    TO OVERLAY: The image will be saved to the overlay and available when the overlay is clicked on.
  2. Move the map in the window to get the view you want.
  3. In the bottom-left corner, set the clock.
  4. Set the time of day:
    • AM
    • PM
  5. In the bottom-right corner, select the capture dimensions.
  6. Click the "SAVE" button. 

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Create a Flight/Orbit

 
 
  1. Click the Create Flight/Orbit button.
    The menu will open.

Select the Camera Mode

  1. Select the Camera Mode from the drop-down menu.
    • Free Look (Move Camera while flying)
    • Aerial (Always looking straight down)
    • POV (First Person)
    • Look At (Fly while looking at point)
    • Orbit (Looping)
  2. Fill out all the fields for the Flight/Orbit.

Setting Up Your Flight/Orbit Path

  1. Select the Path you'd like the flight to take.
    Note: Orbit does not have a Path.
    1. Click the Select button.
       
    2. Select the polygon or folder from the list.
  2. (Orbit Only) Enter how many meters you want for Radius.
    The 'Radius' determines the camera's distance from the central point, affecting perspective and field of view.
  3. Select the polygon you'd like to Look At.
    1. Click the Select button.
       
    2. Select the polygon from the list.

Customizing Your Flight Experience

  1. Enter the Camera Altitudes.
    Camera Altitude measures the height above the ground.
    • Start At
    • End At
  2. Enter the Duration.
    Duration represents the time it takes to complete a full orbit. Slower settings result in higher-quality orbits.

More Options: Click for More Options.

  1. Look At Height: Enter how many meters From Ground.
    Controls the camera's viewing angle when observing the polygon or folder.
  2. Check to add Loop.
  3. Check to add Marker Depth.
    Enables objects to appear in front of the marker when checked, influencing its position relative to other map elements.

Create the Flight/Orbit

  1. Click the "CREATE FLIGHT NOW" button.

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Save View to Map

  1. Click the "Save View to Map" button to save the current view to the map.
  2. Show view on map load/start? Click Yes, or click No to cancel.
    This allows you to quickly access this specific viewpoint directly from the map

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Time of Day Clock

Turn the dial to set the time.
You can either turn the dial a second time or select AM/PM to change the time of day. 

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