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Load 2D and 3D Layers in Esri Clients

Yaniv Dayan
  • Updated

Esri clients can load both 2D (WMS/WMTS layers) and 3D (mesh layers) from SkylineGlobe Server. SGS exposes 3DML data in I3S format for access by Esri clients, i.e. ArcGIS Earth, ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online, while storing only the original data format on the server. The following Esri versions are supported: ArcGIS Pro v 2.3.0 and above, ArcGIS Earth v 1.9, and ArcGIS Online June 2019 update.

You can connect to SGS either by logging in or by using an access token. An access token enables you to directly access SGS layers without logging in to SGS. The access token parameter is included in your server URL using the format described below. More about: Access token user property > 

When you log in, you can view all layers to which you have view access. You can also log in as a guest using Guest Mode. Guest users can only access publicly shared layers, i.e., layers whose permission level was set to "Everyone". More about: Granting Edit or View Access >

In ArcGIS Earth and ArcGIS Pro, you can also directly load a specific layer by adding the layer ID to your URL:

For 3DML exposed as I3S

If you want to define how to handle the 3DML’s elevation values, append the vertical datum (vdatum) parameter to the end of your i3s URL. The vdatum parameter can have either of the following values:

  • convert_z: Reproject to ellipsoid (as required by the OGC 3D Tiles standard) for compatibility with terrain that uses true ellipsoid elevation.
  • copy_z: Maintain elevation values as geoid, while declaring them as ellipsoid.

Use the following format: ?vdatum=[reprojection value: either copy_z. OR convert_z]
E.g. https://cloud.skylineglobe.com/sg/Demos/arcgis/rest/services/623979/SceneServer?vdatum=convert_z

OR https://cloud.skylineglobe.com/sg/Demos/arcgis/rest/services/Frederick/SceneServer?vdatum=convert_z 
Note: You can also define the handling of 3DML's elevation values in SkylineGlobe Server Manager> Layer Properties > Description field by defining the vDatum value per layer, [vdatum=copy_z] or [vdatum=convert_z]. More about: Setting SkylineGlobe Server settings >

vdatum.png

For WMS/WMTS

On this page:

Loading 3DML Exposed as I3S in Esri Clients

SGS supports I3S/SLPK 1.5 and 1.7. SGS exposes a layer as I3S 1.7 if the 3DML was published to SGS by TerraExplorer 7.3 or higher. Only simple mesh layers can be loaded. Classified mesh layers, model layers that were converted to 3DML, and BIM layers are not supported. 

In ArcGIS Earth 

  • Connect by logging in
  • Connect using an access token

Connect by Logging In

  1. Open the Portal Manager, and click Add Portal. The Add Portal dialog box is displayed.
  2. In the URL field enter the following, and click OK: http://[ServerName]/sg/[SiteName]/arcgis. E.g. https://cloud.skylineglobe.com/SG/demos/arcgis 
  3. Log in to SGS. 
  4. In the Portal Manager, right-click the SGS connection, and select Set as Active Portal, and then close the dialog.
  5. Click Add Data adddata.png.
  6. In the Add Data dialog box, click Portal, and then in the My Content list, select the layer you want. 
  7. Click Add add.png.

Connect Using an Access Token

To connect with an access token, follow the instructions below.  

  1. In the Add Data dialog box, click Enter a URL.
  2. In the Type field, select ArcGIS Server Web Service and then in the URL field enter the following:  
    https://[ServerName]/SG/[SiteName]/[token]/arcgis/rest/services/SceneServer 
    E.g., https://cloud.skylineglobe.com/SG/demos/ac47c01a9b174273adfa18a0abdc308f/arcgis/rest/services/SceneServer 
  3. Click OK. Then load the required layers.

In ArcGIS Pro

  • Connect by logging in
  • Connect using an access token

Connect by Logging In

  1. Create a new project using a Blank project template.
  2. Create a new scene:
    On the Insert Tab, from the New Map drop-down menu, select New Global Scene.
  3. From the Login drop-down menu, select Manage Portals. The Portal Manager is displayed.
  4. Click Add Portal. The Add Portal dialog box is displayed.
  5. In the URL field enter the following, and click OK: http://[ServerName]/sg/[SiteName]/arcgis
    E.g., https://cloud.skylineglobe.com/SG/demos/arcgis 
  6. In the Portal Manager, right-click the SGS connection, and select Sign in. The Skyline login is displayed.
  7. Enter your user name and password, and click Log in.
  8. In the Portal Manager, right-click the SGS connection, and select Set as Active Portal.
  9. Click the back arrow to return to the scene.
  10. In the Catalog pane, on the Portal tab, in the My Content section, right-click the layer you want, and select Add to Current Map. 

Connect Using an Access Token

  1. On the Map tab, from the Add Data drop-down menu, select Data from Path. The Add Data From Path dialog is displayed.
  2. Enter the following path, and click Add: https://[ServerName]/SG/[SiteName]/[token]/arcgis/rest/services/SceneServer 
    E.g., https://cloud.skylineglobe.com/SG/demos/ac47c01a9b174273adfa18a0abdc308f/arcgis/rest/services/SceneServer 

In ArcGIS Online

  • Connect by logging in
  • Connect using an access token

Connect by Logging In

  1. Connect to https://www.arcgis.com/home/webscene/viewer.html
  2. Sign in with an ArcGIS account.
  3. Click Modify scene to open the Designer. Then click Add Layer, and then Enter Layer URL.
  4. Enter the Layer URL and Layer Name. All SGS layers must be on public HTTPS servers: https://[ServerName]/sg/[SiteName]/arcgis/rest/services/[LayerID]/SceneServer
    E.g., https://cloud.skylineglobe.com/SG/demos/arcgis/rest/services/623979/SceneServer 
  5. Click Add. The Sign In dialog box is displayed.
  6. Enter your SkylineGlobe username and click OK.

Connect Using an Access Token

  1. Click Modify scene to open the Designer. Then click Add Layer, and then Enter Layer URL.
  2. Enter the Layer URL: https://[ServerName]/SG/[SiteName]/[token]/arcgis/rest/services/[LayerID]/SceneServer 
    E.g.,  https://cloud.skylineglobe.com/SG/demos/ac47c01a9b174273adfa18a0abdc308f/arcgis/rest/services/623979/SceneServer
  3. Click Add.

More about: Loading 3DML exposed as I3S >

Loading WMTS/WMS Raster Layers in Esri Clients

You can access WMTS and WMS raster layers in all Esri clients, i.e. ArcGIS Desktop, ArcGIS Earth, ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online. It is recommended to use WMTS since it is a faster and more efficient way of distributing data than WMS because the tile sets are pre-generated.

In ArcGIS Desktop

  • Connect by logging in
  • Connect using an access token

Connect by Logging In

  1. In the Catalog window, expand the GIS Servers node and double-click Add WMS Server or Add WMTS Server. The Add WMS Server, Add WMTS Server or Add WCS Server dialog box is displayed. 
  2. In the URL field enter the following, and click OK: https://[ServerName]/SG/[SiteName]/arcgis/rest/services/wmsserver 
    E.g., https://cloud.skylineglobe.com/SG/Demos/arcgis/rest/services/wmsserver  
  3. Enter your user name and password, and click Log in. 
  4. Click Get Layers. The WMTS or WMS server connection is added as an item in your GIS Servers tree view. You can expand and work with the services provided by this connection.

Connect Using an Access Token

  1. In the URL field enter the following:  https://[ServerName]/SG/[SiteName]/[token]/arcgis/rest/services/wmsserver 
    E.g., https://cloud.skylineglobe.com/SG/Demos/ac47c01a9b174273adfa18a0abdc308f/arcgis/rest/services/wmsserver 
  2. Select the required layers, and click

In ArcGIS Earth

  • Connect by logging in
  • Connect using an access token

Connect by Logging In

  1. Open the Settings dialog, and under the General tab, set the Spatial Reference to WGS 84.
  2. Click Add Data adddata.png.
  3. In the Add Data dialog box, click Enter a URL, and then in the Type field, select OGC WMS or OGC WMTS.
  4. Open the Portal Manager, and click Add Portal. The Add Portal dialog box is displayed.
  5. In the URL field enter the following, and click OK: https://[ServerName]/sg/[SiteName]/arcgis
    E.g., https://cloud.skylineglobe.com/SG/Demos/arcgis 
    The Skyline login is displayed.
  6. Enter your user name and password, and click Log in.
  7. In the Portal Manager, right-click the SGS connection, and select Set as Active Portal.
  8. Click Add Data adddata.png. 
  9. In the Add Data dialog box, click Enter a URL, and then in the Type field, select OGC WMTS or OGC WMS.
  10. In the URL field enter the following: https://[ServerName]/SG/[SiteName]/arcgis/rest/services/wmsserver
    E.g. https://cloud.skylineglobe.com/SG/Demos/arcgis/rest/services/wmsserver 
  11. Click OK, and select the required layers.
  12. Click Add.

Connect Using an Access Token

  1. In the URL field enter the following: https://[ServerName]/SG/[SiteName]/[token]/arcgis/rest/services/wmsserver 
    E.g., https://cloud.skylineglobe.com/SG/Demos/ac47c01a9b174273adfa18a0abdc308f/arcgis/rest/services/wmsserver 
  2. Select the required layers, and click OK.

In ArcGIS Pro

  • Connect by logging in
  • Connect using an access token

Connect by Logging In

  1. Open the Settings dialog, and under the General tab, set the Spatial Reference to WGS 84.
  2. On the Insert tab, click Add Item, and select either New WMTS Server or New WMS Server. The WMTS/WMS Server Connection dialog is displayed.
  3. Open the Portal Manager, and click Add Portal. The Add Portal dialog box is displayed.
  4. In the URL field enter the following, and click OK: https://[ServerName]/sg/[SiteName]/arcgis
    g. https://cloud.skylineglobe.com/SG/Demos/arcgis 
  5. In the Portal Manager, right-click the SGS connection, and select Sign in. The Skyline login is displayed.
  6. Enter your user name and password, and click Log in.
  7. In the Portal Manager, right-click the SGS connection, and select Set as Active Portal.
  8. On the Insert tab, click Connection, and select either New WMTS Server or New WMS Server. The WMTS/WMS Server Connection dialog is displayed.
  9. In the URL field enter the following: https://[ServerName]/SG/[SiteName]/arcgis/rest/services/wmsserver 
    E.g., https://cloud.skylineglobe.com/SG/Demos/arcgis/rest/services/wmsserver 
  10. Click OK. Then select the required layers.
  11. Click Add.

Connect Using an Access Token

  1. In the URL field enter the following:
  2. Select the required layers, and click OK.
  3. In the Catalog pane, on the Favorites tab, open the connection that you recently added, right-click the layer you want, and select Add to Current Map.

In ArcGIS Online

  • Connect by logging in
  • Connect using an access token

Connect by Logging In

  1. Connect to a base map of spatial reference WGS 84: https://www.arcgis.com/home/group.html?id=4c790318395940c18a16e8acd721de25#overview
  2. Hover over the thumbnail of the map you want to add, and click Open in Map Viewer.
  3. Log in with an ArcGIS account.
  4. On the top-right, click Open in Map Viewer Classic.
  5. Click Add, and select Add Layer from Web. The Add Layer from Web dialog box is displayed.
  6. Select either A WMTS OGC Web Service or A WMS OGC Web Service. 
  7. To connect to only public layers on SGS, in the URL field enter the SGS public URL, and click OK. All SGS layers must be on public HTTPS servers. 
    https://[ServerName]/sg/[SiteName]/arcgis/rest/services/wmsserver 
    E.g., https://cloud.skylineglobe.com/SG/Demos/arcgis/rest/services/wmsserver
  8. Click Get Layers.
  9. Check all the layers you want to add and click Add Layer.

Connect Using an Access Token

  1. In the URL field, enter the following: https://[ServerName]/SG/[SiteName]/[token]arcgis/rest/services/wmsserver 
    E.g.,  https://cloud.skylineglobe.com/SG/Demos/ac47c01a9b174273adfa18a0abdc308f/arcgis/rest/services/wmsserver. All SGS layers must be on public HTTPS servers.     
  2. Click Get Layers.
  3. Check all the layers you want to add and click Add Layer.

More about: Loading WMTS/WMS layers in Esri > 

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