Setting base heights for 3D features

Two of the most important display properties for a layer displayed inside a 3D view are the definition and source of its elevation (or height) values. There are two ways to set base heights—the source of elevation values—for a feature in 3D without requiring 3D geometry:

• Using an attribute or constant value
• Draping the feature on a surface

When using the first option, attribute values containing height information are assigned to the layer or used to create an expression that will provide base height values. In ArcGlobe, base heights are referred to as elevation values, or z-values, because they are derived from geometry that helps define the globe surface.

When you apply a constant value, it can be any whole number, which would become the feature's height in meters above the surface.

The second option, draping, is essentially setting the base heights from a surface. Surface elevation data includes single-band digital elevation model (DEM) rasters, triangulated irregular networks (TINs), and terrain datasets. The deriving surface does not have to be in the ArcGlobe document.

When working with raster layers, setting the base heights can be done with a surface or a constant value.

Learn more about setting a raster layer's base height in ArcGlobe

To use a layer as an elevation source in ArcGlobe, you need to set its role within the 3D view.