Cartographic Skills – Week 11 – 3D Mapping

GIS 3015: Cartographic Skills

Week 11 Lab: 3D Mapping

This week we explored 3D mapping and particularly the conversion of 2D features into 3D features by using elevation data from other datasets with the same extent.  Of particular interest to me, I learned to convert 2D statistical or informational data such as land use codes, property value, number of murders, population and similar into 3D features for better communication and presentation.

Advantages of 3D mapping include the ability to show vertical information such as attributes for floors in a multi-story building.  3D maps are also more intuitive thus placing less reliance on the legend and 3D maps can be navigated – how cool is that? 

Disadvantages of 3D mapping include having difficulty in navigating, such as getting lost or disoriented – which way is north?  In addition, map content can become hidden as large 3D features may obstruct the view of smaller features thus information getting lost or miscommunicated by the reader.

The lab activities included the setting of base heights for raster and feature data so data containing elevation is shown in 3D perspective, setting vertical exaggeration to better communicate information by amplifying feature heights, setting illumination and background color for effect, extruding features to stretch 2D features vertically, and converting a building foot print layer into a KML file for viewing in Google Earth (shown below).