|
|
|
# What is ArcGIS CityEngine
|
|
|
|
ArcGIS CityEngine is a specialized 3D city modeling tool used frequently to quickly generate massive geo-referenced 3D city models. CityEngine is a part of the ESRI software suite, specialising in geospatial software. CityEngine is developed around ESRI's [3D City Information Model (3DCIM)](https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/18/1/012172/pdf), which defines a protocol to model, update, and visualise 3D city models on the web, as shown in the figure below. Additionally, themes such as built environment, legal environment, natural environment, and base maps allow users to organize, manage, and model different objects of the physical (real) world as urban digital twin datasets in greater detail.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ESRI's 3DCIM thematic structure was developed to allow data exchange to and from other data models such as CityGML. CityEngine is a [procedural modeling](https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~sequin/PAPERS/Parish_Mueller_Cities.pdf) software that relies on its built-in computer-generated architecture (CGA) shape grammar programming language to model different thematic structures of 3DCIM. Whereas generic 3D modeling tools such as SketchUp, Autodesk AutoCAD 3D, and Rhinoceros3D require manual modeling of 3D models and are used in various industries, CityEngine combines procedural - parametric modeling with CGA programming language to generate 3D urban environments, thus getting classified as a specialist 3D urban modelling software. Due to procedural modeling, the construction of the 3D city modeling process becomes faster, with greater control over randomness. For example, an increasing number of building floors, changing roof geometries, or even increasing the level of details can all be done by making the changes in the CGA rule file rather than manually re-modeling the entire building as in the case of generic 3D modeling tools.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A high level workflow for generating 3D city models in CityEngine is shown in the figure below:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. Data Import (shapes + attributes): 2D vector data can be imported to CityEngine in different formats, such as shapefile, geodatabase, or CAD. In case, 2D vector data is not available. CityEngine's built-in connection to open street map (OSM) can be used, or using CityEngine's inbuilt shape creation tool, road networks and subsequently building parcels can be generated parametrically. Basemaps such as satellite imagery and terrain/heightmap map can be downloaded using CityEngine inbuilt connections to ESRI web map services.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2. Creating/Applying CGA Rule File: Using CityEngine's built-in CGA rule file library, 3D city model elements such as buildings, street network, vegetation, landcover, and street furniture can be modeled in 3D. If the built-in CGA rule file library does not satisfy the purpose, users can either edit the existing CGA code or develop a custom CGA rule file.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3. Iterations – After 3D city models are generated from step 2, iterations can be performed by changing the level of details, adding textures, and generating reports until the user's desired outcome is not achieved.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4. Data Export – In the last step, generated 3D city models can be either exported to different data export options available from CityEngine or can be shared on the web via its inbuilt connection to ArcGIS Online
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Since CityEngine is purely 3D modeling software, it has no built-in connections to any analysis or simulation plugins. However, CityEngine is generally used as a part of the data production pipeline to use 3D urban environments in domain-specific software. For instance, CityEngine supports data export to different 3D data formats such as DAE (COLLADA), OBJ (Wavefront), FBX (Autodesk/Unity), KML (Google Earth), glTF (Khronos Group), and File Geodatabase (ESRI). Additionally, data export to formats such as ABC (Alembic), DATASMITH (Unreal Engine), RIB (Renderman), USD (Universal Scene Definition), and VOB (e-on value) are widely used among entertainment industries as a part of VFX content production pipeline. Moreover, to develop custom importers and exporters, [CityEngine SDK](https://esri.github.io/cityengine/) is openly available. Additionally, to generate exports to standardised data models such as CityGML [Feature Manipulation Engine (FME)](https://www.safe.com/integrate/citygml/) can also be used.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
# Reading Material
|
|
|
|
[ArcGIS CityEngine Website](https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-cityengine/overview)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[CityEngine Tutorials](https://doc.arcgis.com/en/cityengine/latest/tutorials/introduction-to-the-cityengine-tutorials.htm)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[Free Trial version of CityEngine](https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-cityengine/trial) - Requires [ESRI Account](https://www.esri.com/en-us/arcgis/products/arcgis-online/trial) / Contact for Matthias Reuss (2/181) for CityEngine education licence
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[Lecture presentation (in English)](https://moodle.hft-stuttgart.de/mod/folder/view.php?id=213301) - For Masters in Photogrammetry and GeoInformatic students in CIV subject (Requires access to Moodle/CIV-Visualisation)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[Lecture exercise (in English)](https://moodle.hft-stuttgart.de/mod/folder/view.php?id=140234) - For Masters in Photogrammetry and GeoInformatic students in CIV subject (Requires access to Moodle/CIV-Visualisation)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CityEngine to CityGML v2.0 workflow using [FME](https://transfer.hft-stuttgart.de/gitlab/rushikesh.padsala/rhino-cityengine2citygml)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. [Paper 1](https://conference.corp.at/archive/CORP2020_54.pdf)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2. [Paper 2](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111706) (Upgrade to Paper 1 workflow) - Use Case: Urban Building Energy Modeling
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Use of CityEngine for [web based 3DCIM for urban energy simulation](https://doi.org/10.2312/udmv.20151347)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Use of CityEngine with [QGIS SOLWEIG plugin to analyze outdoor thermal comfort in urban areas](https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi9110688)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
[CityEngine Videos](https://www.youtube.com/c/CityEngineTV) |
|
|
\ No newline at end of file |
