Animate surface properties

Maps and scenes contain elevation surfaces. In 3D, you can animate the vertical exaggeration of a surface to smoothly grow or shrink the surface mesh of the scene. For example, in regions where the terrain is relatively flat and changes in elevation are difficult to observe, you can transition the surface from a realistic representation to an exaggerated surface making it easier to see how flood waters might flow across the landscape. Other examples for using vertical exaggeration thematically include showing potential job growth or property values to indicate how values are expected to grow.

To set the vertical exaggeration value for an elevation surface, select the layer in the Contents pane. On the Appearance tab in the Drawing group, review or modify the value for Vertical Exaggeration.

Vertical exaggeration

To animate surfaces using vertical exaggeration for 3D layers, do the following:

1. In the Contents pane for the 3D scene, select a surface in the Elevation Surfaces category.
2. On the Appearance tab, in the Drawing group, review or change the value for Vertical Exaggeration. To start with a realistic representation of the ground surface, set the vertical exaggeration to 1.
3. On the Animation tab, in the Create group, click Append to capture a keyframe with the current state.
4. Return to the Appearance tab, and in the Drawing group, update the Vertical Exaggeration value to the required end state. For example, to end with a highly exaggerated representation of the ground surface, set the vertical exaggeration to 5 or higher. Alternatively, to shrink the surface down to a flat plane, enter a value of 0.
5. On the Animation tab, in the Create group, click Append to capture a keyframe with the current state.
6. Continue to append keyframes to finish the animation.
7. Use the playback controls to play the animation to verify the surface animation experience is correct.

To modify the surface properties captured in your keyframes, use the Keyframe tab on the Animation Properties pane. You can update individual values or turn off the surface properties from playback without deleting them.

Elevation data sources

You can change which elevation data sources are enabled for a surface to redefine the structure of the surface mesh for the scene. For example, you could switch between the before and after elevation data sources for a disaster area, or step through a series of progressive elevation data sources for a construction site. Multiple elevation data sources also allow you to create an animation that shows alternatives, such as Design 1, Design 2, and Design 3.

To incorporate changes in elevation data sources for your animation, do the following:

1. In the Contents pane for the 3D scene, under the Elevation Surfaces category, check the data sources you want to participate in each surface at the start of the animation. For example, check the Before DEM option for a region that experienced a mudslide, and uncheck the After DEM option.
2. On the Animation tab, in the Create group, click Append to capture a keyframe with the current state.

   The keyframe retains the visible data source for each surface.

   Note:

   If this is the first keyframe in your animation and the next keyframe changes which elevation data sources are active, the change is applied as soon as the transition begins. This means the initial state will be visible in the exported video very briefly (less than a second). To see the starting state of the elevation surface for a period of time, add at least one more keyframe with the same elevation data source settings before adding keyframes that change them.

3. In the Contents pane, under the Elevation Surfaces category, change the active data sources to represent the state of each surface you want to at the end of the animation. For example, check the After DEM option for a region that experienced a mudslide, and uncheck the Before DEM option.
4. On the Animation tab, in the Create group, click Append to capture a keyframe with the current state.
5. Continue to append keyframes to finish the animation.
6. Use the playback controls to play the animation to verify the surface animation experience is correct.