Interactive line of sight creation methods

An interactive line of sight can be created in a variety of ways based on your workflow.

The creation methods are as follows:

• Interactive Placement
• Observer From Camera
• Targets Along a Line
• From Layer

To begin, click the Analysis tab and choose a line of sight template from the Exploratory 3D Analysis gallery in the Workflows group. This opens the Exploratory Analysis pane and activates the tool. Each creation method generates one or more lines of sight using the values displayed in the Exploratory Analysis pane. Changes to the default values only affect subsequently created lines of sight.

A selected line of sight can be edited anytime using the anchors that appear on the selection, or using the Properties tab in the Exploratory Analysis pane. Additionally, you can add a configuration of the Line of Sight tool to the template gallery.

Note:

Each scene has a display budget for the number of interactive analysis objects it can contain at one time. A warning message appears when you have exceeded that limit. You need to remove one or more analysis objects, or click the Clear All button in the Exploratory 3D Analysis gallery on the Analysis tab, before you can create more.

Interactive Placement

Place one or more lines of sight in the scene by interactively clicking to specify the observer position and subsequently clicking to specify one or more target positions. Lines of sight are generated according to the specifications outlined in the Exploratory Analysis pane. This creation method is well suited for general exploratory investigation of sight lines within a scene.

1. Click the Interactive Placement button in the Exploratory Analysis pane. Optionally, activate the pane by choosing a Line of Sight tool from the template gallery on the Analysis tab.
2. Review the creation parameters and update as needed.
3. In the Interactive Placement section, set the Target parameter:
   • Single—Allows one target per observer.
   • Multiple—Allows one or more targets per observer.
4. Click in the scene to place the line of sight observer.

   Note:

   Interactive Placement is compatible with snapping. Enable snapping in the scene view for more precise placement. For example, vertex or edge snapping allows you to snap to the edge or corner of a building.

5. Click to place a target.

   If the Target parameter is set to Multiple, continue clicking to place more targets. Double-click the last target or press F2 to end.

Observer From Camera

Place one or more lines of sight in the scene using the view's current camera position. This method is well suited for creating line of sight observers from important viewpoints, such as bookmarks.

1. Click the Observer From Camera button in the Exploratory Analysis pane. The creation method expands to show available settings and instructions. Optionally, activate the pane by choosing a Line of Sight tool from the template gallery on the Analysis tab.
2. Review the default line of sight creation parameters and update as needed.
3. Orient the camera by repositioning the scene view as needed. Press the C key as a shortcut to activate the Explore tool or use the Navigator control in the lower left of the scene .
4. Under the Observer From Camera heading, set the Target parameter.
   • Single—Allows one target per observer.
   • Multiple—Allows one or more targets per observer.
5. Click in the scene to place a target. The observer is automatically created at the camera's current position.

   If the Target parameter is set to Multiple, continue clicking to place more targets. Double-click the last target or press F2 to end. Optionally, move the scene camera after creating the first target to get a better point of view to place other targets.

   The observer, targets, and analysis graphics are added to the scene. Zoom out to get a good view of all of the lines of sight.

The Observer From Camera creation tool remains active to continue adding more lines of sight. Click the observer or target of a line of sight to edit it.

Targets Along a Line

Place one or more line of sight targets along a selected feature using either percentages along the line or specific intervals. This method is well suited for determining visibility along a route. Multiple contiguous lines will be processed as a single route where possible.

1. Click the Along a Line button in the Exploratory Analysis pane. Optionally, activate the pane by choosing a Line of Sight tool from the template gallery on the Analysis tab.
2. Review and optionally update the creation parameters.
3. Select the desired methodology, either Number of Targets or Segment Length, and provide an interval value.
4. Select the Line Layer containing the feature you want to analyze.

   Note:

   If a feature is not already selected, you will be prompted to make a selection.

5. Click in the scene to place the line of sight observer.
6. Click Apply.

   The observer, targets, and analysis graphics are added to the scene.

The Targets Along a Line creation tool remains active to continue adding more lines of sight. Click the observer or target of a line of sight to edit it.

From Layer

Interactive lines of sight can be generated from a line layer where feature attributes set the observer and target location, vertical offset, and minimum and maximum distance parameters. This method is well suited for saving and reloading designs. Lines of sight can be saved as a stand-alone line layer and reimported so you can pick up where you left off.

1. Click the From Layer button in the Exploratory Analysis pane. Optionally, activate the pane by choosing a Line of Sight tool from the template gallery on the Analysis tab.
2. Choose the layer containing the line features with which you want to perform the line of sight analysis. The menu lists all line layers present in the current map view.

   Note:

   The scene has a display budget for the number of lines of sight it can contain at one time. A warning message appears when you have exceeded that limit, and no more lines of sight will be created.

3. Optionally, connect tool parameters to attribute fields within the line layer.

   Parameters are automatically connected if this is a previously saved line of sight layer. Expressions are also supported.

4. Click Apply.

   The observers, targets, and analysis graphics are added to the scene according to the values defined in the attributes of the line layer. If no values are present, the default creation parameters are used.

The From Layer creation tool remains active to continue adding more lines of sight. Select a line of sight for editing by hovering over the observer or target and clicking it.