Answers to common questions about ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro are provided.
Overview
Licensing
System requirements and set up
Relationship between ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Pro ortho mapping
- Does ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro work with ArcGIS Pro 3.0 and earlier?
- Can I use Reality mapping and Ortho mapping together?
- Can I convert a satellite or aerial scanned Ortho mapping workspace to a Reality mapping workspace?
- Will I still have access to my previously created Ortho mapping projects after enabling ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro?
- I have a digital aerial Ortho mapping project that I want to convert to a Reality mapping project. Will my previously created Ortho mapping products be carried over during the conversion process?
- Can I import a project from ArcGIS Reality Studio to ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro or vice versa?
- When do I use ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro versus ArcGIS Reality Studio?
- Is ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro the same as Ortho mapping?
Technical and How-to tips
- Which sensor data types does ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro support?
- What data types are supported by ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro?
- How do the Shared Advanced settings affect the quality and processing time to produce various Reality mapping products?
- Is sample data for Reality mapping testing and training provided?
- Do I need to use a third-party aerial triangulation package for block adjustment?
- Why are some icons in the Products group unavailable after block adjustment?
- Why can’t I select my workspace when using Import Workspace or Add Workspace on the Imagery tab on the ArcGIS Pro ribbon?
- Why do I get the error "The surface reconstruction SDK is not installed or cannot be found"?
- Are relative paths to the imagery data supported?
- Why is the Allow adjustment reset option in the Adjust group unavailable in a Reality mapping workspace?
- Why are the paths broken after renaming my Reality mapping workspace?
- Where do I find the generated 2D and 3D products I chose in the Advanced Product settings?
- What are the suggested spatial reference settings to optimize 3D mesh products?
- What is the process to share 3D meshes online?
Overview
The ArcGIS Reality Suite is a collection of products for site, city, and countrywide reality mapping supporting input imagery from drones, frame multicamera arrays mounted on survey airplanes, or satellites—all using the ArcGIS Reality Engine:
- ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro is an extension to ArcGIS Pro that allows you to input images from drones, crewed aircraft, or satellites to generate 2D and 3D outputs for reality mapping.
- ArcGIS Reality Studio is an app for reality mapping from aerial images for entire cities, states and provinces. A map-centric intuitive interface enables high production efficiency to deliver survey-grade representations of reality maps, 2D and 3D renderings.
- Site Scan for ArcGIS is online, cloud-based, end-to-end reality mapping software for drone imagery that is designed to simplify drone program management, imagery data collection, processing, and analysis.
- ArcGIS Drone2Map is an intuitive desktop application for reality mapping from drone imagery, enabling offline processing and in-the-field rapid mapping.
The ArcGIS Reality Suite provides processing, modeling, tools, and capabilities for mapping professionals who focus on the following areas:
- Photogrammetric processing of overlapping image collections acquired from drone and aerial platforms.
- Creation of 2D and 3D products from drone and aerial imagery, including the following:
- Digital surface models (DSMs)
- True ortho mosaics
- Point clouds
- 2D and 3D meshes
- Photogrammetric processing of satellite imagery and scanned aerial photographs
- Advanced image and spatial data analysis workflows using machine learning, feature extraction, and feature interpretation methods, and measurements from imagery
The ArcGIS Reality Suite is designed for photogrammetric mapping and product generation in operational environments.
ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro is an extension that complements the ortho mapping capability in ArcGIS Pro with high-fidelity 2D and 3D product generation. With the ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro extension enabled, you can generate source resolution DSMs, true orthos, 2.5D DSM meshes, high-density point clouds, and realistic 3D meshes from drone and digital aerial imagery.
Licensing
An ArcGIS Reality Desktop license and a Standard or Advanced ArcGIS Pro license are required to use ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro.
An ArcGIS Reality Desktop license provides access to both ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Reality Studio.
To license ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro, do the following:
- Install and license ArcGIS Reality Studio.
Note:
Reality Studio is only available with a single-use, per machine license. You must have administrative privileges for a per-machine installation.
- Install ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro.
For detailed instructions for installing and authorizing ArcGIS Reality Desktop, see Install ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro.
Ask your system administrator for assistance with installing, setting up, and managing ArcGIS Reality Desktop.
System requirements and set up
A high-performance dual-core computer with 64 GB of RAM (minimum) and solid-state storage is recommended to run ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro. See the system requirements in the reference help for more information.
A GPU is not required but is recommended.
Relationship between ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Pro ortho mapping
Yes. Reality mapping and Ortho mapping are compatible in ArcGIS Pro. They share functionality such as block adjustment, have similar workflows, and have a common interface and user experience. Existing Ortho mapping drone and aerial image workspaces can be converted to Reality mapping workspaces, and vice versa. Projects are handled similarly in the ArcGIS Pro environment, where all the pertinent imagery and adjustment data, generated products, and other metadata associated with the projects are organized and managed.
Differences between Reality mapping and Ortho mapping are typically in the supported types of imagery and the types of products generated. The following table compares the options available in each:
I have a digital aerial Ortho mapping project that I want to convert to a Reality mapping project. Will my previously created Ortho mapping products be carried over during the conversion process?
No. Reality mapping and Ortho mapping use different underlying methodologies to generate products and manage the associated metadata. Reality mapping and Ortho mapping products are not the same, both types of products have unique characteristics to support their mapping and customer requirements. Because of this, each suite of products must be generated from their specific Reality mapping or Ortho mapping workspace.
No. Reality mapping and Ortho mapping products are processed and managed differently in projects. The respective projects must be separate to update and maintain products, which are used to revise land base layers and GIS layers.
An Ortho mapping workspace can be converted to a Reality mapping workspace (or vice versa), which establishes a Reality mapping or Ortho mapping project.
Use ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro when you have ArcGIS installed, or are planning to use ArcGIS in conjunction with reality mapping, such as updating existing land base layers (roads, development, and so on.). This approach provides a more integrated experience for your entire mapping and GIS project.
Use ArcGIS Reality Studio if you are only producing photogrammetric products and do not intend to use GIS. Reality Studio is optimized for production environments in photogrammetric mapping organizations that produce base products such as true orthos, 3D meshes, and so on. These products are shared with other agencies, such as local, state or provincial, and national government organizations.
Technical and How-to tips
When creating a Reality mapping workspace, the Scenario type value is directly tied to the Product category options. For example, if Scenario type is set to Oblique, the DSM, True Ortho, and DSM Mesh options are unavailable. This is because in ArcGIS Pro, it is assumed only 3D products are necessary based on the selection of Oblique for Scenario type.
To run ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro, the ArcGIS Reality for ArcGIS Pro extension setup file must be downloaded and installed to support processing. This error occurs when the setup file is not installed. Ask the relevant personnel in your organization for access to this installer if it is not readily available.
