Oriented imagery layer

An oriented imagery layer is a type of feature layer for visualizing oriented imagery in the context of a map or a 3D scene.

An oriented imagery feature service or an oriented imagery dataset is visualized on the map or scene as an oriented imagery layer. When added to the map, each point in the layer indicates the camera location where an image was acquired. The attributes of the points include the path to the stored image and the key metadata required to visualize the image in the oriented imagery viewer.

There may be an optional oriented imagery footprint layer showing the areas on the map where the oriented imagery layer has coverage. When an oriented imagery dataset with a Footprint Item property is added to the map, the oriented imagery layer and oriented imagery footprint layer are added to the Contents pane as two separate layers when the footprint feature class and the oriented imagery dataset are in the same geodatabase.

Alternatively, if the data source is a feature service in ArcGIS Online or ArcGIS Enterprise, both the footprint feature layer and oriented imagery layer are sublayers of the same feature service. When this feature service is added to the map, the oriented imagery feature layer and oriented imagery footprints feature layer are added to the Contents pane as a group layer.

Layer attribute table and properties

The layer inherits the attributes and properties of the source oriented imagery dataset, or oriented imagery feature service, that is added to the map.

The oriented imagery layer primary properties like Maximum Distance, Coverage Percentage, and oriented imagery layer orientation properties like Camera Heading, Camera Pitch, Camera Roll, Camera Height, Horizontal Field Of View, Vertical Field Of View, Near Distance, Far Distance, and Image Rotation can be edited on the layer instance. Editing the oriented imagery layer properties will not impact the source data properties.

Note:

For an oriented imagery layer, if a property field is not defined in the attribute table, the property field definitions in the oriented imagery dataset property are used. However, if a property field is explicitly defined in the attribute table, it takes precedence over the definition in the oriented imagery dataset properties. For example, if a value for Camera Pitch is defined both in the attribute table and oriented imagery dataset property, the definition in the attribute table is used.

Oriented imagery layer ribbon

When an oriented imagery layer is explicitly selected in the Contents pane, the Oriented Imagery Layer ribbon is displayed. Selecting the group layer (in the case of a feature service) or oriented imagery footprint layer does not display the Oriented Imagery Layer ribbon.

Oriented imagery layer ribbon

Explore Images tool

To see the oriented images in the oriented imagery viewer, select the Explore Images tool from the Oriented Imagery Layer ribbon. Click to select any location in the map or scene. A red cross red cross appears at the selected location on the map.

The best image from the available image or images for the selected location is loaded in the oriented imagery viewer. The red cross red cross is positioned at the best estimate for the location in the image. If no images are available for the selected location, a message indicating the status is displayed in the viewer.

Note:

The best image choice for the location is based on the distance of the camera from the selected location, the camera heading (direction), and the camera pitch (obliquity). If a camera location is directly selected, the corresponding image is displayed. However, in most cases, it is recommended that you select the location of interest and allow the system to determine the best image.

If an accompanying footprint layer is available, use it as a reference to identify the visible extent of the images on the map. You can use the Navigation and Image Gallery tools in the oriented imagery viewer to explore other images of the selected map location.

Show the Current Footprint, Footprints, and Camera Locations tools

There are three graphics layers, Current Footprint, Footprints, and Camera Locations, that can be viewed to understand how the images in the oriented imagery relate to the map. To view any of the graphical layers, select the relevant button on the Oriented Imagery Layer ribbon. These are toggle buttons. To hide a graphical layer, click the selected button again.

When selected, the tools do the following:

  • Current Footprint displays the current footprint of the image as a red polygon on the map. In a scene, the current footprint is displayed as a 3D frustum. If you zoom or pan in the oriented imagery viewer, the footprint dynamically updates to highlight the areas on the map that are visible in the image.
  • Footprints displays the coverage footprints in blue for all the images that contain the selected point (marked by a red cross red cross) on the map or scene.
  • Camera Locations displays those camera locations from which the selected point is visible. The camera locations are marked in blue.
Note:

The Current Footprint, Footprints, and Camera Locations graphics layers cannot be accessed from the Contents pane, and their symbology cannot be modified.

Additional tools

The following tools can help you better understand oriented imagery:

  • Use the Map-Image Location tool to perform the image-to-ground and ground-to-image transformations. It identifies the same location in map space and in image space (oriented imagery viewer). When you select the tool and click the image, the corresponding location on the map is marked with a red diamond. Alternatively, if you click the map, the corresponding location in the image is marked with a red diamond.
  • Use the Reset button to remove any oriented imagery graphics layers from the map, refresh the oriented imagery viewer, and reflect changes such as renaming, and symbology updates made on the feature layer.

Image overlays

You can visualize feature layers as overlays in the oriented imagery viewer. The following types of overlays are available:

  • Overlay Features—Overlay feature layers of the current map on the image loaded in the oriented imagery viewer. The Overlay Features tool consists of a toggle button Overlay features that shows or hides the overlay of all the selected layers on the image and a drop-down list that contains all the feature layers of the current map. Select the feature layers from the drop-down list to overlay the features on the image,

  • Overlay Cameras—Click Overlay cameras to overlay the camera locations from the oriented imagery layer that intersects the footprint of the loaded image.
Note:

The symbology and visibility settings of the features you overlay in the oriented imagery viewer correspond with those shown on the map. Any updates to the feature's symbology, are reflected in the viewer upon refresh.

Measure In Image tool

The Measure In Image tool allows you to take geodesic measurements of the oriented image. Currently the Ground Distance, Ground Area, Height Above Ground and Surface Location measurement options are available. The tool always displays the currently selected measurement option and a drop-down list of all the available measurement options.

You can choose the following from the drop-down list:

  • Select Ground Distance Measure distance. Click two or more points on the image in the oriented imagery viewer. Ensure the points are on the ground. The distance between the first and last point selected are calculated and displayed in map units.
  • Select Ground Area Measure area. Click multiple points on the image in the oriented imagery viewer. The area bounded by the ground points corresponding to the points selected are calculated and displayed in map units.
  • Select Height Above Ground Measure height above ground. In the oriented imagery viewer, click a point at the base of the item and move the pointer up. A rubber band that is always perpendicular to the ground plane is displayed, locking the pointer movement direction. Based on the movement of the pointer (up or down), the asset's height above the ground is displayed in map units.
  • Select Surface Location Measure surface location and click the image in the oriented imagery viewer. The coordinates in the map that correspond to the selected point are computed and displayed in latitude and longitude. To copy the values, click Copy coordinates copy coordinates.
Note:
  • The Measure In Image tool is enabled only if the Orientation Accuracy property or the OrientationAccuracy field is defined for the oriented imagery layer.
  • Explicitly click New Measurement after selecting a measurement option (except Surface location).
  • The measurements are dynamically computed and displayed for all pointer movements until the last point is identified. The last point is always identified by a double-click (except for Surface location, where it is not applicable), when the final measurement value is computed and displayed.
  • Accuracy of measurement calculation is determined by testing the effect of the standard deviation accuracy defined for each orientation parameter and returning the square root of the sum of the errors squared.
  • Coordinate conversion utilities are available for the Ground Distance, Ground Area, and Height Above Ground options.