The Basic Local Government Scene is a LOD1 (Level of Detail) 3D scene that includes the World Topographic Map draped over detailed elevation along with buildings and trees. Buildings and trees can be quickly generated with classified lidar (ground with first return) and used for massing visualization and conceptual planning.

Create 3D layers

To create the 3D layers used in the Basic Local Government Scene, complete the following steps:

1. Start the ArcGIS Pro application and open the project package from the active portal.
2. On the View tab, in the Windows group, click Catalog, and click Catalog Pane.
3. In the Catalog pane, expand Maps and review the maps provided.
4. In the Catalog pane, expand Toolboxes and to review the toolboxes and tools provided.
5. On the Catalog pane, expand the Tasks folder, then double-click on the Publish Basic Local Government Scene task. In the Tasks pane, expand the Publish Elevation Surface group task to create and publish a DTM (Digital Terrain Model) and DSM (Digital Surface Model) from lidar data. When creating the DTM and DSM, enter the following:
   • In the Create LAS Dataset step, define the coordinate system for the LAS dataset.
   • In the Extract Elevation Surfaces from LAS Dataset step, specify the minimum height below the ground and maximum height above the ground when classifying noise. Visually inspect your LAS data and set the minimum and maximum height for noise, in other words, points that are not buildings, trees or elevation (such as birds). These points should fall outside the minimum - maximum range.
6. Expand the Publish Basic Buildings group task to publish a basic 3D building layer. When creating the 3D building layer, add a buffer distance so trees and other overhanging features do not impact the calculated height of the building footprints.
7. Expand the Publish Schematic Trees group task to publish a 3D tree layer. When creating the 3D trees, enter the following:
   • Pointspacing—The average point spacing for the lidar data. This can be found in the LAS dataset properties.
   • Vegetation class codes—The correct class codes for vegetation. If the vegetation has not been classified, enter the class code that represents the vegetation, for example, 0 or 1.
   • Buffer distance—The buffer distance so building and other overhanging features do not impact the calculated height of the trees.
   • Minimum and maximum canopy height—The minimum and maximum height of vegetation in the community.

Author Basic Local Government Scene

To author a Basic Local Government Scene, complete the following steps:

1. Sign in to your ArcGIS organization.
2. Create a Scene using the 3D layers and elevation service you published.
3. Optionally, add other web feature layers to your Local Government Scene.
4. Save the scene as Basic Local Government Scene and share it with your organization.
5. Begin using the Basic Local Government Scene.

Once you have finishing publishing your scene, you can also share it with the Living Atlas.