3D View

The 3D View in Global Mapper allows registered users to view gridded elevation data and any overlying raster or vector data in a true perspective 3D manner. In addition, any vector data with associated elevation values can also be displayed in true 3D and videos may be created using the Global Mapper Fly-Through feature. The 3D viewer can also display 3D model formats, and render multiple terrain layers in a stack.

To open the 3D view, select the 3D view button from the Viewer toolbar, or select 3D View... from the View menu.

When selected, the 3D View button displays a window containing a 3D view of the data in the current workspace. The 3D view can show in its own window, or be docked inside of the main application. Any imagery or vector data being drawn on top of the elevation grid(s) in the main Global Mapper view will automatically be draped on top of the elevation data in the 3D View window. If so configured, any 3D vector data will be displayed in space as well.

The following features and tools are available in the 3D View:

Rotating, Moving and Zooming in the 3D View

Display Options

Wire-frame View and Default View

The Wire-frame and Default Views will change between a Wire-frame (TIN) and the Default 3D view.

Show Compass Rose

This option displays a compass on the map. For more settings go to 3D View Configuration.

Show 3D Axis

This option displays a 3D Axis out from the center of the map. For more settings go to 3D View Configuration.

Shortcut to toggle on/ off the pivot axis display: Ctrl+Shift+P

3D View Configuration

This button is used to access the 3D View Properties dialog, which contains options to configure the 3D view settings, including the vertical exaggeration, the water display, background color, 3D vector display, as well as the terrain and draped image resolution. For more information see 3D View Configuration

2D/ 3D Link

To link the 2D and 3D views, select the Link 2D/ 3D views button found on the Global Mapper Viewer Toolbar. This will link the relative panning and zooming of the 3D view when the primary 2D map view is panned or zoomed. The 3D view will also refresh based on any changes to the Overlay Control center, such as loading data, turning on and off layers, or running tools that create new data. The link is turned on by default.

When the link is disabled, the 3D view will not refresh to match changes in the primary 2D map view display until the cursor is over the 3D window. Panning and zooming the 2D view will not change the 3D map display.

Keyboard Shortcut: To refresh the 3D view, use the Ctrl+3 or F5 hot keys in the 3D viewer.

Feature Selection, Measuring and 3D Digitizing Tools

The Selection and Measure Mode tools allow for the selection of vector features in the 3D viewer, and provide options for measuring distances and areas. Right-click with either of these tools to access additional options and settings.   

Digitizer Mode

Activating the Digitizer Mode in the 3D Viewer will enable selection of 3D point, line or area features in the 3D View window.

ClosedContext Menu

The right-click menu will bring up the following Digitizer feature creation and feature editing options in the 3D View.  

Keyboard shortcut: Pressing the D key will enable or disable digitizer mode in the 3D view.

 Measure Mode

Activating Measure Mode will allow you to left-click in the 3D View to define a line for distance measurement, or a polygon for area measurement. Right-clicking will end the line or polygon feature to finish the measurement. In the upper left of the 3D View window measurement values will be displayed, right-click to access the 3D View window's Measure Tool menu.

In the 3D View window, the measure tool's cursor will change color depending on whether or not it is snapped. Green is snapped, orange is not snapped. When orange, the measure tool is draped on the terrain to show the corresponding terrain spot for where the cursor is located at '0'.

Note that the Measure tool is linked between 2D and 3D, and selecting either button will enable the tool in both 2D and 3D.

Keyboard shortcut: Pressing the M key will enable or disable measure mode.

Snap Cursor

With snap cursor enabled, the digitizer selection tool will show a point feature indicating the nearest selectable point or vertex if one is nearby. Otherwise the selection cursor will change color to red to indicate when a selection is available.

Vertical Exaggeration

Water Level

Drop Down SkyBox Menu

The drop down menu may be used to set a specific sky texture background or to set a solid background (None). The color of the solid background may be specified in the 3D View Properties dialog.

Fly-Through Videos

Save Image

Selecting this tool will bring up the 3D Screen Capture Options dialog (below), used for saving an image of the 3D view to a JPEG, PNG, TIFF or BMP image format. Additional sizing options are also available.

Full Screen

This button will make the 3D view full screen. For more information about windows see Window Docking

Closed3D View Keyboard Shortcuts

3D View Keyboard Shortcuts

ClosedDisplay and Navigation
  • CTRL+3: open or refresh the 3D view
  • F5: refresh the 3D view
  • Arrow Keys: pan 3D view left, right, forward, and back or move in.
    In Walk mode, Arrow up/down to move into or away from the scene, arrow left/right to rotate the view around the current location. The SHIFT key will cause large moves/ rotations.
  • Page Up/Down: zoom in and out (hold SHIFT for larger move; hold CTRL key for smaller move).
    In walk mode raise and lowers walk mode height (SHIFT keys modifiers reduce or enlarge height increment)
  • Home, Number 5 and CTRL+SHIFT+D: return to default view
  • CTRL + Home: center the 2D view on the current selection
  • Numbers 8 and 2: control tilt forward and back
    Use the SHIFT and CTRL modifiers to increase/decrease the tilt amount (4x, 1/4x respectively)
  • Numbers 4 and 6: control rotation right and left
    Use the SHIFT and CTRL modifiers to increase/decrease the rotation amount (4x, 1/4x respectively)
  • Numbers 7 and 9: move up
    Use the SHIFT and modifiers to increase/decrease the move amount (4x, 1/4x respectively)
  • Numbers 1 and 3: move down
    Use the SHIFT and CTRL modifiers to increase/decrease the move amount (4x, 1/4x respectively)
  • Mouse Wheel: roll to zoom in and out or raise and lower the walk mode height. Click and drag to pan or change the walk mode pitch.
  • Left Mouse Button movement:navigate the view
    • In Walk mode, forward / back movements move forwards or back in the scene. Left / right movements rotate the view.
    • For Rotate Mode, forward / back movements tilt the scene up or down; left/right movements rotate the view.
    • For Move mode, forward / back movements move the scene up or down; left/right movements pan the view.
    • For Zoom mode, forward / back movements zoom in or out, left / right movements have no effect.
    • For all modes, holding down the SHIFT key or the CTRL key increase / decrease the amount of rotation, tilt, or movement, respectively.
  • Right Mouse Button movement:
    • For Walk mode, raise and lower walk mode height.
    • For Rotate Mode and Move mode, forward / back movements zoom in or out.
    • For Zoom mode, forward / back movements tilt the scene up or down; left/right movements rotate the view.
    • For all modes, holding down the SHIFT key or the CTRL key increase / decrease the amount of rotation, tilt, or movement, respectively
  • V: Locks mouse movement to the vertical plane
  • H: Locks mouse movement to the horizontal plane
  • F11: Decreases the field of view by 5 degrees; if CTRL is held down, it decreases by 1 degree, if SHIFT is held down, it decreases by 10 degrees.
  • F12: Increases the field of view by 5 degrees; if CTRL is held down, it increases by 1 degree, if SHIFT is held down, it increases by 10 degrees.
  • CTRL+SHIFT+L: sets the view to a left view
  • CTRL+R: sets the viewer to Rotate mode.
  • CTRL+SHIFT+R sets the view to a right view
  • CTRL+SHIFT+U sets the view to a bottom view
  • CTRL+SHIFT+F sets the view to a front view
  • CTRL+SHIFT+B sets the view to a back view
ClosedTools and Settings
  • W: enable or disable wireframe
  • CTRL +W: enable walk mode
  • CTRL+SHIFT+W: enable/disable water level display
  • T: enable or disable display of textures on meshes
  • CTRL+SHIFT+T: set the view to top-down view
  • A: enable or disable display of coordinate axes
  • C: enable or disable display of a north arrow
  • M: enable or disable Measure tool
  • CTRL+M: sets viewer to Move mode
  • D: enable or disable Digitizer tool
  • CTRL+SHIFT+D: sets the default view
  • E: Resets vertical exaggeration to 1.0
  • CTRL+E: Lower vertical exaggeration
  • SHIFT+E: Raise vertical exaggeration
  • P: The P key enables / disables pivot axis display.
  • CTRL +P: enables / disables the path profile display, if a path profile is available.
  • CTRL+G: enables / disables display of GPS tracks
  • Keypad +/-: raise/ lower water level if water level display is enabled.
Closed3D Digitizing and Editing
  • CTRL+SHIFT+Z sets the viewer to Zoom Mode
  • While digitizing or editing, CTRL+Z undoes the last point.
  • ESC:
    •  While selecting, the Escape key clears the current selection.
    • When digitizing, the Escape key cancels the current digitizing operation, and reverts to selection mode.
    • When measuring, the Escape key cancels the current measurement operation.
  • ENTER:
    • When digitizing, the Return key completes the current digitization operation.
    • When measuring, the Return key completes the current measurement operation.
  • DELETE: If there is a current selection available, the selected features are deleted.
  • When Selecting, Digitizing or Measuring: when moving the mouse,
    • Hold down the ‘P’ key to filter to point features
    • Hold down the ‘A’ key to filter to area features
    • Hold down the ‘L’ key to filter to line features
    • Hold down the ‘M’ key to filter to mesh features
    • Only one of these modifier keys may be active at a time.

3D View Keyboard Shortcuts by function 

ClosedMovement Modes

These are represented by the first four toolbar button on the 3D toolbar. They govern how you move around in the 3D world, that is, how mouse and keyboard actions affect the view.

  • Rotate : Ctrl+R
  • Move : Ctrl+M
  • Zoom : Ctrl+ Z (only if in default or selection mode)
  • Walk : Ctrl+W
ClosedInteraction Modes

These modes govern how you interact with objects in the view.

  • Default Mode : this is the default mode. You can move around the scene, but you cannot interact with objects in the scene.
  • Selection Mode: this mode is for selecting one or more objects in the display. Use the ‘D’ key to go to Selection mode.
  • Digitizing Mode: this mode is for creating new features. When in Selection mode, use entries on the right-click menu to create new features.
  • Measure Mode: this mode is for measuring distances or areas among items in the scene. Use the ‘M’ key to go to Measure mode.
  • Snap Mode: this mode governs whether selection or digitization actions are snapped to the nearest geometry vertex. Use the ‘S’ key to toggle this when not in default mode.
ClosedPredefined Views

There are some predefined views that can help you to navigate in the 3D scene:

  • Default View: This is the standard view that you get when you open the 3D viewer. Use the Home key, Ctrl+Shift+D, or the 5 key to go to default view.
  • Top View: This is a view from directly above the scene. Use Ctrl+Shift+T to go to default view.
  • Bottom View: This is a view from directly underneath the scene. Use Ctrl+Shift+U to go to bottom view.
  • Left View: This is a view from the left side of the scene. Use Ctrl+Shift+L to go to a left view.
  • Right View: This is a view from the right side of the scene. Use Ctrl+Shift+R to go to a right view.
  • Front View: This is a view from in front of the scene. Use Ctrl+Shift+F to go to a front view.
  • Back View: This is a view from directly behind the scene. Use Ctrl+Shift+B to go to a back view.
ClosedLocking the view movement

Sometimes it can be useful to restrict the movement of the 3D scene in one dimension or another. You can lock the movement to either a horizontal or vertical plane using the H or V keys. Note: locking is not allowed in Walk mode.

  • H: The key enables horizontal locking if it’s disabled, otherwise it disables it. Horizontal locking only allows movement in a plane that’s horizontal to the pivot axis.
  • V: The key enables vertical locking if it’s disabled, otherwise it disables it. Vertical locking only allows movement in the plane defined by the screen center and the pivot axis.
Closed3D Vector Display - Advanced Discussion and Options

3D vector data is exaggerated along with the terrain so it will align correctly. A bridge going over a gorge with heights of 100m and 110m on either end would not match up with the terrain heights of 100m and 110m if both weren't exaggerated. If relative elevations of 0m and 10m are used with a vertical exaggeration set to 3, those would display at 0m and 30m which would still allow the bridge to match up to the terrain.

The extrusion and altitude mode of 3D Vectors can be controlled globally in the 3D properties, by layer or for individual features using the modify feature info settings.

Obtain additional control over how 3D vector features are rendered by providing attributes for those features. The supported attributes are as follows:

3D_EX_HT— the value of this attribute will override the default extrusion height and extrude just that height in meters

3D_ZOFFSET — the value of this attribute allows you to provide an additional offset (in meters) when rendering a 3D vector feature

EXTRUDE — used to extrude 3D areas down to the ground. If an area has the EXTRUDE attribute with a valid boolean value (YES, Y, TRUE, T, or 1 for enabled, NO, N, FALSE, F, or 0 for disabled), that setting will be used in place of the 3D View Options setting to extrude 3D areas down to the ground.