Scene layers reference cached tiles of 3D data. When you publish a hosted scene layer with an associated feature layer, the source data is copied to a system-managed data store on the portal and tiles are built there. Similarly, when you publish a hosted scene layer from a scene layer package, the scene tile content is uploaded to the system-managed data store. To save time when publishing and avoid using the resources on the portal to build and store scene caches, you can create a scene cache dataset, place it in a user-maintained folder or cloud data store, and publish a scene layer that references the cache dataset.
The scene content remains in the data store even if you delete the scene layer.
Prepare the scene layer content
Before you can publish the scene layer, the scene content must exist in a folder or cloud data store.
Follow these steps to create scene content and make it available in a file or cloud data store:
- Use one of the following options to create ready-to-serve scene layer content:
If you will store the dataset in a file share, create an extracted scene layer package dataset (.eslpk). If you will store the dataset in a cloud object store, create i3sRest content.
- Use the Create 3D Object Scene Layer Package, Create Point Scene Layer Package, or Create Point Cloud Scene Layer Package geoprocessing tool to create the content directly in the desired file share or object store in the cloud.
- Use the Extract Package geoprocessing tool in ArcGIS Pro with the required scene layer package as an input and select the desired folder in the file system or object store in the cloud as an output location.
- Use the i3REST open specification to create a tool that creates scene layer content, and place the content in the file share or cloud object store location.
- Download i3sconverter.exe from GitHub to create scene layer content, and place the content in the file share or cloud object store location.
- Add the file share or cloud object storage location as a user-managed data store in ArcGIS Enterprise.
Alternatively, you can register the data source in ArcGIS Pro. The minimum release to register a folder to create a data store item is ArcGIS Pro 2.5; for cloud stores, it's ArcGIS Pro 3.0.
- If you are preparing the data for others to use, share the data store item with the appropriate group or the organization.
Publish a scene layer
You must have access to the data store item created in the previous section and privileges to publish server-based layers and create content.
Follow these steps to publish a scene layer that references the cache in a file or cloud data store:
- Sign in to the portal.
You must be a member of the default publisher or administrator role or a member of a custom role with privileges to create content and publish server-based layers.
- From the My Content tab of the content page, click New item.
- Choose Scene layer and click Next.
- Choose Select a dataset in a data store, and click Next.
- Select the data store item created in the previous section.
- Browse to and select the cache dataset in the data store.
- When using a folder data store, only extracted scene layer package datasets (.eslpk) are supported.
- When using a cloud data store, only i3sRest content is supported.
- Select the server to which the layer will be published.
The list includes only the servers to which the selected data store is registered.
- Click Next.
- Type a title.
- Choose a folder in My Content where you want to save the layer.
- Optionally, type tags that describe the item.
Separate the terms with commas (for example, Federal land is considered one tag; Federal, land is considered two tags).
As you type, you can select any of the suggested tags that appear; suggestions are generated from tags you have added previously.
- Optionally, provide a summary that describes the item.
- Click Save.
A scene layer is created in My Content.
By default, only you have access to the scene layer. You can share it with others.