3D MutlPatch

Question

Does the 3D MultiPatch feature (Discussed in the "Winter 2011" ArcUser magazine) only work in ArcGIS 10 or can that process be done in 9.3.1

Thanks,
Brad

JakubSisak · Answer

In Sketchup, the modeling is easy, but maintaining the spatial reference is not.

Maybe cross platform spatial reference is not maintained. Not when collada is used though.

You could build the entire model in Sketchup and digitize features directly from Google Earth imagery. The model could then be easily visualized in Google Earth if needed.

If maintaining spatial references between ArcGIS and SketchUp is important you could start be designing a series of anchor points (must be polygons) then export the anchor points to collada, create the entire model, ground up in sketchup using the anchor points as reference, then import finished product back to ArcScene. (Collada maintains spatial reference.)

ESRI needs to add more seamless support for skp files to future versions.  Rather then re-inventing the wheel it be much easier to use the fantastic features 3D Anlyst offers with the ability to do architectural and engineering modeling in SketchUp and have the 2 seamlessly integrated.

JeffreySwain · Answer

In a word, it is to maintain the spatial reference.  In Sketchup, the modeling is easy, but maintaining the spatial reference is not.  If you were to import a .skp through the Import 3d File Tool, the spatial reference will not be.

Per help,  "GeoVRML is the only format that has a defined coordinate system. The other formats tend to use local coordinate systems (in other words, centered on 0,0,0). In the latter case, the output shapes will need to be georeferenced."

So make the necessary textures and custom look in Sketchup, and then Replace the spatially correct feature in ArcScene with the texturized model.

Here is a tutorial discussing how to.

JakubSisak · Answer

A personal opinion: Why would anyone... 
It's much, much easier to do this type of modelling ground up in Sketchup. And free.