Google Photorealistic 3D Basemaps for ArcGIS Online and Trees

Question

The Google Photorealistic 3D Basemaps are a great addition to the ArcGIS Online.  I understand it is in Beta.  I tried it in ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS online has a similar negative outcome when adding vector lines as shown here.

Attached are screenshots showing the vector line bouncing up and down with the trees with On the Ground and Relative to Scene.  Relative to Ground gives the same result as Relative to Scene.

Is there anyway to keep the vector line on the ground and not in the trees?

Relative to Scene Screenshot 2026-03-02 150405.jpg

On the ground Screenshot 2026-03-02 150520.jpg

hel elev2.png

hel elev.png

bkaplan1 · Answer

I was able to create the path on the bridge as shown in the first screenshot.  It took a bit of clicking and adjusting.  Interestingly, the second screen shot properly shows the path going under the bridge and the rise up the staircase is interesting which may need a few tweaks adjusting the vertex elevations.

bkaplan1 · Answer

Thank you very much for the explanation.  A workaround I'm working on is assigning elevation to the vector line and using the "At absolute height" option.  I'm using the USGS's The National Map DEM and the Interpolate Shape tool which worked well except for bridges as shown in the attached.   So, I'm trying to edit the line in 3D to have it run along the top of the bridge.  Editing in 3D is new for me and it is tricky to get the line at the exact top of the bridge surface interactively.  If there was a way to snap to the surface, I would welcome it.

Thanks again.

bridges.png

lsteiner · Answer

Hello @bkaplan1

Thank you for reaching out.

The reason why Pro and AGO show the same behavior related to ground is that the Google Photorealistic 3D basemaps have their own elevation and replace the default Terrain3D elevation when they are selected. Ground is thus provided by the selected Photorealistic basemap and corresponds to the surface of the Google mesh (incl. trees, buildings etc.). We will investigate the option to support multiple grounds in the future to handle such cases.