Google photorealistic 3d tiles to Scene

[Calls]

Hello, I am trying to add google's photorealistic 3d tiles to Scene, using ArcGIS Pro 3.30.

Photorealistic 3D Tiles  |  Google Maps Tile API  |  Google for Developers

This is the javascript api call - 

https://tile.googleapis.com/v1/3dtiles/root.json?key=[YOUR API KEY]

I would like to add the tiles then publish a hosted scene layer. Is this tileset supported? 

[Andrew--Johnson]

Hi,

Only custom apps built on ArcGIS Maps SDKs such as the ArcGIS Maps SDK for Javascript support adding this type of 3D Tiles service. ArcGIS applications such as ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Earth, or Scene Viewer include advanced capabilities such as interactive 3D analysis that are not currently permitted by Google. Since the Google terms of use do not permit these capabilities it is the responsibility of the user to only view this service in applications that can only offer visualization capabilities. The following terms list out all the various restrictions Google Maps Platform Terms Of Service  |  Google Cloud 

thanks,

Andrew

[Calls]

Hi Andrew, thank you for your reply.

So, there is not currently support for google 3d tiles because to bring them into Arc Pro would allow functionality that google does not allow under their licensing. Is that correct?

Is it the following section of the licensing restrictions that causes the trouble or another? -

 
"c) No Creating Content From Google Maps Content. Customer will not create content based on Google Maps Content. For example, Customer will not: (i) trace or digitize roadways, building outlines, utility posts, or electrical lines from the Maps JavaScript API Satellite base map type; (ii) create 3D building models from 45° Imagery from Maps JavaScript API; (iii) build terrain models based on elevation values from the Elevation API; (iv) use latitude/longitude values from the Places API as an input for point-in-polygon analysis; (v) construct an index of tree locations within a city from Street View imagery; or (vi) convert text-based driving times into synthesized speech results."

[Andrew--Johnson]

Hi,

Yes correct, ArcGIS Pro cannot currently support Google 3D Tiles as it would violate their terms. That is one of the sections that applies as well as a few others. It should only be used purely for visualization purposes.

thanks,

Andrew

[Andrew--Johnson]

Hi,

I wanted to provide an update that ArcGIS Pro 3.5, which will be released tentatively in another month or two will support Google Photorealistic 3D Tiles in local and global scenes. The blog below announces this as well.

https://www.esri.com/arcgis-blog/products/arcgis/announcements/high-quality-photorealistic-3d-tiles-... 

thanks,

Andrew

[johnbrosowsky]

Works great in ArcGIS Pro 3.5!  Question - the blog shows it in Scene Viewer and mentions a Google 3D Photorealistic Tiles Basemap.  Did this become available in the June 2025 ArcGIS Online update?  I can't find it.  

Thanks!

JB

[Andrew--Johnson]

Hi,

It can currently be added to both ArcGIS Pro 3.5 and Scene Viewer as an operational layer. Adding it through the basemap control is tentatively planned for next release of ArcGIS Pro and a release of Scene Viewer later this year.

https://pro.arcgis.com/en/pro-app/latest/help/mapping/layer-properties/work-with-3d-tiles-layers.htm... 

thanks,

Andrew

[johnbrosowsky]

Hi Andrew -

I can view it in ArcGIS Pro just fine, but not SceneViewer in ArcGIS Online.  Following the pro instructions to share a web layer do not work as pro states "this command is currently unavailable.  You are not signed in with an ArcGIS organizational account that has publishing privileges or the layer you have selected cannot be published. " The user account is a publisher that can publish hosted tile layers.  

Sharing a web scene from pro to Online works, and the thumbnail image for the scene shows 3D tiles, but when opening the scene in scene viewer in ArcGIS Online the google 3D tiles layer has a red x on it, and a hover message that states, "the 3D tiles layer description was invalid"  and the layer does not display.

Creating a new webscene and adding a new layer from URL and specifying the URL as "https://tile.googleapis.com/v1/3dtiles/root.json" and then adding a custom parameter of "key" and providing the google API key also does not work, and scene viewer reports the URL is not valid. 

Are there any obvious things I am missing, or any more specific documentation for how to show the google 3D tiles in scene viewer in ArcGIS pro?

Thanks!!

John

[Andrew--Johnson]

Hi John,

Sorry for the late reply was out on vacation and at the UC. I don't think you missed anything. Let me check with the Scene Viewer team as I was under the impression the custom parameter option worked there too.

thanks,

Andrew

[Andrew--Johnson]

Hi John,

I checked with the Scene Viewer team and they confirmed it is not currently supported. It is only supported if you create a custom JS API app. Support in the Scene Viewer is planned for later this year so keep an eye out for that.

thanks,

Andrew