Managing Multi-Floor Parcels - Looking for Suggestions

[ShareUser]

Hello, 

Here at Yolo County we currently merging parcels with the same parcel number (APN). We found these (see screenshot) that are condos with multiple floors. Currently we have them in parcel fabric as one parcel per floor - two separate parcels with the same APN.

There are a few ways we could handle this, but there are advantages and disadvantages to each. Does anybody have experience managing multi floor parcels, or recommendations on how we could manage these?

We are considering deleting the top parcel to only have the lower floor (but have combined attributes like sq ft), or have a full merge of the two floors that would cover the full perimeter of the unit. Looking for any other ideas or possibilities. 

[ShareUser]

I would also love some ideas or an ESRI tutorial on the best way to handle multi floor situations.  We have a few in Stanislaus County and I expect to see far more in time.

[ShareUser]

I'm also interested because I'm dealing with a parcel fabric that also has multi-floor condo units. Thanks.

[ShareUser]

How does ESRI manage parcel fabric and their indoors product as far as an Assessor office is concerned for parcels and taxes

From Grok:

ESRI’s ArcGIS Parcel Fabric for Assessors Offices
ESRI’s ArcGIS Parcel Fabric is a specialized GIS framework designed for managing, editing, and sharing parcel data, which is particularly valuable for assessors offices in handling parcels and property taxes.

 It serves as a digital system of record for land information, enabling accurate mapping and maintenance of cadastral data that directly supports property assessment, valuation, and taxation processes.

Key Management Aspects:
Data Model and Inventory: Parcel Fabric uses a record-driven approach, organizing parcel data based on original legal documents such as deeds, plats, surveys, and plans.

This allows assessors to create and maintain an inventory of tax parcels from record information, ensuring that parcel boundaries, ownership, and attributes

 (e.g., land rights, restrictions, and responsibilities like taxation)

 are accurately represented.

 For instance, it supports the creation of tax parcels, historic parcels, and integration with systems like the Public Land Survey System (PLSS) for comprehensive land records.

Workflows and Editing:

 It provides configurable, quality-driven workflows in ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Enterprise for efficient editing.

Assessors can use tools to evaluate data quality, fix issues, and perform tasks like parcel creation, splitting, merging, or adjusting boundaries based on new surveys.

This minimizes errors in parcel mapping, which is critical for fair tax assessments.

 Features like least-squares adjustment ensure spatial accuracy, and the system preserves relationships between lines, points, and polygons for streamlined maintenance.

Integration with Taxation Processes:

Parcel Fabric integrates with ESRI’s Tax Parcel Data Management solution, which helps develop and share tax parcel inventories with stakeholders.

 It supports visualization of parcel information in 2D and 3D (via floor-aware capabilities), aiding in property value analysis, sales ratio studies, and neighborhood pattern identification for equitable assessments.

 For example, assessors can map property characteristics, analyze values, and generate basemaps for public notification or tax reverted properties.

 This has been applied in real-world cases, such as the South Dakota Department of Revenue using it to modernize property tax assessments and build public trust through accurate records.

Scalability and Accessibility:

 As part of the ArcGIS platform, it’s scalable for multi-user environments and supports role-based access. Licensing requires ArcGIS Pro with advanced editing extensions, and it can handle right-of-way, easements, and other land records relevant to taxation.
Overall, Parcel Fabric enhances efficiency by digitizing workflows, reducing manual errors, and ensuring data integrity, which directly impacts the accuracy of tax rolls and assessments.

ESRI’s ArcGIS Indoors for Assessors Offices
ArcGIS Indoors is primarily an indoor mapping and space management software focused on creating digital twins of buildings for wayfinding, space planning, and asset management.

 Its direct application to Assessor offices for parcels and taxes is less emphasized in available resources compared to Parcel Fabric, as it targets indoor environments rather than outdoor parcel boundaries.

 However, it can indirectly support assessment activities by providing detailed spatial data on building interiors, which may factor into property valuations and taxation.

Key Management Aspects:
Indoor Data Management: Indoors combines CAD, BIM, and GIS data into a unified system for visualizing and managing indoor spaces, such as floors, rooms, and assets within buildings.

 For assessors, this could help in evaluating interior property characteristics

 (e.g., square footage, usage types, or improvements)

 that influences taxable value, especially for commercial or multi-unit parcels.

Relevant Features for Assessments:

 It supports location discovery, room reservations, and real-time navigation via integrations like ArcGIS IPS (Indoor Positioning System)

 and ArcGIS Field Maps for inspections and data collection.

 Assessors might use these for on-site verifications of building details, submitting service requests via ArcGIS Survey123, or analyzing space utilization to inform valuation models.

 The software’s three license levels (Pro, Maps, Spaces) offer progressive capabilities for data integration and planning.

Connection to Parcels and Taxes:

While not explicitly designed for tax purposes, Indoors can integrate with broader ArcGIS tools like Parcel Fabric’s floor-aware features to extend parcel data into 3D indoor models.

This might aid in holistic property assessments by linking outdoor parcel boundaries to indoor spaces, helping identify taxable features like additional floors or renovations.

 However, specific examples for assessors’ tax workflows are limited;

 it’s more commonly used in facilities management,

 but could enhance parcel value analysis by providing enriched indoor data for properties on tax parcels.

In summary, while Parcel Fabric is core to parcel and tax management for assessors, ArcGIS Indoors plays a supporting role by enabling detailed indoor assessments that could inform taxation, though its primary focus is on space optimization rather than direct fiscal applications. For integrated use, assessors often combine it with other ArcGIS solutions for comprehensive property insights.

Why would anyone want to have duplicate parcel layers for example condominiums that have more than one floor and wanting to be represented in true 3-D

In GIS systems like ESRI’s ArcGIS Parcel Fabric, duplicating parcel layers—often referred to as creating strata parcels—

is a deliberate technique used to model multi-floor structures such as condominiums in true 3D.

This approach involves replicating the base parcel geometry

 (e.g., the building footprint) multiple times,

with each duplicate representing a distinct vertical layer or stratum (floor level).

The duplicates can share the same Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) but include additional attributes for elevation, height, or floor-specific details to enable stacking in a 3D environment.

Here’s why this is desirable, particularly from the perspective of assessors’ offices managing parcels and taxes:

1. 
   1. Accurate Representation of Vertical Ownership and Legal Divisions
   Condominiums and similar multi-unit buildings often involve “air rights” or vertical subdivisions where individual units on different floors are owned separately.

 A single 2D parcel layer can’t capture this;

 duplicating layers allows each floor or unit to be treated as a distinct parcel entity with its own boundaries, attributes (e.g., unit number, floor elevation),

 and legal descriptions based on deeds or surveys.

 This ensures the GIS data aligns with real-world property rights,

 preventing overlaps or ambiguities in ownership records.

For assessors, this is crucial for maintaining an accurate cadastral system, as it supports the creation of “strata parcels” that reflect how condos are legally subdivided

 (e.g., common areas vs. private units), making it easier to handle transfers, disputes, or updates.

1. 
   2. Enabling True 3D Visualization and Analysis
   Duplicate layers facilitate extrusion and stacking in 3D models, turning flat 2D polygons into volumetric representations with depth.

 This “true 3D” view is essential for urban planning, emergency response, or infrastructure projects, where understanding the vertical structure of a building

 (e.g., how floors align or interact) matters.

 Tools in ArcGIS Pro,

 such as the Duplicate Parcels tool,

allow users to specify the number of strata and whether to duplicate boundary lines,

 preserving topological relationships while building a multi-level model.

In practice, this means assessors can visualize and query parcels in 3D scenes,

 identifying issues like encroachments or density that aren’t apparent in 2D.

1. 
   3. Improved Property Valuation and Taxation
   Each duplicated layer can hold floor-specific data that influences tax assessments,

 such as square footage, view quality, accessibility, or amenities

 (e.g., a top-floor penthouse might be valued higher than a ground-floor unit due to elevation-based factors).

 This granularity ensures equitable taxation by allowing individual unit valuations rather than lumping the entire building into one parcel. 2 3

For assessors’ offices, this supports detailed analysis like sales ratio studies or neighborhood comparisons,

where vertical attributes play a role in determining taxable value.

It also integrates with broader ArcGIS tools for generating tax rolls or public maps that show unit-level details.

1. 
   4. Enhanced Data Management and Integration
   Duplicates maintain data integrity in multi-user environments by linking strata parcels to the original record-driven fabric,

 ensuring updates (e.g., boundary adjustments)

 propagate correctly without breaking relationships.

This is particularly useful when combining

 Parcel Fabric with ArcGIS Indoors for floor-aware indoor mapping,

 creating a seamless transition from outdoor parcels to indoor spaces.

 
It simplifies workflows for handling complex properties,

 like mixed-use buildings with retail on lower floors and residences above,

 by allowing role-based editing and sharing via ArcGIS Enterprise.

Overall, while it might seem redundant at first,

 duplicating parcel layers for multi-floor condos

 transforms GIS data from simplistic 2D maps into robust 3D models

 that better serve legal, fiscal, and operational needs in assessors’ offices.

 This approach is increasingly adopted as cities grow vertically and require more sophisticated land management systems.

So to clarify, you can do that with a single parcel layer that the parcel fabric and our arcgis indoors can both use without duplicating in that sense is that correct?

Yes, to clarify, it is possible to manage multi-floor condominium parcels,

 including their 3D representation,

 using a single parcel layer within ESRI’s ArcGIS Parcel Fabric,

 which can also be integrated with ArcGIS Indoors,

 without necessarily duplicating the parcel layer in the sense of creating entirely separate layers for each floor.

 Instead of duplicating layers,

 you can use attributes and capabilities within a single Parcel Fabric layer

, combined with floor-aware functionality,

 to represent and manage vertical subdivisions like condominiums in true 3D.

 Here’s how this works and why duplication may not always be required:

1. 
   1. Single Parcel Layer with Floor-Aware Attributes in Parcel Fabric

Parcel Fabric’s Structure:

ArcGIS Parcel Fabric allows a single parcel layer to store all parcel data,

 including multi-floor condominiums,

 using a record-driven approach.

Each parcel (e.g., a condo unit)

can be represented as a polygon

 within the same layer,

 with attributes defining its vertical position

 (e.g., floor number, elevation, or height).

These attributes enable the layer to support 3D modeling

 without needing separate layers for each floor.

Strata Parcels in a Single Layer:

 For condominiums, you can model strata parcels

 (individual units on different floors)

 within one layer by assigning unique identifiers

 (e.g., APN suffixes or unit IDs)

 and z-values (elevation data) to differentiate units vertically.

 Tools like the Duplicate Parcels tool in ArcGIS Pro

 can create these strata parcels within the same layer,

 maintaining topological relationships

 and avoiding the need for multiple layers.

This keeps all condo units tied to a single parcel fabric dataset,

 simplifying data management.

 
3D Enablement:

 By enabling floor-aware capabilities in the Parcel Fabric,

you can assign floor-specific attributes

(e.g., Level ID, elevation ranges)

 to parcels in the same layer.

This allows ArcGIS Pro to extrude polygons

 into 3D representations based on these attributes,

 effectively modeling the vertical structure of a building

 without duplicating the entire layer.

1. 
   2. Integration with ArcGIS Indoors

Shared Data Model:

ArcGIS Indoors can work seamlessly with a floor-aware Parcel Fabric layer.

 Indoors uses a similar approach by leveraging floor-aware maps and layers,

 where indoor spaces

(e.g., condo units, common areas)

 are mapped with attributes like floor levels or z-coordinates.

 The Parcel Fabric layer can feed directly into Indoors,

 providing outdoor parcel boundaries that align with indoor unit data,

 creating a unified 2D-to-3D dataset.

No Need for Separate Layers:

 Indoors can reference the same parcel layer used in Parcel Fabric,

 provided it includes floor-aware attributes.

 For example,

 a single parcel layer can store both the ground-level footprint

and unit-specific data (e.g., unit boundaries on different floors),

 which Indoors can then visualize as indoor maps with floor selectors.

This integration avoids redundancy by maintaining a single source of truth for parcel data.

Workflow Example:

 An assessor’s office could use Parcel Fabric to manage the overall condo parcel

and its strata units

 (e.g., defining unit boundaries and tax attributes in one layer).

ArcGIS Indoors can then use this layer to map interior details like room layouts or amenities, associating them with specific floors.

 Both systems leverage the same dataset,

 with Indoors handling detailed indoor spatial data

 and Parcel Fabric managing cadastral and tax-related information.

1. 
   3. Why Avoid Duplication?

Data Integrity and Efficiency:

 Using a single layer with floor-aware attributes

 reduces the risk of data inconsistencies that could arise from managing multiple layers

 (e.g., ensuring all duplicated layers stay synchronized).

 It simplifies editing workflows,

 as changes to the base parcel

 or its attributes (e.g., ownership or boundary updates)

 are made once

 and reflected across all uses,

 including 3D visualization and tax calculations.

Simplified Taxation Workflows:

 For assessors,

a single layer with strata parcels

 supports accurate valuation and taxation

 by linking unit-specific attributes

 (e.g., floor level, square footage, view quality)

 to the tax roll

 without needing separate layers.

 This streamlines processes like generating tax assessments or public-facing maps.

 
Scalability:

 A single layer is easier to manage in multi-user environments

 via ArcGIS Enterprise,

 supporting role-based access

 and reducing storage or processing overhead

compared to maintaining multiple layers.

1. 
   4. When Might Duplication Still Occur?
   While a single layer is typically sufficient,

some jurisdictions or workflows might still use “duplication” in a limited sense

—such as creating stacked polygons

 within the same layer for each floor’s units (strata parcels).

 This isn’t duplicating the entire layer

 but rather generating additional features within it

 to represent vertical divisions.

 This approach is still managed within one dataset

 and avoids the complexity of separate layers.

In rare cases, if a jurisdiction requires entirely separate layers for legacy systems

 or specific analytical purposes

 (e.g., isolating floors for distinct workflows),

 duplication might be used,

 but this is less common and less efficient given modern floor-aware capabilities.

Conclusion
Yes, you can manage multi-floor condominiums in true 3D using a single parcel layer in ArcGIS Parcel Fabric,

 which can be made floor-aware

 and integrated with ArcGIS Indoors

 for indoor mapping without duplicating layers.

By leveraging attributes like

 floor numbers,

 z-values,

or Level IDs,

 both systems can use the same dataset to represent outdoor parcel boundaries

 and indoor unit details,

 ensuring data consistency

 and streamlining workflows for assessors’ offices handling parcels and taxes.

 This approach is more efficient and aligns with ESRI’s design for unified,

 scalable GIS data management.

Are both the parcel fabric and indoors fully 3-D so we do not have to rely on things like extrusion based on an attribute to visualize and interact in 3-D editing etc.

Both ESRI’s ArcGIS Parcel Fabric and ArcGIS Indoors support 3D capabilities,

 but they are not “fully 3D”

 in the sense of natively storing and managing true 3D geometries

 (e.g., volumetric polyhedrons)

 without some reliance on attributes

 or extrusion

for visualization and interaction.

Instead, they primarily use 2D geometries with z-values

 (z-enabled features)

 and floor-aware attributes

 to enable 3D visualization,

editing,

 and interaction,

often requiring extrusion based on attributes like elevation or floor height for true 3D representation.

Below, I clarify how each system handles 3D,

 their capabilities,

 and whether they meet the goal of avoiding attribute-based extrusion for visualization and editing.

ArcGIS Parcel Fabric: 3D Capabilities
ArcGIS Parcel Fabric is primarily designed for managing 2D cadastral data

 but includes robust support for 3D visualization

 and editing

 through z-enabled features

 and floor-aware capabilities,

 particularly for structures like condominiums.

However, it does rely on attributes for full 3D representation.

Key Points:
Z-Enabled Geometries:

 Parcel Fabric supports z-enabled

 point,

 line,

 and polygon features,

 allowing parcels to store elevation or height values.

 This means each feature

 (e.g., a condo unit)

 can have a z-coordinate to indicate its vertical position,

 enabling 3D placement within a single layer.

However, the geometries themselves are still fundamentally 2D

 (e.g., polygons representing a parcel’s footprint)

 with z-values attached.

Floor-Aware Maps and Extrusion:

 To visualize parcels in 3D

 (e.g., stacked condo units),

 Parcel Fabric relies on floor-aware maps in ArcGIS Pro,

 where attributes like

 floor number,

 elevation,

or height

are used to extrude 2D polygons into 3D representations.

 For example,

 a condo unit’s polygon might use a “Level ID” or “Height” attribute

 to define its vertical extent in a 3D scene.

 This extrusion is necessary because

Parcel Fabric does not natively store 3D volumetric geometries (e.g., true 3D polyhedrons).

3D Editing:

 Editing in Parcel Fabric is primarily 2D-focused,

with tools like the Duplicate Parcels tool creating stacked polygons

 within a single layer for strata parcels

 (e.g., condo units on different floors).

 While you can edit z-values to adjust vertical positioning,

 the editing process often involves manipulating 2D geometries

 and their attributes

 (e.g., updating elevation or floor height).

 True 3D editing,

 such as sculpting volumetric shapes,

 is not supported natively;

instead,

 3D edits are achieved indirectly through attribute modifications

 and extrusion in ArcGIS Pro’s 3D scenes.

Limitations:

 Parcel Fabric does not store or manage true 3D geometries

 (e.g., polyhedral volumes) natively.

It relies on attribute-driven extrusion for 3D visualization,

 meaning you cannot avoid using attributes like elevation or height to achieve a 3D effect.

For assessors, this is generally sufficient for tax-related tasks

 (e.g., valuing condo units by floor),

but it falls short of a fully 3D system

 where parcels are inherently volumetric without extrusion.

Practical Implication for Assessors:
For an assessor’s office,

 Parcel Fabric’s reliance on z-enabled 2D geometries

 and attribute-based extrusion is typically adequate for managing parcels and taxes.

 It supports accurate representation of vertical ownership

 (e.g., condo units)

and integrates with tax workflows,

but true 3D editing

or visualization requires setting up floor-aware attributes

 and using ArcGIS Pro’s 3D rendering capabilities.

ArcGIS Indoors:

 3D Capabilities
ArcGIS Indoors is designed for indoor mapping and space management,

 with stronger 3D capabilities than Parcel Fabric

due to its focus on indoor environments.

 However, it similarly relies on floor-aware maps

 and attribute-based extrusion

 rather than native 3D volumetric geometries.

Key Points:
Floor-Aware Indoor Mapping:

ArcGIS Indoors uses a data model where indoor spaces

 (e.g., rooms, units, or corridors)

 are stored as 2D polygons

 with z-enabled attributes

 (e.g., Level ID, elevation, or height).

 These attributes allow Indoors to create floor-aware maps

 that support 3D visualization by extruding 2D geometries

 based on floor levels or height values.

For example,

a condo unit’s interior layout on the 5th floor can be visualized in 3D

 by assigning it an elevation or Level ID,

which ArcGIS Indoors uses to stack floors in a 3D scene.

 
Integration with BIM and CAD:

 Indoors can integrate Building Information Modeling (BIM) data

 (e.g., from Revit) or CAD files,

 which often include detailed 3D information.

While this allows for richer 3D visualization

(e.g., walls, fixtures),

the core Indoors data model

still relies on 2D polygons

 with z-values or floor attributes

 for most GIS operations.

BIM integration can provide a more volumetric appearance,

 but the underlying data remains attribute-driven for 3D rendering.

3D Visualization and Interaction:

 Indoors supports interactive 3D scenes in ArcGIS Pro

 and web-based viewers (e.g., ArcGIS Online),

 allowing users to navigate floors,

visualize indoor spaces,

 and interact with features like doors or assets.

 However, the 3D effect is achieved through extrusion of 2D geometries

based on attributes like floor height or elevation,

 not by storing true 3D volumes.

 For example,

 a condo unit’s polygon is extruded to appear as a 3D box representing its vertical extent.

 
3D Editing:

 Editing in ArcGIS Indoors is primarily done in 2D,

 with tools to adjust polygons representing indoor spaces

(e.g., room boundaries)

and their associated attributes

(e.g., Level ID or z-values).

While you can modify z-values to adjust vertical positioning,

true 3D editing

 (e.g., manipulating volumetric shapes directly) is limited.

 Instead, 3D edits are facilitated indirectly by updating attributes

 or importing updated BIM/CAD data,

which ArcGIS Pro then renders in 3D.

Limitations:

Like Parcel Fabric,

 ArcGIS Indoors does not natively store or manage true 3D volumetric geometries.

 It depends on attribute-based extrusion for 3D visualization and interaction,

 meaning you cannot fully avoid reliance on attributes

 like floor height or elevation to achieve 3D effects.

Practical Implication for Assessors:
For an assessor’s office,

 ArcGIS Indoors complements Parcel Fabric by providing detailed indoor mapping

 for properties like condominiums,

 which can inform valuation

 (e.g., assessing unit-specific features like floor level or amenities).

 Its 3D capabilities are sufficient for visualizing and interacting with indoor spaces in 3D,

 but these rely on extrusion and floor-aware attributes rather than native 3D geometries.

Integration of Parcel Fabric and Indoors

Unified Workflow:

Both systems can share a single, floor-aware parcel layer

 that supports 3D visualization and interaction.

 Parcel Fabric handles the cadastral data

 (e.g., parcel boundaries, ownership, tax attributes),

while ArcGIS Indoors extends this to detailed indoor spaces

 (e.g., unit layouts, common areas).

 The layer uses z-enabled 2D geometries

with attributes like Level ID or elevation

to enable 3D rendering in both systems.

 
3D Dependency on Attributes:

 The integration still relies on attribute-based extrusion for true 3D visualization.

For example, a condo building’s parcel layer in Parcel Fabric

 can include strata parcels

 with floor attributes,

 which Indoors uses to map and visualize indoor units in 3D.

Both systems depend on these attributes

to stack floors or extrude polygons,

 as neither natively supports true 3D volumetric data

 without external inputs like BIM.

Can You Avoid Attribute-Based Extrusion?
Short Answer:

 No, both ArcGIS Parcel Fabric and ArcGIS Indoors

 rely on attribute-based extrusion for 3D visualization and interaction in their standard configurations.

They use 2D geometries

(polygons, lines, points)

with z-values

 and attributes like floor height or Level ID

 to create 3D representations in ArcGIS Pro or web scenes.

 True 3D volumetric geometries

(e.g., polyhedrons)

 are not natively supported in either system’s core data model.

Workaround with BIM:

If you want to move closer to a “fully 3D” experience

without heavy reliance on attribute-based extrusion,

 you can integrate BIM data

 (e.g., from Revit)

 into ArcGIS Indoors or ArcGIS Pro.

BIM models provide true 3D geometries

 (e.g., volumetric representations of walls, floors, and units),

which can be visualized and interacted with in 3D scenes.

 However, even in this case:

Parcel Fabric would still manage the cadastral data as z-enabled 2D geometries,

 linking to BIM for visualization.

Editing remains primarily 2D-focused in the GIS environment,

with BIM updates typically handled outside ArcGIS

 (e.g., in Revit) and re-imported.

Future Considerations:

ESRI is advancing its 3D capabilities,

and future updates might reduce reliance on extrusion

 by incorporating more native 3D geometry support.

 However, as of the current system (August 2025),

attribute-based extrusion remains standard.

Conclusion for Assessors

Neither ArcGIS Parcel Fabric

 nor ArcGIS Indoors

 is “fully 3D”

 in the sense of natively storing and managing true 3D volumetric geometries

 without attribute-based extrusion.

 Both rely on z-enabled 2D geometries

and floor-aware attributes

to achieve 3D visualization and interaction,

 which is sufficient for most assessor office needs

(e.g., managing condo parcels, valuing units, or mapping indoor spaces).

For a more volumetric 3D experience,

integrating BIM data can enhance visualization,

but editing and core data management still hinge on 2D geometries with attributes.

 If avoiding extrusion entirely is a priority,

you would need to rely on external 3D modeling tools

 (e.g., Revit)

and import results into ArcGIS,

but this introduces additional complexity for assessors’ workflows.

[ShareUser]

Grok ~ Please explain this like you’re talking to a five-year-old

Okay! Imagine you have a big stack of pancakes, and each pancake is like a floor in a tall building, like a condo where people live. Each pancake has its own shape, but they’re all flat. Now, let’s talk about how we use special computer maps (like in ArcGIS Parcel Fabric and ArcGIS Indoors) to show and work with these pancakes in a 3D way, like a real building!
ArcGIS Parcel Fabric: The Outside of the Building
What It Does: This is like a map that shows where the building sits on the ground. It’s a flat pancake map that tells us who owns each piece of land (like a condo unit) and how much tax they need to pay.
3D Stuff: To make it look like a tall building, we add a number to each pancake that says how high it is (like “this pancake is the 5th floor”). The computer uses that number to stack the pancakes up in a 3D picture, so it looks like a real building. But the pancakes are still flat—they just get “pushed up” to look 3D.
Editing: When we want to change something, like making a condo unit bigger, we draw on the flat pancake and change its height number. We can’t really carve the pancake into a 3D shape like a toy block; we just tell the computer, “Make this pancake taller!”
ArcGIS Indoors: The Inside of the Building
What It Does: This is like a map for all the rooms inside the building, like bedrooms or kitchens in each condo. It shows where everything is on each floor.
3D Stuff: Just like with the outside map, each room is drawn as a flat pancake, but we add a number to say which floor it’s on (like “this room is on the 3rd floor”). The computer stacks these pancakes to make a 3D picture of the whole building, so you can see all the floors at once. But again, the pancakes are flat, and the computer makes them look 3D by using those numbers.
Editing: If we want to change a room, we draw on the flat pancake and update its floor number. We can’t shape it like a 3D toy; we just tell the computer to make it look taller or higher.
Why We Use Numbers for 3D
Both maps use flat pancakes with numbers (like floor height) to make things look 3D. They don’t have real 3D shapes like a Lego block because that’s harder for the computer to do. Instead, the computer takes the flat shape and “stretches” it up using the number you give it, like pulling a pancake taller to look like a floor in a building.
Can We Skip the Numbers?
Right now, we need those numbers to make the 3D picture. The maps don’t store real 3D shapes on their own. If you want super-detailed 3D, like a toy model of the building, you can use something called BIM (like a fancy 3D drawing from another program), but even then, the maps still use flat pancakes to do most of the work for taxes and rooms.
Why It’s Okay for Assessors
For people who figure out taxes (like the grown-ups who decide how much money condo owners pay), these flat pancakes with numbers work great! They can see the building in 3D on the computer, know which floor each condo is on, and decide taxes without needing super-complicated 3D shapes. It’s like stacking pancakes to look like a building—it’s simple and does the job!
So, both maps use flat shapes and numbers to make 3D pictures, and that’s enough to help with condos and taxes, even if they’re not fully 3D like a toy block.

[ShareUser]

from Grok,

Does the ArcGIS Urban product support fully 3-D polyhedrons or is it reliant on the extrusion conversation?

ArcGIS Urban, developed by Esri, is a powerful tool for urban planning and visualization, but when it comes to its 3D capabilities, it does not natively support fully 3D polyhedron geometries in the sense of storing and managing true volumetric 3D shapes as core data types within its data model. Instead, like ArcGIS Parcel Fabric and ArcGIS Indoors, it primarily relies on attribute-based extrusion of 2D geometries (e.g., polygons) to achieve 3D visualization and interaction, particularly for features like buildings or parcels. However, recent updates have introduced enhanced support for integrating external 3D models, which can include true 3D polyhedron geometries, bringing it closer to fully 3D workflows, though still with some limitations. Below, I’ll break down ArcGIS Urban’s 3D capabilities, focusing on whether it supports true 3D polyhedrons or remains reliant on extrusion, with specific reference to the latest updates as of August 2025.
ArcGIS Urban’s 3D Capabilities
ArcGIS Urban is designed to model urban environments in 3D, supporting planners in visualizing zoning, land-use scenarios, and development projects. Its 3D functionality is built around a combination of 2D geometries with z-enabled attributes and integration with external 3D data sources.
1. Core Data Model and Extrusion
2D-Based with Z-Values: ArcGIS Urban primarily uses 2D polygons to represent features like building footprints or parcels, with attributes such as Height, Elevation, or Level_ID to define their vertical extent. These attributes enable extrusion in 3D scenes, where 2D polygons are stretched vertically to create pseudo-3D representations (e.g., block-like building volumes). This is similar to the extrusion-based approach in ArcGIS Pro and other Esri products.
Floor-Aware Maps: Urban supports floor-aware maps, allowing features to be tagged with floor-specific attributes (e.g., floor number or z-value). This enables visualization of multi-floor structures like condominiums by extruding 2D polygons to represent each floor’s vertical position in a 3D scene. However, the underlying geometry remains 2D, and the 3D effect is achieved through attribute-driven extrusion, not native 3D polyhedron storage.
Visualization Example: For a condo building, Urban might store a single 2D polygon for the building footprint with attributes defining the height of each floor. In a 3D view, these polygons are extruded to appear as stacked volumes, but the data model does not store these as true 3D polyhedrons (i.e., fully enclosed volumetric shapes with complex surfaces).
2. Support for External 3D Models
Recent Updates (March 2025): The March 2025 release of ArcGIS Urban introduced significant enhancements, including the ability to upload 3D models directly into Urban’s project editor. Supported formats include IFC, DWG, FBX, and OBJ, which can contain true 3D polyhedron geometries (e.g., detailed building models with volumetric shapes, complex roofs, or interior structures). These models are stored as 3D object feature layers in the Urban database, allowing planners to visualize and position them accurately in 3D scenes.
Functionality: Users can upload a detailed 3D model (e.g., a BIM model from Revit) and adjust its position, orientation, scale, or elevation using precise coordinates. This model appears in the project editor, plan editor, and overview, providing a more realistic 3D representation than extruded 2D polygons. For example, a condo building’s 3D model could include intricate polyhedral geometry (e.g., sloped roofs or balconies) rather than a simple extruded box.
Integration with ArcGIS Ecosystem: Urban can leverage 3D meshes created from LiDAR, drone footage, or aerial imagery via ArcGIS Reality, as well as detailed models from ArcGIS CityEngine, to enhance the realism of 3D visualizations. These external 3D assets can represent true polyhedral geometries, moving beyond extrusion-based rendering.
3. Editing and Interaction
Editing Limitations: While Urban supports editing 2D geometries (e.g., adjusting parcel boundaries or sketching volumes) and positioning imported 3D models, its core editing capabilities are primarily 2D-focused. For instance, users can modify a building footprint’s attributes (e.g., height or floor count) to adjust its extruded 3D appearance, but direct manipulation of true 3D polyhedron geometries (e.g., reshaping a volumetric model’s surfaces) is not natively supported within Urban. Complex 3D edits typically occur in external tools like Revit or CityEngine, with the results imported into Urban.
3D Interaction: Urban’s project editor includes tools for 3D navigation, analysis (e.g., shadow cast, line of sight, viewshed), and visualization. These tools work with both extruded 2D geometries and imported 3D models, allowing users to interact with 3D scenes (e.g., zooming to a study area or analyzing a building’s impact). However, interactions with imported 3D models are limited to positioning and basic attribute edits, not full volumetric reshaping.
4. Is It “Reliant” on Extrusion?
Extrusion Dependency: For features managed natively within Urban’s data model (e.g., building footprints, parcels, or schematic volumes), ArcGIS Urban remains reliant on attribute-based extrusion to achieve 3D visualization. For example, a condo building’s floors are typically represented as 2D polygons extruded based on attributes like Height or Level_ID, not as true 3D polyhedrons.
Advancements with 3D Models: The ability to upload and integrate external 3D models (e.g., BIM or FBX files) in the March 2025 release marks a significant step toward supporting true 3D polyhedron geometries. These models, stored as 3D object feature layers, can represent complex volumetric shapes without relying on extrusion. However, this capability is limited to imported data, and Urban’s native data model does not store or manage these polyhedrons directly—editing them requires external software.
Hybrid Approach: ArcGIS Urban operates in a hybrid mode: it uses extrusion for native GIS data (2D polygons with attributes) and supports true 3D polyhedrons via imported models. This means it’s not entirely “stuck” in the extrusion conversation but hasn’t fully transitioned to a native 3D polyhedron-based data model either.
Implications for Assessors’ Workflows
For an assessor’s office managing parcels and taxes, particularly for multi-floor condominiums, ArcGIS Urban’s 3D capabilities are relevant in the context of integrating with ArcGIS Parcel Fabric and supporting valuation or planning tasks:
Parcel and Tax Integration: Urban can work with a floor-aware parcel layer from Parcel Fabric, using 2D polygons with attributes to represent strata parcels (e.g., condo units) in 3D via extrusion. This supports tax assessments by visualizing vertical ownership and linking attributes like floor level or unit size to valuation models.
Enhanced 3D Visualization: The ability to upload detailed 3D models (e.g., BIM data) allows assessors to visualize complex condo structures with true polyhedral geometries, which can aid in assessing improvements or verifying building details for taxation. For example, a BIM model of a condo building could reveal architectural features (e.g., balconies or atriums) that impact value, beyond what extrusion-based visuals provide.
Limitations for Assessors: While the integration of 3D models reduces reliance on extrusion for visualization, assessors’ core tasks (e.g., managing parcel boundaries, ownership, or tax rolls) are still handled by Parcel Fabric’s 2D-based, z-enabled data model. Editing these models in Urban is limited, and tax-related workflows don’t typically require full polyhedral geometries, making extrusion sufficient for most needs.
Comparison to Fully 3D Polyhedron Support
What Fully 3D Means: A fully 3D system would natively store and manage volumetric polyhedron geometries (e.g., closed 3D shapes with complex surfaces) as the primary data type, allowing direct creation, editing, and analysis of these shapes within the GIS environment without attribute-driven extrusion. Examples include BIM software like Revit or 3D CAD systems.
ArcGIS Urban’s Status: Urban does not meet this standard for its native data model, as it relies on 2D polygons with attributes for most GIS operations, using extrusion for 3D rendering. However, its support for importing 3D models (e.g., IFC, FBX) stored as 3D object feature layers allows it to incorporate true polyhedron geometries, though these are not fully editable within Urban itself.
Practical Trade-Offs: For urban planning and assessor tasks, extrusion-based 3D is often sufficient, as it supports visualization, analysis (e.g., shadow or viewshed studies), and tax-related workflows without the complexity of managing true 3D polyhedrons. The integration of external 3D models provides a bridge to more detailed 3D representations when needed, such as for high-fidelity visualizations or stakeholder presentations.
Recent Updates and Future Outlook
March 2025 Release: The introduction of 3D model uploads (IFC, DWG, FBX, OBJ) and their storage as 3D object feature layers is a significant advancement, allowing ArcGIS Urban to handle true 3D polyhedron geometries from external sources. This reduces dependency on extrusion for detailed visualizations, though editing remains limited to external tools.
Future Potential: Esri is actively enhancing its 3D capabilities across the ArcGIS platform (e.g., ArcGIS Reality, CityEngine integration). Future releases may further reduce reliance on extrusion by introducing more native support for volumetric geometries, but as of August 2025, Urban remains a hybrid system.
Conclusion
ArcGIS Urban is not fully 3D in the sense of natively storing and managing true 3D polyhedron geometries within its core data model. It relies heavily on attribute-based extrusion of 2D polygons for 3D visualization and interaction of native GIS data, similar to Parcel Fabric and Indoors. However, with the March 2025 release, Urban’s support for uploading external 3D models (e.g., BIM or FBX files) as 3D object feature layers allows it to incorporate true polyhedral geometries, significantly advancing its 3D capabilities beyond extrusion alone. For assessors, this hybrid approach—combining extruded 2D geometries for cadastral data with imported 3D models for detailed visualization—is generally sufficient for tax-related tasks and urban planning, though full 3D editing requires external tools. If native 3D polyhedron support is critical, you’d need to rely on BIM or CAD software and integrate the results into Urban, but for most assessor workflows, the current capabilities meet practical needs effectively.

[ShareUser]

@ShareUser at first sight I can't really relate the question with ArcGIS GeoBIM. Was it accidentally cross-posted?

[ShareUser]

We would also be interested in Jefferson County, AL. We have several condominiums, and we are looking for the best way to manage them within the fabric. At this point, we essentially have stacked parcels which are challenging to manage. We are currently experimenting with multipatch features but the integration into the fabric is another large challenge.