{
  "id": "2003-may-june-adding-the-3rd-dimension",
  "slug": "2003-may-june-adding-the-3rd-dimension",
  "url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/2003-may-june-adding-the-3rd-dimension.html",
  "year": 2003,
  "month": "May • June",
  "monthNum": 5,
  "headline": "Adding the 3rd dimension",
  "kicker": "MAPPING IT OUT",
  "author_name": "Stephen K. Doig",
  "author_title": "journalist",
  "affiliation": "Arizona State University",
  "summary": "Stephen Doig explains how to use ArcView's 3D Analyst extension to create three-dimensional maps for news reporting, using a St. Paul income study as an example.",
  "keywords": [
    "3D Analyst",
    "GIS mapping",
    "ArcView"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Technology",
    "Investigative Methods",
    "Data & Databases"
  ],
  "technologies": [
    "ArcView",
    "3D Analyst",
    "ArcScene",
    "GIS",
    "shapefile"
  ],
  "full_text": "A few months ago, I was wowed by a demonstration of a mapping tool that was new to me. It was 3D Analyst, an extension to ESRI's popular ArcView geographical information system (GIS) software. 3D Analyst can take a two-dimensional map, such as a thematic map of census tracts, and transform it into a three-dimensional image in which the height of each area on the map can represent another variable. The resulting depiction of data, which looks like a cityscape of skyscrapers, can then be \"explored\" by turning it every which way, zooming in and out and even flying through it up close. I decided I had to learn how to use this cool toy. Like most journalists interested in computer-assisted reporting, I learn new tools best when I have some real journalistic task to accomplish. The trick was to find something interesting to do. Janet Roberts of the St. Paul Pioneer-Press quickly took up my offer. Having seen a nice 3D map of median income change data created by the Chicago Tribune, she wanted to do something similar for the city of St. Paul, looking at percentage change in median household income since 1989. Turns out I needn't have worried. If you already know how to use ArcView, doing the basic work with 3D Analyst is a snap. So here's a handy step-by-step for ArcView 8.x in case you get your hands on the extension: The first step is to activate the 3D Analyst extension. Hit the Add Data button and find your shapefile. To make a 3D image, launch ArcScene, which is 3D Analyst's workspace. Now right-click on the layer name and open the Properties window. Click on the \"Extrude features in a layer\" box in the Extrusion tab. In the Expression Builder window, click on a field you want to have provide the height variable. If the variable's value by itself won't do what you want, go back to the expression builder window and multiply or divide by some arbitrary number. Now explore the image using the Navigate and other pointers on the ArcScene toolbar. Finally, go to File\\Export Scene\\2D on the menu to save the image in whatever graphics format you want. 3D Analyst will do much more than simply making a 3D version of a flat thematic map. Contact Steve Doig by e-mail at steve.doig@asu.edu.",
  "provenance": {
    "extracted_by": "pre-v2",
    "extracted_at": "",
    "verified": true
  },
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  "html_url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/2003-may-june-adding-the-3rd-dimension.html",
  "json_url": "https://dwillis.github.io/uplink/article/2003-may-june-adding-the-3rd-dimension.json"
}