3D Map display

Using the 3D Map Display

The 3D Map display is able to take any of the maps, with overlay data, and drape it over a 3D terrain model. You can view from any angle and scroll to explore the terrain.

Like the standard 2D map, the 3D map display is a configurable item that can be set up by Editing Layout. See Here for instructions to add a page containing the 3D Map to your layout.

Controlling the 3D view

The control of the map view follows that of Google Earth, on touchscreen and using a mouse.

Using a touchscreen (iOS, Android and Windows).

•Drag the screen to pan the map

•Pinch-zoom to move the camera forwards or backwards along the direction of view

•Two finger rotate to change the direction of view

•Two finger scroll up/down to tilt the camera up or down

Using a mouse and keyboard (Mac, Windows, Linux)

•Click and drag to pan the map

•Hold a modifier key (Ctrl, Shift, Cmd, or Alt) and Click and drag to pan and tilt the camera

•Use the scroll wheel to move the camera forwards or backwards along the direction of view.

Using just the keyboard

•Use the cursor keys to pan and tilt the camera

•Hold a modifier key (Ctrl, Shift, Cmd, or Alt) and use the cursor keys to move forwards, backwards and side-to-side

•Use the + or - keys to move the camera vertically up and down (_ and = work too)

•Press 7 or Home to move faster

•Pres 1 or End to move slower

GPS Lock

When the GPS Lock button at the bottom-right is engaged, the view follows the GPS location and rotates to view it in the direction of travel. Like the 2D view, you can click the Lock-on to follow the GPS position, then adjust the view to place or rotate the map. The map will follow the GPS, at the adjusted position and orientation. If you adjust/pan the map so the GPS position is out of view, it cancels the Lock on status, which is indicated by a dot in the center of the GPS lock button.

Adjusting 3D View settings

Right-click or Tap-and-hold on the GPS Lock buttonto bring up the 3D View settings dialog.

The 3D Settings dialog allows you to control the direction of the lighting and the amount of vertical exaggeration in the terrain model.

Click or tap the lighting button, then click or tap anywhere on the 3D View to control the direction of the lighting. Tapping the center of the screen places the lighting directly overhead, minimizing the shading effect. Tapping near the edge of the item places the lighting near the horizon.

Drag the Exaggeration slider to change the vertical scale of the terrain model. This can be useful when using small scale maps or in flat terrain. In hilly areas, no exaggeration is needed!

Offline Use

Maps and terrain data are automatically downloaded on-the-fly as you scroll around the map. All the areas you view are saved on the device and may be viewed again without access to the internet.

While the map data may be downloaded in bulk (see here), there is currently no way to bulk-download the terrain data. This will be added in a future update.

Elevation data quality issues

We are aware of some anomalies in the elevation data, causing large spikes in some areas, and incorrect sea levels in other areas. We are working on integrating better quality elevation data.

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