What's New: Recent Updates and New Resources

Latest Downloads

CityTiler Demonstration Workspace

The CityTiler workspace includes Tools & Tasks for creating the tile grid and for clipping out terrain data-sets and groundplan images. This workspace also includes FME tools for creating the tiled SketchUp models, tiled terrain as OBJ and the tiled building collections as OBJ files. This workspace also includes a demonstration version of the Repository Catalog, which is used as the target for all of the tools.

The demonstration workspace includes all of the terrain and context data for the entire area covered by the BosMetro tile grid.

Model Collection Management Demonstration Workspace

The ModelMgt workspace consists of a file system structure and guided tasks and geoprocessing tools for managing the collection of building, bridge and wall models. The demonstration workspace includes four tiles of data. It is used for testing all of the workflows and demonstrating that the tools work.

Change History

December 6, 2023 CityTiler Workspace, Including RepoCat Demo & FME Tiler Tools

  • The CityTiler workspace includes Tools & Tasks for creating the tile grid and for clipping out terrain data-sets and groundplan images. This workspace also includes FME tools for creating the tiled SketchUp models, tiled terrain as OBJ and the tiled building collections as OBJ files. This workspace also includes a demonstration version of the Repository Catalog, which is used as the target for all of the tools.
  • November 3, 2023 Tools and Tasks Update: 6.1

    September 26, 2023 Major Update: 6.0

    • Schema Change to add Legend Class, A80 Staus, and attributes for Plan, Scenario and Phase
    • New tools and tasks for check for A80 Status Change and various flagging and unflagging proedures for Promotion and Demotion candidates.
    • New tool and task that compares the prior catalog with the next-edition, producing a summary table that lists the counts of models by status and computes the change.
    • Download ModelMgt_Demo_V6_20230926.zip A streamlined working demo of all of the tools and tasks covering downtown only. ModelMgt_20230926
    • Download Bos3d_ModelMgt_Prod_20230926.zip The full production workspace including the 20230813 model collection migrated to V6.

    September 9, 2023 New version of Tools and Tasks V 5.0.1

    • Continuing improvements on WebScene production tools.
    • Use in Demo Workspace.
    • Download new Tools folder Bos3dModelMgt_ToolsTasks_v5.0.2_20230908.zip
    • Update your demo Tasks. Check toolbox properties to make sure your Tollbox and Tasks are in sync. Both should be 5.0.2

    August 28, 2023: New version of Tools and Tasks V 5.0.1

    • For testing the ArcPy wrappers for FMEObjects. I recommend using these in your demo workspace for testing.
    • Download new tools folder. Includes Tasks and new Toolbox Bos3dModelMgt_ToolsTasks_v5.0.1_20230828.zip
    • Unzip and replace tools folder in your ModelMgt_Demo workspace and re-install your tasks.

    August 15, 2023: Posted Complete Demo Project for preview of Tools and Tasks V 5.0

    August 14, 2023: Released Tools and Tasks V 5.0

    • Toolbox upgraded to newatbx format ( version 3.0 )
    • All Tools and tasks checked and repaired for compatibility with eachother in ArcGIS pro version 3.1.2
    • Lots of tweaks to tasks to update prompts for clarity and accuracy with latest workflows.
    • Brand new functionality for producing and updating Public and INternal web scenes and web feature layers for ArcGIS Urban.
    • Download the updates at Bos3dModelMgt_ToolsTasks_5.0_20230814.zip
    • Follow the instructions in the readme.txt file included in the zip file.

    July 19, 2023: Fixed Toolbox Release 4.2.2.1

    July 16, 2023: CitySchema invited to present at at Harvard Symposium on Spatiotemporal Data Science

    July 7, 2023: New Beta FME Workbench

    July 3, 2023: New Docs and Tools and Tasks 4.2.2

    June 29, 2023: Tools and Tasks 4.2.1

    • Fixed issue with FME Import and Export of OBJ models. Requires installation of updated tasks and ModelMgt toolbox from this download. Download Bos3d_ToolsTaks_4.2.1_20230629.zip
    • The Toolbox properties are now updated so you can check the version of your toolbox by looking at its properties in ArcGIS Pro.

    June 22, 2023: Tools and Tasks 4.2

    • Now featuring new tools and tasks for exporting multipatch to OBJ ModelStore and from ModelStore to Multipatch. These are embedded into new geoprocessing models in a Validate Models task found in the Import Models task group.
    • Download Bos3d_Tools_4.2_20230627.zip
    • The Tasks folder has been moved from the ModelMgt/ArcDocs folder to ModelMgt/Tools/Tasks where you will find the latest Manage_Model_Collection_4.2.esriTasks which you should install in your ModelMgtBPDA_20230512v7b workspace, along with the latest ModelMgt toolbox.

    April 28, 2023: Slides presented at the MIT Conference on Digital Humanities

    MIT_DigitalHumanities_20230428.pdf

    Release 4.0.1 March 14 2023

    • Fixed tools broken due to ArcGIS Pro 3.1 update. Several instances of the Calculate Fields (Multiple) tool were replaced.
    • The Assign Geometric Attributes tool now references the Parcels, Tile Polys and Raster Elevation datasets from the Scene/Sources layer group.
      To make the most of this feature, update the sources of the layers in your local environment and save this as a lyer file that you can swap in and out with the demo version when you update your workspace.

      Release 4.0.0 February 20 2023

      Major new features with this release:

      • The ModelStore pattern has been clarified and articulated as a collection of open format models with associated catalog and finding aids. These changes support new workflows for model validation and in future releases will support the way that the Model Downloads site is updated.
      • The ModelBatch pattern has been articulated as an extension of the more general Workspace pattern. These improvements provide clarity to the workflows for Major Updates, for model validation and for model splitting and repairs.

        Several workflows, tools and tasks associated with the ModelBatch pattern have been improved , including:

        • An autoAssembled_MP stage for the consolidated source models as multipatch. This is the new target for Assigning Model and Geometric attributes.
        • Batch-specific tool-box provides easily repeatable source model assembly and assignment of batch-specific model attributes.
        • The Assign Geometric Attributes tool and task has been simplified. It now modifies the input feature class.
        • Batch-specific ModelStore preserves OBJ models
        • Two new FME workbenches:
          • Validate assembled models produce a ModelStore representing validated models representing source models and changes performed in the initial Prep_MP.
          • Produce a Ready_MP feature class validated as proving a round-trip to open OBJ format.
        • The Assign Model Attributes tool automatically detects the Model Batch and sets various dates and editor information.
        • Promo/Demo for new and modified models is now carried out in the Prep_MP feature class

        New tools in pbcUtils tool group

        • Import Models with model-specific CSV Insertion points. This is a common way of exchanging 0,0,0 based 3D models between platforms.
        • Import Models frm KMZ format. Another common exchange format -- which is similar to our ModelStore idea

    Changes to Schema and related Workflows

    Schema changes expand the list of QA Flags to better support Promo/Demo workflows.

    • The Modified and Demolished status have been dropped and merged into the status "History". For any model that represents a past shape for a structure, its status simply becomes History. If the Disappear Date is left Null, this date wil be set automatically when the next geodatabase edition is pushed.
    • Models with status: Under Construction and Complete will now remain in the Approved feature class until they are superseded by measured models. This wil lbe more compatible with the lifecycle of hand-made models which stay in the Change Model Store until they are superseded by measured models.
    • The status-driven symbolization and group layers and definition query views have been updated to reflect the consolidation of the history layers.
    • The status filtering procedures for pushing new editions of web scenes and geodatabases are being updated to reflect the new behavior of Approved, Under Construction and Complete.
    • Several new values have been added to the QA_Flag domain to support workflows for flagging Promo and Demo candidates and various cases of models needing repair.
    • The Model ID has been expanded to a 21 character string in the form: BOS-A1B2C-3D4E5-F6G7H. This new ID has a 1 in 2 billion chance of drawing a duplicate in a model collection of 50 million models. See Model Identifiers.
    • Project_ID will change from an Integer type to a Character string with 20 characters.
    • A new ModelStore field has been added which wil make it possible to construct a path or URL to the OBJ for any model, some of which may be in the Change, Internal, or As-Built ModelStores. A domain has been added to regulate the values of the ModelStore field. Domain management tools updated to set this up on MP FCs.
    • Hand-Made models of buildings that have been observed to be "topped out" will now have their status set to Construction Complete. Models with this status will stay in the Approved_MP feature class until they are replaced by a measured model. Whence their status will become Project Complete which will cause them to be moved to the Internal feature class and model store. This change requires an update to the Sort Next GDB Edition tools.
    • Created new domain for StructType.

    Updates to Documentation

    • Need add documentation explaining different sorts of updates: Major Update, Model Download Update, Model Management Migration, Geodatabase Edition, Public Webscene Edition, Internal WebScene edition.
    • Data Dictionary has been updated.

    June 15, 2022: Web-Scene Publishing Tasks Provide Model Download Link in ArcGIS On-Line Pop-Ups

    We have improved our layer management capability with in the Model Management workspace to automate the production of ArcGIS On-Line Web feature services with streamlined pop-ups -- that provide for model downloads! Visit the demo here.

    May 20, 2022: CityTiler Repository Posted

    The CitySchema-CityTiler project includes all of the tools for:
    • Creating a tiling scheme that facilitates exchange of georeferenced models between GIS and design-oriented 3d modeling tools.
    • Creating tiled terrain models that integrate very detailed triangulated models witin the boundaries of the city's photogrammetry. Filling in areas outside the city limit with details from the MassGIS state-wide DTM.
    • Creating tiled groundplan images that drape precisely onto the tiled terrain models

    May 16, 2022: Presentation Slides from the Northeast Arc User Conference

    > This slide deck discusses some of new ideas about building a metropolitan community dedicated to city model stewardship.

    May 5, 2022: Docutree Project Improves Modular Documentation

    The simple but effective html documentation framework for citySchema.org has been forked to its own gitHub project -- www.github.com/pbcgis/docutree. The idea here is to make it easier for users to contribute or capture documentation collections or individual pages that relate to their projects.

    January 12, 2022: Intro video posted on YouTube.

    The first video has been posted to the citySchema.org YouTube channel. Take and Give: Coordinating City Model Activity provides an intro to the citySchema architecture and a technical overview of the technique for sharing editable models with any commercial modeling tool while retaining precise 3D georeferencing.

    January 1, 2022: A New Year of Funding for citySchema.org.

    The Boston Planning and Development Agency has renewed its support for citySchema.org with a new year of funding to support the continued development of tools and documentation!

    December 27, 2021: Model Collection Management Tools for ArcGIS Pro posted on GitHub.

    An ArcGIS Pro project with all of the tools, tasks and layers necessary to demonstrate the procedures for updating the building model collection has been posted on GitHub. This repo has a demo data-set that canbe used to demonstrate all of the tasks, which are documented below in the section on Model Collection Management in ArcGIS Pro.