ArcScene Navigation

Looking at data in ArcScene involves a target and an observer. The observer is the point from which observation occurs. The target is the center point around which a scene viewer moves when you navigate. The target can also be thought of as the point on which the observer is focused.

Target and observer points have x, y, and z values. The relationship between the target and observer values defines your 3D view perspective. ArcScene offers several ways to set the location of these points.

First, you can change the view perspective in ArcScene by zooming, panning, and rotating your data. Or, you can use tools that let you choose target and observer positions by clicking on the data in the scene.

Target and observer locations can also be defined by their actual x, y, and z coordinate values. This is the most precise way to define a 3D view perspective.

In ArcScene, you can set target and observer points explicitly by their x,y, and z values. In this scene, the target is the reddish dot. The observer point is not visible since it's the point from which you look at the target.

It is also possible to create a view perspective that continually changes. For example, you can simulate flight through a scene. Using the Fly tool is the most dynamic way to explore your data, since the target and observer coordinates continually change while you fly over the data.

In ArcScene, you can fly through a 3D scene. When performing a fly-through, your cursor takes the form of a bird in flight.