ArcGIS Pro Add-In for Oriented Imagery

An introduction to the ArcGIS Pro add-in for Oriented Imagery

The Oriented Imagery Add-in for ArcGIS Pro allows users to visualize and explore oblique, panoramic, street level pictures and even 360 degree photos. This is all possible via oriented imagery catalogs created using the Oriented Imagery Catalogs Management tools. With the Oriented Imagery add-in for ArcGIS Pro, users can view and explore oriented imagery collections using the built-in Imagery Viewer as well as visualize those collections on a map. You can create your own collection by downloading the Oriented Imagery Management Tools from ArcGIS Online and follow these steps. This story map will guide you on what to do once you have created your own Oriented Imagery Catalog. 

Getting Started

To get started you will need ArcGIS Pro and the Add-In file. The add-in file can be downloaded from marketplace  here . Once downloaded simply unzip and double-click the .addinx file to install it on to ArcGIS Pro.

If ArcGIS Pro is open at the time, make sure to restart ArcGIS Pro.

Load your first OIC (Oriented Imagery Catalog) 

In the Map tab, select the Add Data dropdown.

This will open up the Add Oriented Imagery Dialog.

Select the OIC and double click to add to the active map.

ArcGIS Pro will zoom to the extent of the OIC.

Close the Add Oriented Imagery Dialog or dock it to the side.

Turn on the Coverage Map to see the areas that exposure points cover.

Anatomy of an Oriented Imagery Catalog Layer

Oriented Imagery Layer

An OIC layer is a group layer which contains four layers to help you explore the OIC better. 

These layers can be turned on and off like regular layers to show you areas on the map that are covered by the OIC. 

Exposure Points

This layer will show you all the exposure points in a catalog.

You can change the symbology for better visibility.

Current Coverage

Shows the field of view for the image currently in the Imagery viewer.

Additional Coverage

Shows the field of view for all the image points that cover the selected area.

Coverage Map

Shows an overview of the coverage area for your OIC. 

Viewing Imagery

The concept behind oriented imagery is to click a location on the map and find all the images in your catalog that can show you all the different angles of that location. To select this location there is a tool that will help you do this. 

Locate the Oriented Imagery contextual tab and select the Data tab. Click on the Select OI Location tool. 

Select your point of interest.

Click on a point of interest in the map using this tool.

This will open up the Oriented Imagery Viewer. 

The point that you have selected will be depicted using a red x on the map view as well as the imagery viewer. The red x in the viewer is an approximation of the point on the map. 

Identify points on the ground.

You can also mark out reference points on the map or the viewer by using Alt+Click . The accuracy of the points depends on the metadata available in the OIC. 

Oriented Imagery Viewer.

The Imagery viewer is a dialog that can be docked within ArcGIS Pro. It can also be close when not in use. When an image is selected it will pop-up in its last used position and state. The interface is quite simple. A few of the common buttons and tools are listed below.

Zoom In / Zoom Out / Pan

Zoom in: Increases the magnification of the central point of the image incrementally. Once zoomed in, you can drag the image around to bring other areas of the image into view.

Zoom out:Decreases the magnification of the central point of the image incrementally. If not zoomed out completely, you can drag the image around to bring other areas of the image into view.

Navigation Tool

A visual representation of all the images that contain the selected point, which is depicted as a red X on the map, in the Imagery Viewer, and at the center of the Navigation tool. The navigation tool is a compass depicting the camera locations for all relevant images, with the selected point in the center. The tool is divided into four quadrants (north, south, east, and west); each quadrant is divided into three segments, which the show the relative distance of each camera location from the selected point.

Image enhancement

Two sliders that allow you to interactively adjust the contrast and brightness of the image.

Overlays

Lists vector layers you can display on top of the image in the Imagery Viewer . The Camera locations layer is available by default. If you turn on the Camera locations layer, it displays any additional camera locations that are visible in the current image as orange and green dots (orange if they depict the red X, green if they don’t). You can select any of these dots to view the image that was taken from that location.

Editing Features

Editing features in the Oriented Imagery Window

Add a feature service to the active map

Select a point of interest using the oriented imagery tool.

In the Edit tab, select create features.

In the Create Features Pane, select the feature service to edit and click on the OI Edit tool.

In the Oriented Imagery Viewer click on the overlays button.

Enter the distance of the feature to edit.

Click on the overlays button to clear the view.

Start editing on the oriented imagery viewer window.

Double click to stop editing the feature.

Click on Save to save edits in the Feature Service.

NOTE: The feature service has to be editable.

This process can be repeated for point and line feature services.