1. Using ArcGis 3D Analyst in Identifying Shortest Network Pathway of Water
Supply through Pipeline
Authors:
Md. Saliur Rahman
And
Asmaul Husna Shapla
Urban and Rural Planning Discipline, Khulna University
Khulna
Abstract:
ArcGIS 3D Analyst provides advanced visualization, analysis, and surface generation tools.
Using ArcGIS 3D Analyst, we can view large sets of data in three dimensions from multiple
viewpoints, query a surface, and create a realistic perspective image that drapes raster and vector
data over a surface (www.esri.com). In planning sector using of ArcGIS 3D Analyst is
inevitable. The planning professionals use this extension in many prominent areas viz., transport
modeling, designing drainage network, detecting land uses, identifying flood prone areas, 3D
gaming, identifying the arsenic contaminated aquifers, showing rapid urbanization growth,
designing water supply network etc. In this report an attempt has been taken to incorporate the
ArcGIS 3D Analyst extension in identifying shortest network path of water supply through
pipeline.
Keywords: 3D Analyst, Visualization, Drape.

2. Introduction:
ArcGIS 3D Analyst provides an extensive set of features to create 3D scenarios using the
existing data, visualize 2D GIS data inside a 3D view to enhance understanding of spatial
relationships between objects within an environment, manage geospatial data in 3D by editing
features and adding 3D components to 2D data using new, robust geoprocessing tools, analyze
geospatial data in three dimensions to address problems that simply can't be solved in 2D, create
3D views, animations, and analysis to drive decision making (www.esri.com).
To identify a shortest network path of water supply through pipeline the following steps should
be considered- sourcing of underground water, terrain favorability, indicating the road network
for access, identifying the existing water supply sources like tube-wells, consider the buildings’
height to estimate the vertical extension of the pipeline and finally find out the shortest pipeline
path considering the proximity of water sources, along with roads and excluding the over
undulated surface and existing water supply sources.

3. Working Steps:
Draping an image over a terrain surface:
Viewing a remotely sensed image draped over a terrain surface can often lead to greater
understanding of the patterns in the image and how they relate to the shape of the earth’s surface.
There should have collected a TIN that shows the terrain and a satellite radar image that shows
the roughness of the land surface (ESRI, 2000 – 2008). By draping the image over the terrain
surface a dimension can be added to the understanding.
Image > Properties > Base Heights > Obtain heights for layer from surface
Drape the road network in the base height of surface by the previous process.
Extrude inversely the column of height data of underground water level:
Including z values the height of water level may indicating by point features. These point
features should be converted in 3D.
3D Analyst > Convert > Features to 3D
These 3D features should be draped on the base height of surface. Then the 3D features have to
extrude inversely to their z values by which the short distanced water level surface from the
ground surface will be identifiable.
3d Features > Properties > Extrusion
Identify the existing water supply sources through realistic 3D view:
Firstly the feature data of existing water supply sources has to add in Arcglob, and then
symbolize the features by 3D objects from 3D style
Features > Properties > Symbology > Categories > Unique Values > Value Field > Mode > Add
All Values > More Symbols > Chose the Preferred Symbol with size, angel, rotation etc.
The areas where the water supply sources are abundant ought to exclude in the shortest path.
Extrude the Polygon Features into Buildings:
Now the polygon features have to extrude to represent the buildings with height to determine the
vertical extension of the water supply pipes.
Polygon Features > Properties > Globe Extrusion > Extrude Features in Layer > Calculate

4. Conclusion:
Planners are confronted with distance the problem of deprived zone from piped water supply and
identification of the optimum path with least cost and distance to meet the present and future
public demand. ArcGis 3D Analyst extension tool is surely good enough to design a suitable
shortest network path of water supply through pipeline. But due to limited knowledge in 3D
analyst we have explored only some partial working steps to determine the shortest path but
hopefully its effective in some extent.
Bibliography:
• ESRI, Environmental System Research Institute, 2011, htpp://www.esri.com.
• ESRI, Environmental System Research Institute, 2000-2008, ArcGis 9; Using ArcGis 3D
Analyst, Redlands, USA.