Create a 3D subsurface visualization of aquifers

Kent and Sussex counties in Delaware depend on groundwater for household consumption, agriculture, and industry. To effectively use and manage this critical natural resource, it is important to understand the geographic extent and thickness of the aquifers. Geologists used borehole records to identify the depth to, and thickness of, 12 confined aquifers throughout the counties.

In this tutorial, you'll create a public visualization of the aquifers. You'll create 3D models in ArcGIS Pro and publish them in ArcGIS Online to view in Scene Viewer.

This tutorial was last tested on March 30, 2026, using ArcGIS Pro 3.6. If you're using a different version of ArcGIS Pro, you may encounter different functionality and results.

Requirements

• ArcGIS Pro (see options for software access)
• ArcGIS organizational account with a Publisher or Administrator role

Create a 3D subsurface visualization of aquifers

Review data points

First, you'll review point features that represent boreholes drilled in the study area. The depth of the top and bottom of each aquifer was recorded by geologists at each location. Depth information was converted to elevations relative to sea level based on the surface elevation at the drill site and stored as attributes of the features.

1. Download the Visualize_Aquifers project package.

   A file named Visualize_Aquifers.ppkx is downloaded to your computer. A .ppkx file is an ArcGIS Pro project package and may contain maps, data, and other files that you can open in ArcGIS Pro.

2. Locate the downloaded file on your computer and double-click it to open it in ArcGIS Pro. If prompted, sign in with your ArcGIS account.

   Note:

   If you don't have access to ArcGIS Pro or an ArcGIS organizational account, see options for software access.

   A map appears, showing a set of points in northern Kent County, Delaware.

   

   These points belong to the cheswold_top_pts layer in the Contents pane. Each of the points is labeled with the elevation, relative to sea level, of the top of the Cheswold aquifer at that location. The elevation values vary from about 16 meters above sea level in the northwest to about 65 meters below sea level in the southeast.

3. On the map, click any of the points.

   

   The pop-up shows the attributes of the point. The pop-up in the example image shows an elevation of -36.576 meters for the top of the Cheswold aquifer.

4. Close the pop-up.
5. In the Contents pane, right-click the cheswold_top_pts layer and choose Attribute Table.

   

   The attribute table for the layer opens.

6. In the attribute table, double-click the header for the ELEV_TOP_M column.

   

   The points are sorted by the values in this column. You can double-click the header again to see the values in descending order. Sorting the points like this allows you to see the range of values.

   This layer only has values for the top of the Cheswold aquifer. It is here as a sample to give you a sense of how the data you'll use was created. Other layers like it were created for the tops and bottoms of each of the other aquifers, but you won't need them for this tutorial.

   The project contains this point feature class of borehole locations, a polygon feature class of the study area, and the top and base raster layers for the northern portion of the Cheswold and Piney Point aquifers.

   The raster layers were calculated from borehole point data using radial basis functions in the ArcGIS Geostatistical Analyst extension. The interpolation method and input parameters were selected by considering the geology of the area, the number of data points, and the distribution of points across the study area. These parameters involved complicated and discretionary decision-making by a geologist.

   Due to the complexity of creating these layers, you'll start with a subset of the final raster layers that represent the northern portion of the Cheswold and Piney Point aquifers to create your 3D visualization.

7. Close the attribute table.

Convert rasters to TIN

The visualization you'll create uses 3D geometries stored as multipatch features. To make the multipatches, the first step is to convert the rasters to triangulated irregular network (TIN) format. The geologist did not convert the points directly to TIN because the point to TIN conversion is linear, while these aquifer surfaces are better modeled using a geostatistical method. Since you have several rasters to convert, you'll use the Raster To TIN tool in batch mode. Batch mode allows you to configure a tool to run multiple times on multiple input datasets or with different parameter settings.

1. On the ribbon, click Analysis. In the Geoprocessing group, click Tools.

   

2. In the Geoprocessing pane, in the search box, type raster to tin.

   The Raster To TIN tool appears in the search results.

3. Right-click the Raster To TIN tool and choose Batch.

   

   The tool batch configuration parameters appear.

4. For Choose a batch parameter, confirm Input Raster is chosen.
5. Confirm Make temporary batch tool is chosen.

   

6. Click Next.

   The Batch Raster To TIN tool is ready to use.

7. For Batch Input Raster, click the Add Many button.

   

8. Check each of the four input rasters and click Add.

   

   The input rasters are added to the tool.

   

   Next, you'll change the output names. By default, the output is named RasterTin_OutTin_%Name%. %Name% is a variable that will contain each of the raster names. To make the names more readable, you'll change the prefix on the names from RasterTin_OutTin_ to TIN_.

9. For the Output TIN parameter, edit the path to remove visualize_aquifer.gdb, so the target location is the commondata folder. Edit the output name to be TIN_%Name%.

   

   The tool is ready to run.

   

10. Click Run.

    The tool runs, converting each of the four rasters into TIN format. The TIN layers are added to the Contents pane.

    

    These layers are intermediate data that you'll use to create the 3D multipatch features.

    Note:

    To learn more about TIN data, see TIN in ArcGIS Pro.

Create multipatch features

Next, you'll create a multipatch feature to represent the 3D volume of the Cheswold aquifer and a second multipatch to represent the Piney Point aquifer. You'll create them by extruding between the top and bottom TINs for each aquifer.

1. In the Geoprocessing pane, click the Back button.

   

2. Search for extrude between. In the list of search results, click the Extrude Between tool.

   

   This tool takes two TIN layers and a feature class as inputs, and creates a multipatch feature class as an output.

3. For the first Input TIN parameter, choose TIN_cheswold_top.
4. For the second Input TIN parameter, choose TIN_cheswold_base.
5. For Input Feature Class, choose study_area.
6. For Output Feature Class, type cheswold_multipatch.

   

7. Click Run.

   The cheswold_multipatch layer is created and added to the map.

   Before closing the tool, you'll run it again to make the multipatch for the Piney Point aquifer.

8. In the Extrude Between tool, change the first and second Input TIN parameters to TIN_piney_top and TIN_piney_base, respectively.
9. For Output Feature Class, type piney_multipatch.

   

10. Click Run.

    The piney_multipatch layer is created and added to the map.

Add the aquifers to a scene

To view the aquifers in 3D, you'll create a new local scene and add them to it.

1. On the ribbon, click the Insert tab. In the Project group, click the New Map drop-down button and choose New Local Scene.

   

   A Scene view is added to the project next to the Map view.

2. On the ribbon, click the View tab. In the Windows group, click Catalog Pane.

   

3. In the Catalog pane, expand Databases and expand visualize_aquifers.gdb.

   

4. Drag the cheswold_multipatch feature class onto the Scene view. Drag the piney_multipatch feature class onto the Scene view.

   The two feature classes are added to the scene. In the Contents pane, they are listed in the 3D Layers section.

   

   On the scene, they appear as large white polygons.

   

Change the color of the layers

You'll set the Red Green Blue (RGB) color values for the Cheswold and Piney Point aquifers so they look the same as in published maps and reports.

1. In the Contents pane, for cheswold_multipatch, right-click the white color patch and choose Color properties.

   

   The Color Editor window appears. The default Color Mode is RGB. You'll use RGB colors because this visualization is designed to be viewed on screen. For printed work, you might choose to use the CMYK color model.

   Note:

   Read more about color in ArcGIS Pro.

2. In the Color Editor window, in the Red box, type 221 and press Enter.

   

3. In the Green box, type 168 and press Enter.
4. In the Blue box, type 205 and press Enter.

   

5. Click OK.
6. In the Contents pane, for the piney_multipatch layer, right-click the white color patch and choose Color properties. Set the following RGB values:
   • For Red, type 221.
   • For Green, type 101.
   • For Blue, type 52.

   

7. Click OK.

   The two layers have their colors set.

   

   Features are drawn above the basemap in the scene by default. For subsurface visualization, you'll change this setting to display features below the surface.

8. In the Contents pane, in the Elevation Surfaces group, click Ground.

   

9. On the ribbon, click the Elevation Surface Layer tab. In the Surface group, check Navigate Underground.

   

Change the scene viewing angle

The scene can be navigated using mouse click and drag actions, with keys on the keyboard, or by interacting with the on-screen navigator control.

1. For the Navigator control, click the Show full control button.

   

2. Point to the inner ring of the Navigator control.

   

   The inner ring of the Navigator control turns blue when you move the pointer over it.

3. Click the lower right part of the ring and slowly drag it up and to the left.

   

   As you move the ring up, the viewing angle of the scene drops and you can see the multipatch layer below the surface. As you drag the ring left, the scene rotates.

   Navigating a 3D scene can be confusing at first, so it is good to familiarize yourself with the navigation controls. It is also helpful to know that if you get disoriented or can't see the data layers of interest, you can right-click a feature layer in the Contents pane and choose Zoom To Layer to return the scene to an above-surface perspective view of the layer.

4. Click the Zoom forward button to zoom in.

   

5. Click the right side of the outer ring.

   

   The view pans to the right when you click the right side of the ring.

6. Click the Move down button.

   

   The viewer depth increases as you click the Move down arrow.

   You can also use keyboard shortcuts and mouse-click and drag interactions with the view to navigate a 3D scene. Some options include the following:

   • Pan (move): left-click and drag, or use arrow keys
   • Zoom in/out: scroll wheel up/down, or click +/- buttons, or right-click and drag
   • Rotate and tilt: middle-click and drag

   Note:

   Read more about scene navigation.

Change the vertical exaggeration

The aquifers are thin and not very deep, relative to their horizontal extent, so they appear nearly flat at true scale. Vertical exaggeration enhances subtle differences, making the layers easier to see in 3D.

1. In the Contents pane, right-click cheswold_multipatch and choose Properties.

   

   The Layer Properties window appears for the cheswold_multipatch layer.

2. Click the Elevation tab. In the Vertical Exaggeration box, type 45.

   

3. Click OK.

   The cheswold_multipatch layer is drawn with a vertical exaggeration value of 45.

4. Open the Layer Properties window for the piney_multipatch layer and set Vertical Exaggeration to 45.
5. In the Contents pane, right-click the piney_multipatch layer and choose Zoom To Layer.

   

6. Click the lower right part of the inner ring of the Navigator control and slowly drag it up and to the left.

   

   By dragging the ring, you can see the two aquifer multipatch features below the surface.

   

   The vertical exaggeration makes the thickness and slope of the aquifers easier to see.

Preserve the vertical exaggeration in feature classes

The vertical exaggeration of the scene is applied to the layers, but you want the effect to be embedded in them, so when you add them to ArcGIS Online they will still be exaggerated.

1. In the Geoprocessing pane, click the Back button. Search for layer 3d to feature class and open the Layer 3D to Feature Class tool.

   

2. For Input Feature Layer, choose cheswold_multipatch.
3. For Output Feature Class, type cheswold_multipatch_45x.

   

4. Click Run.
5. For Input Feature Layer, choose piney_multipatch.
6. For Output Feature Class, type piney_multipatch_45x.

   

7. Click Run.

Export the data

Next, you'll export scene layer packages containing the data.

1. In the Geoprocessing pane, click the Back button. Search for create 3d object and open the Create 3D Object Scene Layer Content tool.

   

2. For Input Dataset, choose cheswold_multipatch_45x.
3. For Output Scene Layer Package, type cheswold_scene.
4. For Output Coordinate System, choose cheswold_multipatch_45x.

   This option uses the coordinate system of the multipatch layer. The coordinate system name, WGS_1984_Web_Mercator_Auxiliary_Sphere/VCS:NAVD_1988, appears in the box.

   

5. Click Run.

   The cheswold_scene.slpk file is exported.

6. In the Create 3D Object Scene Layer Content tool, change the following parameters:
   • For Input Dataset, choose piney_multipatch_45x.
   • For Output Scene Layer Package, type pineyscene.

   

7. Click Run.

   The piney_scene.slpk file is exported.

8. In the Catalog pane, expand Folders, Visualize_Aquifers, and commondata.

   

   The commondata folder includes the two .slpk files you exported. ArcGIS Pro project packages, such as the one you opened to start this tutorial, extract a copy of a project into your \Documents\ArcGIS\Packages folder. The .slpk files you created are in the project folder in this file path.

9. Point to the cheswold_scene.slpk file and click the link to the file path.

   

   File Explorer opens to the folder containing the file.

   

   Note:

   Leave File Explorer open; you'll use it in the next section.

Upload the scene layer packages

Next, you'll upload the two scene layer package files to your ArcGIS Online organizational account and publish them.

1. Sign in to your ArcGIS organizational account.

   Note:

   If you don't have an organizational account, see options for software access.

2. On the ribbon, click the Content tab.

   

3. Click New item.

   

4. Drag the cheswold_scene.slpk file from the File Explorer window onto the content upload target zone.

   

5. Click Next.

   

6. For Title, after cheswold_scene, add your name or initials.

   

   Note:

   ArcGIS Online requires unique names for items within a given organization. If someone else in your organization has created a hosted 3D layer with the same name, you'll see an error message.

7. Optionally, specify a Folder for the new hosted layer.
8. For Tags, type cheswold, aquifer, and multipatch.
9. For Summary, type Multipatch 3D layer of the cheswold aquifer.

   

10. Click Save.

    The 3D feature service will be created. The process may take a minute or two.

11. Repeat this process to add the piney_scene.slpk file as a new 3D feature service.

Create a local scene

Next, you'll create a local scene for the data. Scene Viewer supports two types of scenes, global and local. Global scenes have a default extent of the whole world and do not support subsurface visualization. Local scenes have a narrower extent and do support subsurface visualization.

1. On the ribbon, click the app launcher and choose Scene Viewer.

   

   Note:

   You may need to scroll down to see the Scene Viewer option in the app launcher. You can rearrange the apps in the launcher by clicking and dragging them to a new place. This can make it easier for you to open apps that you use frequently.

2. On the Scene Viewer introductory page, click New scene.

   

   A new global scene opens. You need a local scene for this visualization.

3. Click the New scene button and choose New local scene.

   

   The new local scene appears.

4. On the Designer (dark) toolbar, click the Add button and choose Browse layers.

   

5. In the My content section, for piney_scene and cheswold_scene, click Add.

   

6. Click Done.
7. In the Layer Manager pane, for the cheswold_scene layer, click the options button and choose Zoom to.

   

8. Click the Basemap button. In the Basemap pane, click the drop-down button for Topographic.

   

9. Choose the Topographic 3D basemap.

   

10. For Ground transparency, drag the slider to 25 percent transparent.

    

11. Close the Basemap pane.

Clip the scene

The scene has a wide extent that is not good for local data navigation. You'll clip the scene to a smaller area and verify that underground navigation is enabled.

1. On the scene, right-click near the south edge of the aquifer data and drag down.

   

   As you click and drag down, the oblique perspective viewing angle changes to a nearly top-down view of the data.

   

2. Pan and zoom to center the aquifers and make them occupy the whole scene view.
3. On the Designer toolbar, click the Properties button. In the Properties pane, click the Clip to extent option.

   Note:

   If you do not see the Clip to extent option, you are probably using a global scene and need to go back to the step where you select a New local scene.

   

   Tip:

   If you want to change the zoom level and centering of the map and clip to the new extent, click the Update To current view option.

   

   The basemap is clipped to the extent you specified.

4. On the Designer toolbar, click the Layer Manager button.
5. In the Layer Manager pane, for the Ground group, click the Configure ground button and choose Layer properties.

   

6. Confirm that Underground navigation is enabled.

   

7. Close the Configure ground pane.

Add offsets to the aquifer layers

At the beginning of this tutorial, you viewed the Cheswold top points layer and saw that there were higher elevation values to the northwest. In this area, the top of the Cheswold aquifer is shallow compared to the ground surface.

At Hb43-01, it is only 5.5 m to the top of the Cheswold aquifer.

Vertical exaggeration has caused the northwest portion of the aquifer multipatch to protrude above the basemap. For aesthetic purposes, you'll lower the aquifers so they display completely below the basemap surface.

The highest elevation value in the Cheswold top raster layer is 14 meters, so to bring it below ground, you multiply 14 by the vertical exaggeration value of 45, which is 630.

1. Click Layer Manager. For the cheswold_scene layer, click the options button and choose Layer properties.

   

2. Scroll down to the Elevation section. Click the Absolute height drop-down button and choose Configure more.

   

3. For Offset, type -630.

   

4. Click Done and click Done.
5. Repeat this process to set a -630 offset for the piney_scene layer.
6. Right-click the scene near the south edge of the aquifer multipatches and slowly drag up and to the right.

   

   As you drag up, the scene viewing angle tilts down, and as you drag right, the scene rotates.

   

   Next, you'll save the scene.

7. On the Designer toolbar, click the Save button.

   

8. In the Save scene window, for Title, type Northern Kent County DE Aquifer Scene.
9. For Summary, type Scene showing the Cheswold and Piney Point aquifers in Northeast Delaware.
10. For Tags, add aquifer.

    

11. Click Save.

    This web scene is ready to be added to a web mapping application, such as the ArcGIS Instant Apps 3D Viewer template.

View a completed web app

The Delaware Geological Survey has built a 3D web mapping application that displays 12 aquifers in Kent and Sussex counties of Delaware.

1. Open the web app.
2. Read the cover page text and click Enter.

   

3. Read the 3D viewer instructions page and click Enter.

   

   The app opens.

   

4. Click the Open layer list button.

   

   The widget allows you to turn each aquifer layer on and off.

   

5. Explore the aquifers displayed in the app.

   

6. Click the Toggle slice tool button.

   

7. Click New slice.

   

8. Use the slice tools to define a slice box and move the slicing box to see the aquifer configuration below the surface.

   

   You can use this tool to create vertical or horizontal slices to view the aquifers as cross sections. You can move, resize, and rotate the slice box. To exclude a layer from the slice, click Exclude layer and click an aquifer. Click the third box (below Exclude layer, no text) when finished.

   This 3D application provides an underground representation, allowing viewers to get a sense of what is beneath the Earth’s surface. In this case, the underground exploration focuses on aquifers that residents and businesses in the area rely on for water to consume, and for agriculture and businesses to operate.

In this tutorial, you learned how to convert rasters to TINs, and make 3D multipatch features from pairs of TINs. You learned how to export the multipatch features as scene layer package files, and upload them to ArcGIS Online for use in a web scene. You also learned how to navigate below the ground surface in a scene, and how to set vertical exaggeration and vertical offsets for display purposes. You explored a web application built on a similar web scene, and used a 3D slice widget to view cross sections of the aquifers.

You can find more tutorials in the tutorial gallery.

Acknowledgements

• Data points, aquifer surfaces, and workflow from the Delaware Geological Survey (DGS). For more information about Delaware aquifers, see DGS Bulletin No. 22 Aquifers and Groundwater Withdrawals, Kent and Sussex Counties, Delaware, by Peter P. McLaughlin et al.
• Thanks to Nathan Shephard of Esri for his contribution to the Scene Viewer part of the tutorial.
• Topographic map sources: Esri, TomTom, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community