EdX

3D GIS (edX)

Offered by University of Alaska Fairbanks, AlaskaX,
3D GIS (edX)

Take your maps into the third dimension: Learn GIS concepts and tools to visualize, analyze, and interpret spatial data in 3D. Reveal patterns that can lead to better decision making. Maps are graphic representations of reality and help us understand and navigate the world around us. Maps can incorporate third dimension through contours, hillshading (3D modeling), and profile views.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see EdX's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

In this course you will learn fundamentals of third dimension (3D) GIS concepts and tools to visualize, analyze, and interpret geospatial data in 3D, enabling you to reveal patterns and relationships for more effective problem-solving and decision making.
When the data include the third dimension, ArcGIS Scene allows us to navigate through the data in 3D space. This makes the data and the problem more understandable and reveals new visual insights. Visualizing and processing the data in 3D allows us to include real-world elements in the analysis such as undulation of terrain and 3D extent of trees, building, and subsurface geology.
Our world is three dimensional and many GIS applications now require 3D analysis. Esri’s ArcGIS Scene allows us to visualize data on a world sphere. It provides a variety of tools for orientation, navigation, search, data preparation, building workflows and spatial analysis.
3D mapping and visualization is used in a variety of industries and academic disciplines:

  • Monitoring forest stand height and age
  • Volumetric analysis of resource extraction from a mine or water level in a reservoir
  • Watershed delineation to assess inundation risk, land management, environmental monitoring

This course is part of the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Essentials Professional Certificate.

What you'll learn

  • How to display and navigate 3D data in ArcGIS Scene
  • How to edit and process 3D feature data
  • How to carry out volumetric analysis
  • How to display and process 3D raster Digital Elevation Model data
  • Viewshed and solar radiation analysis
  • Watershed mapping and delineation using Digital Elevation Models
  • Create 3D visualization and presentations
Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

GIS Image Analysis in ArcGIS Pro (edX) EdX
University of Alaska Fairbanks,AlaskaX

GIS Image Analysis in ArcGIS Pro (edX)

Engineering Statistics & Data Analysis

Learn fundamentals of remote sensing, image analysis, image processing and its application on real-world problems such as vegetation health, wildfire severity, and flooding. Image analysis is extraction of meaningful information from an image to accomplish a simple task like understanding the landscape or to solve a complex problem like face recognition.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
Geographic Information Systems GIS Image Processing
Details
Data Visualization & Cloud Technologies (edX) EdX
University of Wisconsin–Madison,WisconsinX

Data Visualization & Cloud Technologies (edX)

Statistics & Data Analysis

Learn to use data visualization and cloud technologies for business analytics. In this course, gain experience in data visualization and cloud technologies to support business analytics. In the first half of the course, create and share compelling data visualizations to enhance decision-making. In the second half of the course, use cloud technologies to build scalable data warehouses, analyze big data, and develop and deploy machine learning models.

Oct 26th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Cloud Data Visualization Business Analytics
Details
Introduction to GIS Mapping (Coursera) Coursera
University of Toronto

Introduction to GIS Mapping (Coursera)

Engineering Sci: Environment

Get started learning about the fascinating and useful world of geographic information systems (GIS)! In this first course of the specialization GIS, Mapping, and Spatial Analysis, you'll learn about what a GIS is, how to get started with the software yourself, how things we find in the real world can be represented on a map, how we record locations using coordinates, and how we can make a two-dimensional map from a three-dimensional Earth.

Oct 19th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Cartography Geographic Information Systems GIS
Details
Quality Improvement for Population Health (Coursera) Coursera
Imperial College London

Quality Improvement for Population Health (Coursera)

Health & Society

Quality improvement methods were first deployed in healthcare in e hospital settings. However, over the past decade particularly, there has been increasing focus on the application of these methods in improving population and public health. In this course, you will apply a combination of both approaches to population health improvement. You will also learn how to study and evaluate large improvement initiatives to capture learning effectively.

Oct 19th 2026
4 Weeks
Health Healthcare Geographic Information Systems
Details
Introduction to Geospatial Technology Using QGIS (Canvas.net) Canvas Network
Del Mar College

Introduction to Geospatial Technology Using QGIS (Canvas.net)

CS: Information & Technology

This course provides a rich introduction to the booming technology field of Geographic Information Systems, known as GIS. The GIS industry is exploding at double-digit employment and income numbers and promises employment opportunities well into the future. Students will learn the fundamentals of GIS and how to build digital maps using open source software that allows free unlimited use for private or commercial applications. All data and software required is included in the course.

No sessions available
No Information
Cartography Geographic Information Systems GIS
Details
Modellazione digitale 3D: input (POK) Polimi OPEN KNOWLEDGE
Politecnico di Milano

Modellazione digitale 3D: input (POK)

Education

Importare, georeferenziare e gestire, in ambiente CAD, database cartografici e fotogrammetrici. Il programma, di carattere prettamente operativo, si propone di fornire indicazioni pratiche per l’acquisizione e la gestione di cartografia da geoportale, per l’acquisizione e la gestione di dati metrico spaziali acquisiti tramite scansione 3D in ambiente reale, e per la georeferenziazione e integrazione delle informazioni in ambiente CAD.

Available
2 Weeks
Cartography CAD GIS
Details
Cartography (Esri) Esri
Esri

Cartography (Esri)

CS: Information & Technology Sci: Physical & Earth Sciences

Once, only cartographers made maps. Today anyone can. Still, cartographers can teach people to make better maps, just as chefs can show people how to cook better meals. With coaching from experienced cartographers and practical, hands-on exercises using ArcGIS Pro, you'll become a smarter mapmaker, ready to go beyond the defaults and make better maps.

Feb 16th 2022
5-12 Weeks
Maps Cartography Geographic Information Systems
Details
Geohealth: Improving Public Health through Geographic Information (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Twente

Geohealth: Improving Public Health through Geographic Information (FutureLearn)

Health & Society CS: Information & Technology

Explore how spatial data and geographic information systems (GIS) can be used to understand and improve public health. The environment in which we live and work can have a profound effect on our health – an effect that is explored by the emerging field of geohealth. This free online course will introduce you to new developments in geohealth, looking at the latest thinking and methods for using spatial data and geographic information systems (GIS) in health settings.

No sessions available
4 Weeks
Public Health Geographic Information Systems GIS
Details
Manufacturing Process Control II (edX) EdX
MIT,MITx

Manufacturing Process Control II (edX)

Engineering Sci: Mathematics

Learn how to control process variation, including methods to design experiments that capture process behavior and understand means to control variability. As part of the Principles of Manufacturing MicroMasters program, this course will build on statistical process control foundations to add process modeling and optimization.Building on formal methods of designed experiments, the course develops highly applicable methods for creating robust processes with optimal quality.

Oct 13th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Manufacturing Optimization DOE
Details
Geospatial and Environmental Analysis (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, Davis

Geospatial and Environmental Analysis (Coursera)

Engineering Sci: Physical & Earth Sciences

Apply your GIS knowledge in this course on geospatial analysis, focusing on analysis tools, 3D data, working with rasters, projections, and environment variables. Through all four weeks of this course, we'll work through a project together - something unique to this course - from project conception, through data retrieval, initial data management and processing, and finally to our analysis products.

Mar 18th 2024
4 Weeks
3D Geospatial Geographic Information Systems
Details