Case Study: George Mason University achieves an interactive 3D campus web scene with Esri CityEngine and ArcGIS

Creating a 3D Campus Scene Using Esri CityEngine

George Mason University needed a detailed, web‑accessible 3D model of its Fairfax campus to support visualization and spatial analysis (building energy use, CO2 emissions/sequestration, and facilities/transportation planning). The project used ESRI technology — including CityEngine, ArcGIS for Desktop and the ArcGIS 3D Analyst extension — and faced challenges integrating elevation TINs, georeferenced imagery, a mix of imported and custom building models, and thousands of trees while keeping file sizes and georeferencing correct for web delivery.

The team used ESRI CityEngine and ArcGIS to convert a TIN to terrain, drape georeferenced OSM imagery, import/create buildings (SketchUp/KMZ and CityEngine CGA rules), and generate randomized tree species from an ArcGIS tree point dataset with ESRI plant rule files; thematic variables were rendered via color gradients and vertical extrusions to show energy and CO2 metrics. The completed ESRI CityEngine Web Scene is viewable online, lets users toggle realistic or analytical layers, and has supported research (shading and skyline simulations, CO2 equilibrium analysis, shuttle/parking correlations) and decision‑making for campus facilities and transportation.

George Mason University

Sven Fuhrmann

Associate Professor of Geovisualization and Geoinformation Science