What is a .3DD file?
A .3DD file is a type of computer file used by a program called ArcGlobe, which is part of the ESRI ArcGIS for Desktop software suite. ArcGlobe is a special application designed to help people view and work with GIS (Geographic Information Systems) data in a 3D (three-dimensional) format. GIS data is all about mapping and analyzing locations on the earth's surface, including things like cities, rivers, roads, and much more.
The .3DD file itself doesn't actually contain the GIS data. Instead, it acts like a pointer or reference to a geodatabase. A geodatabase is a more complex database where all the spatial content (like maps and models) and the results of various analyses performed by the software are stored. Think of the .3DD file as a shortcut that tells ArcGlobe where to find and how to display the GIS data in 3D.
Inside a .3DD file, there can be a collection of different 3D layers. Each layer represents a different aspect of the GIS data, such as different types of terrain, water bodies, or man-made structures. This layered approach allows users to customize how they view and interact with the data, making it easier to understand complex spatial relationships.
If you have a .3DD file that you want to open, you will need to use the ESRI ArcGIS for Desktop software, specifically the ArcGlobe application. This software is designed for professionals and researchers who work with GIS data, so it's quite powerful and has a lot of features for analyzing and visualizing data in both 2D and 3D formats. Once you open a .3DD file in ArcGlobe, you can explore the 3D GIS dataset, manipulate the view, and perform various geoprocessing operations to analyze the data in different ways.
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