Navigating the Map
Learn camera controls to pan, zoom, rotate, and tilt through your 3D data
The Aura viewer uses Cesium's camera system to provide smooth navigation through your 3D data. This guide covers all the ways you can move around and view your data.
Mouse Controls
Pan (Move the View)
Left-click and drag to pan the camera across the terrain.
- The view moves in the direction you drag
- Works in both 3D and 2D modes
Rotate (Orbit)
Right-click and drag to rotate the camera around a point.
- In 3D mode, rotates around the center of the view
- Useful for viewing data from different angles
Zoom
Scroll the mouse wheel to zoom in and out.
- Scroll up to zoom in
- Scroll down to zoom out
- Zoom is centered on the cursor position
Tilt
Middle-click and drag (or Ctrl + Right-click drag) to tilt the camera.
- Drag up/down to change the pitch angle
- Useful for switching between top-down and oblique views
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
+ or = | Zoom in |
- | Zoom out |
| Arrow keys | Pan in the indicated direction |
Navigation Tips
Focusing on Point Clouds
When you have point cloud data loaded:
- The viewer will automatically fly to the extent of the data
- Use zoom to get closer to areas of interest
- Tilt the camera to view vertical structures from the side
Working with Poles and Wires
When viewing Digital Grid elements:
- Zoom in close to see pole details and wire connections
- Rotate the view to see poles from multiple angles
- Tilt to a low angle to view wire sag and clearances
Viewing Cross-Sections
When using the Cross Section tool:
- The secondary viewer shows an orthographic (flat) view
- Use the width slider to adjust the cross-section thickness
- The main viewer continues to use standard 3D navigation
Pro tip: When editing poles or wires, position your camera at an angle that clearly shows the point cloud data. A slight tilt often provides better depth perception than a straight top-down view.
Camera Presets
The viewer provides some quick camera positioning options:
- Fly to extent - Zoom to show all loaded data
- Top-down view - Switch to a bird's-eye view
- Reset view - Return to the default camera position
Performance Considerations
Camera performance depends on:
- Amount of data loaded - More data requires more processing
- Point budget - Reduce in View Options if navigation feels slow
- Distance from data - More detail is loaded when zoomed in
If navigation becomes sluggish, try reducing the Point Budget in the point cloud's View Options panel.
Video Flythroughs
For smooth, cinematic camera movements, use the Video Flythrough tool to:
- Create waypoints at specific camera positions
- Automatically animate between waypoints
- Record the animation as a video file
Next Steps
Now that you can navigate the viewer:
- Customize view options for your point clouds
- Use measurement tools to analyze your data
- Create video flythroughs for presentations