Globe Display

Plot data on 3-D globes, apply high-resolution or custom basemaps, apply custom terrain

Use globe display functions to visualize 3-D data over terrain, high-zoom-level basemaps, and other surfaces. Navigate globe displays interactively, or change your view programmatically by setting the camera position and camera rotation angles.

Display data such as flight trajectories over terrain and basemaps by using a geographic globe. You can plot height data with respect to the geoid, terrain, or WGS84 reference ellipsoid. For more information, see geoglobe.
Display data such as sea surface temperature and wind speed as a surface by using a globe projection. You can also use globe projections to model various reference ellipsoids, including ellipsoids for non-Earth planetary bodies. For more information, see globe.

Examples of geographic globe visualizations. Click to go to geoplot3.

Functions

expand all

Geographic Globe

Display Data

`geoglobe`	Create geographic globe
`GeographicGlobe`	Control geographic globe appearance and behavior
`geoplot3`	Geographic globe plot
Line Properties	Geographic primitive line appearance and behavior

Change View

`campos`	Set or query position of camera for geographic globe
`camheight`	Set or query height of camera for geographic globe
`camheading`	Set or query heading angle of camera for geographic globe
`campitch`	Set or query pitch angle of camera for geographic globe
`camroll`	Set or query roll angle of camera for geographic globe

Add Custom Terrain and Basemaps

`addCustomBasemap`	Add custom basemap
`addCustomTerrain`	Add custom terrain data
`removeCustomBasemap`	Remove custom basemap
`removeCustomTerrain`	Remove custom terrain data

Globe Projection

Display Data

`axesm`	Create `axesm`-based map
`globe`	Frame for 3-D map display on `axesm`-based map
`geoshow`	Display map latitude and longitude data

Change View

`view`	Camera line of sight
`camposm`	Set camera position for `axesm`-based map using geographic coordinates
`camtargm`	Set camera target for `axesm`-based map using geographic coordinates
`camupm`	Set camera up vector for `axesm`-based map using geographic coordinates

Topics

Access Basemaps and Terrain for Geographic Globe
The geographic globe plots data over basemaps and terrain. Download some of these basemaps or add custom basemaps and terrain.
Use Basemaps in Offline Environments
Display data over basemaps when MATLAB^® has temporary or no internet access.
Create Interactive Basemap Picker
Interactively change the basemap of a geographic globe by using a drop-down menu.
Find Ellipsoidal Height from Orthometric Height
Find the ellipsoidal height of a point by using its orthometric height and a geoid model.

Featured Examples

Visualize Aircraft Line-of-Sight over Terrain

Compute and visualize line-of-sight visibility of an aircraft from a ground location over terrain.

Open Live Script

Visualize UAV Flight Path on 2-D and 3-D Maps

Simulate an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flight using synchronized geographic axes and a geographic globe.

Open Live Script

Radar Vertical Coverage over Terrain

Define an L-band radar system in the presence of heavy clutter and visualize its three-dimensional vertical coverage over terrain.

Open Live Script