How to View Gaussian Splats from ArcGIS: A Guide for Utilities and Enterprise GIS Teams

Your assets live in ArcGIS. Your inspections, vegetation surveys, and site captures now live as Gaussian Splats in Splat Labs Cloud. This guide shows you how to connect the two — so your GIS users can click a feature on the map and immediately explore a photorealistic 3D capture of that asset, without leaving their ArcGIS workflow.

We cover four integration methods, from simplest to most powerful. Every method works today with what Splat Labs Cloud already provides: shareable viewer URLs and embeddable iframes.

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Before You Start

For each method below, you need two things:

1. A Splat Labs Cloud account with your Gaussian Splats uploaded and organized into projects. Sign up free at cloud.rockrobotic.com.

2. A viewer URL for each project you want to connect to ArcGIS. Every Splat Labs project has a viewer URL in this format:

https://cloud.rockrobotic.com/viewer/{project-id}?view=splat

Copy this URL from the Share dialog — you will use it throughout this guide.

Sharing Options for ArcGIS Integration

You have three ways to control who can view your Gaussian Splats when accessed from ArcGIS:

• Public link sharing — Enable "Link sharing enabled" in the Share dialog. Anyone with the URL can view the splat without signing in. This is the simplest option and works well for non-sensitive assets.
• Email sharing (Business plan) — Share the project with specific users by email. Only those users can view it after authenticating with their Splat Labs account. This works with both hyperlinks and iframe embeds — viewers are prompted to sign in when they access the viewer.
• Enterprise groups (Enterprise plan) — Every project created by a user in an Enterprise group is automatically available to everyone in that group. No per-project sharing required. This is the most streamlined option for teams and organizations — all group members can view any project in iframes or hyperlinks without manual sharing.

Note: All three options work with every integration method described in this guide, including iframe embeds in Dashboards and Experience Builder. For more detail on access strategies for sensitive infrastructure, see the Managing Access for Sensitive Infrastructure section at the end of this guide.

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Method 1: Hyperlink in a Feature Pop-Up

Best for: ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro users who want a quick "View 3D Capture" link on each asset.

How it works: You add a text field to your feature layer's attribute table that stores the Splat Labs viewer URL for each asset. When a GIS user clicks an asset on the map, the pop-up shows a hyperlink that opens the Gaussian Splat viewer in a new browser tab.

Complexity: Low — no coding, no custom widgets, works in any ArcGIS product that supports pop-ups.

Step 1: Add a URL Field to Your Feature Layer

In ArcGIS Pro or ArcGIS Online, add a new text field to your asset feature layer. Name it something descriptive:

Field Name	Alias	Type
splat_url	3D Capture URL	Text (String)

If you have an existing field for document links or media attachments, you can reuse it — but a dedicated field keeps things clean, especially when you have hundreds or thousands of assets.

Step 2: Populate the Field

For each asset that has a corresponding Gaussian Splat capture, paste the Splat Labs viewer URL into the splat_url field. The URL looks like this:

https://cloud.rockrobotic.com/viewer/e6d9b3eb-35bb-4a73-8499-8f2e3ad21d4b?view=splat

If you are working at scale — hundreds of poles, substations, or facilities — you can batch-populate this field using ArcGIS Pro's Field Calculator or a Python script with the ArcGIS API for Python. The key is maintaining a mapping between your GIS asset IDs and your Splat Labs project IDs.

Tip for bulk population: If your Splat Labs projects are named consistently (for example, using asset IDs like SUB-0042 or pole numbers), you can script the lookup. Export your Splat Labs project list, match on naming convention, and calculate the field values in batch.

Step 3: Configure the Pop-Up

In ArcGIS Online (Map Viewer):

1. Open your web map and select the asset layer.
2. Open the Pop-ups pane from the settings toolbar.
3. Click Add content and select Text.
4. In the text editor, type the label you want users to see — for example, View 3D Capture.
5. Select that text and click the Link button.
6. For the URL, type {splat_url} — this references the field you created.
7. Save the map.

Now when a user clicks an asset, they see a "View 3D Capture" link in the pop-up. Clicking it opens the Gaussian Splat viewer in a new browser tab — powered by Splat Labs Cloud's intelligent streaming, so the scene loads fast on any device.

In ArcGIS Pro:

1. In the Contents pane, right-click your feature layer and open Configure Pop-ups.
2. Add a Text element.
3. Insert a hyperlink with the URL set to {splat_url} and the description set to View 3D Capture.
4. Click Apply.

When users click features with the pop-up tool, they see the clickable link.

Step 4 (Optional): Use an Arcade Expression for Dynamic URLs

If your Splat Labs project IDs follow a predictable pattern based on asset attributes, you can use an Arcade expression instead of a static field. This is useful when you don't want to manually populate URLs for every feature.

For example, if your Splat Labs projects are named using the asset's facility ID:

// Arcade expression for pop-up hyperlink
"https://cloud.rockrobotic.com/viewer/" + $feature.facility_id + "?view=splat"

Add this as an Attribute Expression in your pop-up configuration, then reference it in a hyperlink as {expression/expr0}.

Important: This only works if your Splat Labs project IDs match your GIS asset identifiers. If they don't match, use the static URL field approach in Steps 1–3.

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Method 2: Embedded Viewer in ArcGIS Dashboards

Best for: Operations centers, control rooms, and teams that use ArcGIS Dashboards for monitoring. The Gaussian Splat viewer appears as a live panel alongside your map and data widgets.

How it works: ArcGIS Dashboards supports an Embedded Content element that can load any external URL in an iframe — including the Splat Labs viewer. You can configure it to be static (one fixed URL) or dynamic (the URL changes based on which feature the user selects on the map).

Complexity: Low to Medium — no coding required, but you need to understand Dashboard actions and data sources.

Static Embed (One Fixed Splat)

Use this when your dashboard focuses on a single site — for example, a substation overview dashboard.

1. Open your dashboard in edit mode.
2. Click the + button to add an element and select Embedded Content.
3. Under Data Options, select No Data Source (static configuration).
4. Paste the Splat Labs viewer URL in the URL field:

   https://cloud.rockrobotic.com/viewer/e6d9b3eb-35bb-4a73-8499-8f2e3ad21d4b?view=splat
   

5. Resize and position the embedded content panel in your dashboard layout.
6. Save.

The Gaussian Splat viewer now appears as a live, interactive 3D panel in your dashboard. Users can orbit, zoom, and explore the scene directly within the dashboard — complete with Splat Labs' precision measurements and smooth streaming performance.

Dynamic Embed (Feature-Driven)

This is the more powerful approach. When a user clicks an asset on the dashboard's map widget, the embedded content panel automatically loads the corresponding Gaussian Splat.

1. Make sure your feature layer has a splat_url field populated with viewer URLs (see Method 1, Steps 1–2).
2. Add an Embedded Content element to your dashboard.
3. Under Data Options, select A feature layer and choose your asset layer as the data source.
4. For the URL, enter the URL template using your field name in curly braces:

   {splat_url}
   

5. Under Actions, configure the map widget to filter or select features on click, which drives the embedded content to update.
6. Optionally, enable Render only when filtered so the embed panel shows a helpful message ("Select an asset on the map to view its 3D capture") until the user makes a selection.
7. Save.

Now your dashboard works like this: click a pole on the map → the embedded panel loads a photorealistic 3D view of that exact pole. This is extremely powerful for remote inspection workflows where operators need to visually confirm the condition of an asset without dispatching a field crew.

Dashboard Layout Recommendations

For a utility operations dashboard with Gaussian Splats, consider this layout:

• Left panel (40% width): Map widget showing asset locations
• Right panel (60% width): Embedded content showing the Gaussian Splat viewer
• Bottom strip: Serial chart or indicator widgets showing inspection status, last capture date, etc.

The larger you make the embedded content panel, the better the 3D viewing experience. The Splat Labs viewer is responsive and will fill whatever space it is given.

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Method 3: Embedded Viewer in ArcGIS Experience Builder

Best for: Custom web applications built for specific workflows — field inspection review, vegetation management, stakeholder presentations, or public-facing asset viewers.

How it works: ArcGIS Experience Builder includes an Embed widget that accepts external URLs or HTML iframe code. You can connect the widget to your data so the embedded Splat Labs viewer updates dynamically when users interact with the map or a list.

Complexity: Medium — requires Experience Builder familiarity and an ArcGIS organizational account.

Basic Setup

1. Create a new Experience in ArcGIS Experience Builder.
2. Add your asset web map as a data source.
3. Drag a Map widget onto the canvas for your left panel.
4. Drag an Embed widget onto the canvas for your right panel.

Static Embed

In the Embed widget settings, select URL and paste the Splat Labs viewer URL. This loads one fixed Gaussian Splat.

Dynamic Embed (Feature-Driven)

This is where Experience Builder really shines. You can make the embed URL change based on which feature the user selects.

1. In the Embed widget, select URL and turn on Connect to data.
2. Select your asset feature layer as the data source.
3. Choose Attribute and select your splat_url field.

Now when a user clicks an asset in the map widget, the Embed widget loads the corresponding Splat Labs viewer URL. The 3D viewer updates in place — no page reload, no new tab.

Using the Embed Widget with HTML Code

If you want more control over the iframe attributes, you can use the Code option instead of URL:

<iframe
  src="https://cloud.rockrobotic.com/viewer/{project-id}?view=splat"
  width="100%"
  height="100%"
  frameborder="0"
  allowfullscreen
  loading="eager">
</iframe>

Want a detailed walkthrough of iframe embedding? See our full guide: How to Embed a 3D Gaussian Splat Viewer on Your Website.

Note: The Code option has an 8 KB size limit and requires you to be signed in with an ArcGIS organizational account. For most cases, the URL option is simpler and sufficient.

Building a Complete Inspection Review Experience

Here is a practical layout for a utility field inspection review application:

1. Page 1 — Map Overview: Full-screen map with all assets. Clicking an asset navigates to Page 2.
2. Page 2 — Asset Detail: Split layout with asset attributes on the left (name, type, last inspection date, status) and the Splat Labs viewer embedded on the right. Include a "Back to Map" button.

This gives field supervisors and engineers a streamlined workflow: browse the map, tap an asset, review the 3D capture, make a decision, move on. Splat Labs' intelligent streaming means the viewer loads quickly even on field tablets with limited connectivity.

Adding a List Widget for Multi-Splat Browsing

For teams managing many captures — say, hundreds of poles along a transmission corridor — add a List widget alongside the map:

1. Add a List widget showing asset names, thumbnails, and last capture dates.
2. Configure the Embed widget to connect to the same data source as the list.
3. When a user clicks an item in the list, the embed updates to show that asset's Gaussian Splat.

This works like a gallery browser for your 3D captures, all within the ArcGIS environment.

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Method 4: ArcGIS StoryMaps for Stakeholder Communication

Best for: Sharing inspection results with executives, regulators, or external stakeholders who don't use ArcGIS directly. StoryMaps provide a narrative, scroll-driven format that combines text, maps, images, and embedded content.

How it works: ArcGIS StoryMaps supports embedding external web content via URL. You paste the Splat Labs viewer URL into an embed block, and the Gaussian Splat appears inline within your story.

Complexity: Low — no technical setup, purely content authoring.

How to Embed

1. Open your StoryMap in the builder.
2. Click + to add a content block.
3. Select Embed (not Image or Video).
4. Paste the Splat Labs viewer URL:

   https://cloud.rockrobotic.com/viewer/e6d9b3eb-35bb-4a73-8499-8f2e3ad21d4b?view=splat
   

5. Choose a size (medium or large works best for 3D viewers).
6. Add a caption explaining what the viewer shows.
7. Continue building your story.

Use Cases for Utilities

• Regulatory compliance reports: Embed before-and-after captures of vegetation clearance work alongside written evidence of compliance. Splat Labs' precision measurement tools let regulators verify clearance distances directly in the 3D view.
• Storm damage assessment: Walk executives through the damage with embedded 3D captures of affected infrastructure, ordered chronologically. Use Splat Labs' 4D timeline feature to show the same asset before and after the event.
• Capital project updates: Show construction progress at a substation or facility over time, with captures from each phase embedded in sequence.
• Public communication: If a project affects a community, a StoryMap with embedded 3D views helps residents understand what is being built and why.

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Recommended Geodatabase Schema

To get the most out of Splat Labs integration across all the methods above, add these fields to your asset feature layers:

Field Name	Alias	Type	Description
splat_url	3D Capture URL	Text	The Splat Labs viewer URL for this asset
splat_project_id	Splat Labs Project ID	Text	The Splat Labs project UUID (useful for scripting)
splat_capture_date	Last 3D Capture Date	Date	When the Gaussian Splat was captured
splat_capture_source	Capture Method	Text	How it was captured (drone, handheld, vehicle-mounted)

The splat_url field is the minimum. The other fields add context that helps your team manage their capture library over time — filtering by capture date, identifying assets that need re-capture, or reporting on coverage.

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Managing Access for Sensitive Infrastructure

Utility infrastructure is often security-sensitive. Splat Labs gives you full control over who can view your Gaussian Splats — and every access method works with all four ArcGIS integration methods described in this guide, including iframe embeds.

Public Link Sharing

When link sharing is enabled, anyone with the URL can view the splat without signing in. This is appropriate for:

• Non-sensitive assets (parks, public buildings, general construction sites)
• Stakeholder presentations where you control who receives the link
• StoryMaps shared with known audiences

The URL is not indexed by search engines and is not guessable — it contains a UUID — but it is not authenticated. If someone shares the link, the recipient can view it.

Email-Based Access (Business Plan)

For sensitive infrastructure, use Splat Labs Cloud's email-based sharing instead of public links:

1. In the Share dialog, keep Link sharing disabled.
2. Add the email addresses of authorized users.
3. Only those users — after signing in — can view the project.

This works with all integration methods, including iframe embeds in Dashboards and Experience Builder. When an authorized user opens a dashboard or experience that contains an embedded Splat Labs viewer, they are prompted to sign in to Splat Labs. Once authenticated, the iframe loads and they can interact with the 3D scene normally. Unauthorized users see a sign-in prompt instead of the viewer.

Enterprise Groups (Enterprise Plan)

For organizations that need seamless, team-wide access without sharing every project individually, the Enterprise plan provides group-based access control:

• Every project created by a user in an Enterprise group is automatically available to all other group members — no manual sharing required.
• Enterprise Managers have full visibility across all projects in the organization.
• Three roles (Enterprise Manager, Creator, User) provide granular control over who can create, edit, delete, and share projects and folders.

This is the most efficient option for utility teams. Once your GIS analysts and field crews are in the same Enterprise group, every Gaussian Splat they upload is immediately available to the entire team — in hyperlinks, in embedded viewers, in dashboards, everywhere. No per-project sharing steps.

Enterprise plans start with 3 users and 50 projects, scaling up to 20+ users and 500+ projects. See Pricing for details or contact our team to discuss Enterprise options.

Practical Access Strategy for Utilities

For most utility deployments, we recommend a tiered approach:

• Enterprise groups for your core team — field crews, GIS analysts, engineers, supervisors. Everyone in the group automatically sees every project. Embedded viewers in Dashboards and Experience Builder just work for authenticated group members.
• Email-based sharing for external stakeholders, contractors, or regulators who need access to specific projects but are not part of your Enterprise group.
• Public link sharing for non-sensitive assets where you want the simplest possible access — no sign-in, no account required. Use this for public-facing StoryMaps or stakeholder presentations.
• ArcGIS security as an additional layer. Your web maps, dashboards, and experiences are already secured by ArcGIS organizational authentication. An unauthorized person cannot reach the splat URL unless they first have access to your ArcGIS environment.

This layered approach — Enterprise groups for your team, email sharing for external collaborators, public links where appropriate, and ArcGIS authentication as an additional layer — covers the needs of most utility organizations today.

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Naming Conventions and Organization

As your splat library grows from dozens to hundreds to thousands of captures, consistent organization becomes critical. Here are recommendations for utility teams:

Splat Labs Cloud Project Naming

Use a naming convention that maps to your GIS asset hierarchy:

{Region}-{AssetType}-{AssetID}-{CaptureDate}

Examples:

• NORTH-SUB-0042-2025-06-15 (North region, Substation 42, captured June 15 2025)
• EAST-POLE-TL205-1847-2025-03-22 (East region, Transmission Line 205 Pole 1847)
• WEST-ROW-SEG14-2025-09-01 (West region, Right-of-Way Segment 14)

Splat Labs Cloud Folder Structure

Organize your Splat Labs Cloud workspace to mirror your GIS organizational hierarchy:

📁 North Region
   📁 Substations
      📁 SUB-0042
      📁 SUB-0043
   📁 Transmission Lines
      📁 TL-205
      📁 TL-206
📁 East Region
   📁 Substations
   📁 Distribution
📁 Vegetation Management
   📁 2025-Q1
   📁 2025-Q2

This makes it easy for GIS analysts to find the right project when populating the splat_url field, and for managers to browse captures by area or by time period. Folder organization is available on Splat Labs Business plans and above.

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Example Workflows

Remote Pole Inspection

1. Drone operator captures a transmission line corridor using LiDAR or photogrammetry.
2. Data is processed into Gaussian Splats and uploaded to Splat Labs Cloud, one project per span or per cluster of poles.
3. GIS analyst populates the splat_url field on each pole feature in the geodatabase.
4. Field supervisor opens the ArcGIS Dashboard, clicks a pole on the map, and the Gaussian Splat loads in the embedded panel.
5. Supervisor rotates the view to inspect conductor clearance, crossarm condition, and vegetation proximity — all from the office. Splat Labs' precision measurement tools provide exact distances when needed.
6. If action is needed, they create a work order directly from the dashboard.

This workflow reduces site visits by up to 75%, based on results from construction and utility teams already using Splat Labs for remote documentation.

Substation As-Built Documentation

1. Survey crew captures a substation with a handheld scanner (PortalCam, Lixel L2 Pro, or similar).
2. The Gaussian Splat is uploaded to Splat Labs Cloud and placed in the appropriate project folder.
3. The substation feature in ArcGIS is updated with the viewer URL.
4. Engineers reviewing the as-built can click the substation on the map and walk through the full 3D scene, verifying equipment placement, clearances, and grading with in-scene measurements.

Vegetation Management Evidence

1. Vegetation management contractor captures right-of-way corridors before and after trimming.
2. Both captures are uploaded as separate Splat Labs projects — ROW-SEG14-PRE-2025-06 and ROW-SEG14-POST-2025-07.
3. A StoryMap is created for the quarterly regulatory report, with before and after Gaussian Splats embedded side by side. Splat Labs' 4D timeline feature can also link both captures for interactive before/after comparison.
4. Regulators can explore both captures interactively, verifying that clearance requirements are met.

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Troubleshooting

The embedded viewer shows a blank space

• Confirm that the viewer has access to the project. For public link sharing, check that "Link sharing enabled" is checked. For email-based sharing, confirm the viewing user has been invited and is signed in to Splat Labs. For Enterprise groups, confirm the user is a member of the group. If the viewer does not have access, the iframe will show a sign-in prompt or access error.
• Confirm that both your ArcGIS environment and Splat Labs Cloud are using HTTPS. Mixed-content (HTTP parent page loading an HTTPS iframe) is blocked by modern browsers. Splat Labs Cloud always uses HTTPS, so this is typically not an issue.
• In ArcGIS Dashboards, check the browser console for X-Frame-Options or Content-Security-Policy errors. Splat Labs Cloud allows iframe embedding by default, so these errors usually come from your organization's network security policies.

The pop-up shows the URL as plain text instead of a clickable link

• In ArcGIS Online Map Viewer, make sure you added the URL using the Link button in the text editor, not as raw text. The pop-up does not auto-detect URLs in text fields.
• In ArcGIS Pro, verify that the splat_url field is configured as a hyperlink in the pop-up settings, not just displayed as an attribute value.

The viewer loads slowly in the embedded panel

• Gaussian Splats stream progressively — the viewer first loads a low-resolution version, then refines. This is normal behavior, not a performance issue.
• If the embed panel is very small (less than 400px wide), consider making it larger. The viewer adapts to the available space, but small panels limit the visual experience.
• Use loading="eager" in your iframe code if the viewer is the primary content. Use loading="lazy" if it is below the fold or secondary.

Pop-ups do not support iframes

This is correct for ArcGIS Online Map Viewer pop-ups — Esri has blocked iframe embedding in pop-ups for security reasons. This is why we recommend the hyperlink approach for pop-ups (opens in a new tab) and the Embedded Content or Embed widget approach for Dashboards and Experience Builder (displays inline). Do not try to paste iframe HTML into a pop-up text element — it will be stripped.

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What's Coming Next

Access-controlled iframes and embedded viewers already work today — you can use email sharing (Business plan) or Enterprise groups to control who can view your Gaussian Splats in Dashboards, Experience Builder, and StoryMaps. No public link sharing required.

Splat Labs is building deeper integration capabilities to make ArcGIS workflows even more seamless. On the roadmap:

• OAuth2 authentication for ArcGIS — Authenticate through ArcGIS directly so you can browse and select your Splat Labs projects from within ArcGIS without switching to the Splat Labs dashboard. This will let ArcGIS extensions pull a list of all your available projects and add them to your maps and dashboards automatically.
• SSO/SAML support — Enterprise single sign-on so your ArcGIS users authenticate to Splat Labs with the same corporate credentials they already use — one login for both platforms.

As these features become available, we will update this guide with additional integration methods. Contact our team if you want early access or have specific integration requirements.

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Summary

Method	ArcGIS Product	Viewer Experience	Setup Effort
Pop-up hyperlink	ArcGIS Online, ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Enterprise	Opens in new tab	Low
Dashboard embedded content	ArcGIS Dashboards	Inline, feature-driven	Low–Medium
Experience Builder embed widget	ArcGIS Experience Builder	Inline, feature-driven	Medium
StoryMaps embed	ArcGIS StoryMaps	Inline, narrative	Low

All four methods work today with Splat Labs Cloud's existing sharing and embedding capabilities. Start with Method 1 if you want to test the workflow quickly. Move to Method 2 or 3 when you are ready to build an operational application that your team uses daily.

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Need help setting up your ArcGIS integration? Contact our team — we work with utility and enterprise GIS teams every day and are happy to walk you through it.