After completing your 3D mesh processing in Bentley iTwin and exporting the Production Cesium 3D Tiles as a zipped file, you might encounter an error when uploading to a newly created layer in SKAND. This typically happens if the entire zipped Production directory is uploaded, rather than just the contents required by SKAND.
This article explains how to properly prepare and package your exported Cesium 3D Tiles to ensure successful upload and visualization in SKAND.
Preparing a Scene Folder for Upload to SKAND
When exporting Cesium 3D Tiles from Bentley iTwin, it's important to package the files correctly to ensure successful upload to SKAND. Follow the steps below to properly prepare your 3D tile archive.
Unzip the Production Archive
Use a file archiver such as 7-Zip (recommended) to decompress the exported Production archive. 7-Zip is free and supports all major compression formats.
Locate the Scene Folder
Once unzipped, open the Production folder and locate the single Scene folder. This folder contains all necessary files for upload.
Zip the Scene Folder
Right-click on the Scene folder and compress it using the ZIP format. This newly zipped Scene archive will be the file you upload to SKAND.
Note: Ensure that you are only zipping the contents of the Scene folder, not the entire Production directory.
Required File Structure for Cesium 3D Tiles
SKAND supports Cesium 3D Tiles that follow the standard structure. The zipped Scene folder must contain the following:
Data Folder
Contains the 3D tile data generated by Bentley iTwin, typically in
.b3dmformat.Metadata XML File
An
.xmlfile that provides metadata for the entire Scene archive.Tileset Metadata JSON File
A tileset.json file that defines the tileset’s structure, bounding volume, coordinate system, and other relevant properties.
Make sure all three components are included before uploading the archive to SKAND.
Best Practices
Archive per Production: Only one 3D tile archive should be uploaded per SKAND layer.
Use ZIP Format: Always use the ZIP format when compressing the Scene folder.
Recommended Tool: Use 7-Zip to ensure consistent results.
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