# ArcGIS CityEngine Reviews
**Vendor:** Esri  
**Category:** [Urban Planning and Design Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/urban-planning-and-design)  
**Average Rating:** 4.2/5.0  
**Total Reviews:** 22
## About ArcGIS CityEngine
Esri CityEngine is 3D modeling software for quickly creating large urban environments. The environments you choose to create can be based on real-world data or can be completely conceptual. CityEngine saves you time by using rules to automatically create the urban environment based on your input. You can import 3D models you&#39;ve created in other software to create context around them and export your entire environment into visualization tools, game engines and VR experiences.




## ArcGIS CityEngine Reviews
  ### 1. The Best Urban Structures Designing and City Planning Solution.

**Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Derrick C. | Senior Project Engineer, Construction, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** November 08, 2021

**What do you like best about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

-CityEngine capabilities for city development through easy planning and designing of the most innovative 3D models. It allows Engineers and Architect to effectively provide clean and professional designs and drawings for the city development projects.
-2D drafting and editing functions are very responsive and reliable for faster construction drawings and other documents generation and the easy project management and annotation tools are perfect.

**What do you dislike about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

Dislike bout the CityEngine modeling and drawing functionalities, i have zero, easy platform to install and the training on how to use the CityEngine features is very effective and short.

**Recommendations to others considering ArcGIS CityEngine:**

-Intuitive planning and designing solution for the Architect and also for the Design Engineers to easily provide the best and professional structures designs for the construction projects and other city development projects.

**What problems is ArcGIS CityEngine solving and how is that benefiting you?**

Simple 2D drawings production.

Urban structures designing is effective.

Document editing and management.

Construction project planning with CityEngine is excellent.

Civil 3D models generation is simple.

Team collaboration.

  ### 2. Accurate Architectural and Urban Design Tool.

**Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Wendy K. | Architectural Designer, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** December 01, 2020

**What do you like best about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

City Engine is a nice software which has the greatest interface loaded with powerful design features, especially for the complex structural designs.
The tool flexibility to design on various situations its what i love much on the City Engine. It has powerful Engine to load big files for the large urban projects and effectively rendering the great 3D designs for the different projects.

**What do you dislike about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

City Engine configuration is very applicable to all users with previous experience on other designing product.

**Recommendations to others considering ArcGIS CityEngine:**

The major solution on City Urban projects designing tool and easy on drawing production and the planning capability its wonderful.

**What problems is ArcGIS CityEngine solving and how is that benefiting you?**

Easy creating any kind of Architectural design.

Construction drawing and planning with City Engine its very easy.

  ### 3. Quite powerful tool for Urban City development.

**Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Anjali G. | Civil Engineer, Construction, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** October 31, 2019

**What do you like best about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

This tool is quite simple for any professional to get used and it has useful features including reporting capabilities which is quite amazing. Great tool in creating and designing of various City structures which contributes a lot in City Urban development. Also very flexible product when it comes to rendering and visualization of 3D models or designs. The tool price is also very friendly comparing with other similar packages. Amazing tool in creating of various scenarios and it can also import other software's files.

**What do you dislike about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

CityEngine is very powerful product and on my side i have no complain on this tool capabilities.

**Recommendations to others considering ArcGIS CityEngine:**

Exerllent tool for City development and production of quality Civil Engineering documents like drawings for various city urban projects.

**What problems is ArcGIS CityEngine solving and how is that benefiting you?**

Designing of city structures and planning of Urban development. Generally the product is the best in production of quality Engineering and Architectural services.

  ### 4. Advantages of using City Engine within our institution.

**Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Cynthia K. | Urban Planning Specialist, Government Administration, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** March 06, 2019

**What do you like best about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

The implementation process was very simple and didn't take much learning curve.
Its easy to create planning simulations and and 3D visualizations with City Engine.
Has great reporting ability that helps to estimate the cost to be used to carry out various work processes.
Has the ability to create 3D urban structure.
The hardware support offered by this software is great.
Has intuitive features that are easy to use and configure.


**What do you dislike about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

Its the best among all its alternatives hence I tried it and worked best for our workstation thus I can hesitate to say that I didn't find anything to dislike.

**Recommendations to others considering ArcGIS CityEngine:**

Its simply the best software to use for urban designing for it has great CAD features that suits every needs hence I give it a thumb up.

**What problems is ArcGIS CityEngine solving and how is that benefiting you?**

Easy to prepare detailed reports that provides a good insight even to other prospective customers.
City planning and designing is now a guarantee with this amazing software.

  ### 5. My testimony of using City Engine in our organisation

**Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Salma J. | Accountant, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** March 05, 2019

**What do you like best about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

Its one software that I have found easy to use without much learning curve needed.
I like the way this software works super fast hence becoming more effective and efficient in carrying out urban planning projects and several architectural activities.
The users interface is designed well to be user-friendly hence hence implementation was easy and did not take much time to set it up within our organization.
Has the best advanced features for reporting hence meeting all our end results.

**What do you dislike about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

This software is relatively expensive solution to use as its more costly thus not suitable for  small organization and I recommend the price of having it to be lowered so as to attract prospective customers.

**Recommendations to others considering ArcGIS CityEngine:**

Yes,to other organization that want to improve their achitectural activities and city planning.

**What problems is ArcGIS CityEngine solving and how is that benefiting you?**

Speeds the way we carry out various architectural activities,city planning,modeling and designing various platforms.
Has excellent reporting features that increases productivity.

  ### 6. A suitable supported 3D modeling software for space editing and visualization .

**Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Ester R. | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** March 04, 2019

**What do you like best about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

It has advanced features for urban designs which are cool and new every time you need to try something .
Brings about a clear visual picture to the comunity of the city being visulized and brings about creativity .
It offers timely reportings which ensure everyone involved is informed of all the going and can give ideas for changes .
It also consumes less time compared to other ways .

**What do you dislike about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

Its not as cheap as it may appear since you need a lot of support from its vendors and also for re licensing .
There is also a need for upgrade in order to keep up with new features so you need to offer maintenance often.

**What problems is ArcGIS CityEngine solving and how is that benefiting you?**

its offering planning of cities or space planning that makes it realistic the picture portraid to the outer community has some visual sense and eye capturing .

  ### 7. A software worth using for purposes of urban planning and architectural design to any organization .

**Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Rael W. | Financial Accountant, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** March 06, 2019

**What do you like best about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

The users interface of CityEngine can be subjected to carry any task given because its highly customizable.
Its easy to  generate large scale urban layouts with this software.
Possible to share multiple design alternatives with teams within our organization.
Has a great customer support and it was of high standards during the implementation process and setup hence less time was consumed

**What do you dislike about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

I haven't encountered much with  this software and simply works best for me and it has become a backbone for me when carrying out various urban plannings and architectural designing.

**Recommendations to others considering ArcGIS CityEngine:**

Its a software worth recommendations and every organization should give it a trial.

**What problems is ArcGIS CityEngine solving and how is that benefiting you?**

Generation of large scale urban layout with this software is now easy.
Easy deployment and implementation .
The customers support is great.

  ### 8. All you need to know about CityEngine

**Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Ziaullah S. | Assistant Manager, Information Technology and Services, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** March 06, 2019

**What do you like best about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

I like the fact that CityEngine is deployed in the cloud.

CityEngine is affordable where it has great ROI.

I also like the fact that CityEngine has colorful design which makes it a bit simple to navigate all the features.

Customer support is among the things that I like because they are readily available 24/7/365.

**What do you dislike about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

I have zero dislikes- to be frank I have never encountered an issue that I did not dislike.

**Recommendations to others considering ArcGIS CityEngine:**

To work with third party if they do not have technical support already in place.

**What problems is ArcGIS CityEngine solving and how is that benefiting you?**

Simulation in urban planning
Development of dynamic and innovative 3D architectural products with this software is made easy.

  ### 9. A nice new 3D tool in market. 

**Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Kayden C. | Materials Manager, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** March 10, 2019

**What do you like best about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

Easy implementation and getting started.  Clear visualization of 3d's after rendering. Modelling of 3d it's what i like most on this tool. CityEngine it has all features that are necessary when designing. Their support team are very active and ready to assist. It also have the ability of importing files form other app's like AutoCAD. 

**What do you dislike about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

Nothing so far, may be how it may run slow especially when trying to do rendering of mass projects. 

**Recommendations to others considering ArcGIS CityEngine:**

For those in designing industries like Architecture,  CityEngine is what you need on such field.

**What problems is ArcGIS CityEngine solving and how is that benefiting you?**

Clean and clear visualization. 
Modelling of 3ds etc. 

  ### 10. The best software that you can use.

**Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Miguel T. | Ingeniero de software, Internet, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** August 30, 2018

**What do you like best about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

CityEngine is a staggered application that can be utilized by the two novices and further developed clients. The initial ones may value its auto-create contents however the product has quite a lot more to offer. That is the reason we are given an extraordinary quality free Training Materials, for example, instructional exercise recordings and venture documents. Obviously help documentation framework consits of 550 pages loaded up with point by point depiction of each and every alternative alongside numerous instructional exercises. Besides we can take part a free individual online demo to see the programm live in real life and talk about how our generation pipeline may profit by it. There's additionally a discussion where we can trade our encounters with different clients or simply request a counsel if there should arise an occurrence of any issues with CityEngine. I might likewise want to say the way that individuals from Procedural contact their customers through email just keeping in mind the end goal to get some information about the assessment of the programm up until this point. They will answer any inquiry and consider creating programming as indicated by the customer's needs. Not at all like mice restricted to movement on one level plane, 3Dconnexions 3D mice enable amusement experts to move in every one of the three measurements all the while, utilizing six degrees of flexibility sensor innovation. By tenderly lifting, squeezing and turning the 3Dconnexion 3D mouse controller top, diversion designers working in CityEngine can explore and survey 3D urban areas in a characteristic and natural way.

**What do you dislike about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

One of the most disvantages is that the support don’t speak Spanish or French so if you have a problem you must to communicate with them in English. CGA content isn't especially hard to analyze and get running, however once in a while I wish there were more toolbars and implicit orders to make it go. Somebody totally without coding knowledge or comprehension would almost certainly have a troublesome time. Likewise, which is normal, it utilizes a great deal of the PC's assets to run. This is a great disvantage because not all my workers have a new computer with a fast RAM Memory.

**Recommendations to others considering ArcGIS CityEngine:**

CityEngine is an astounding application that fits client desires. It doesn't make a difference on the off chance that you are searching for a quick method for producing urban communities or more unpredictable application that gives you a chance to control each and every component on the scene. The programm adjusts to the present assignment and it's up to the client what number of things would it be able to endow. You must utilize it !!!

**What problems is ArcGIS CityEngine solving and how is that benefiting you?**

CityEngine enable me to settle on choices that are made with quality that will soon clearly advantage the network that I have decided for a great deal of years. I can utilize this product to make and create dynamic and innovative 3D representation with most extreme experience. The 3D intensity of perception by CityEndgine will likewise demonstrate to me the distinctive undertaking possibility, usage, and connections.

  ### 11. Solid Simulation Software

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Gary C. | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** August 23, 2018

**What do you like best about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

CityEngine allows the user to create planning simulations and visualizations by easily integrating rule-based scenarios with GIS layers. This has really helped us to show users how a proposal will look and to compare different proposals. The growing links to VR are very welcome. 

**What do you dislike about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

The learning curve is steep and the software is not intuitive. Since it does not integrate well with other ESRI products, moving models, for example, between ArcGIS Pro and CityEngine are cumbersome and result in the loss of a lot of the symbology and textures from an ArcGIS Pro model. While the VR support is becoming better, there is a great lack of information and support for this.

**Recommendations to others considering ArcGIS CityEngine:**

Document the project structure- assetts get buried, repeated, and lost. Moving a project then becomes a hunt for missing models. Needs better integration with ArcGIS Pro. We model in Pro because the tools are better, then can't duplicate the models, as well, in CityEngine. We spend twice the time creating models.

**What problems is ArcGIS CityEngine solving and how is that benefiting you?**

We are examining the use of CityEngine models and simulation in the areas of planning. We have created multiple VR experiences to show downtown redevelopment options as well as the construction of new buildings on our campus.

  ### 12. An Invaluable Tool for Urban 3D Work

**Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Devin L. | Principal | Cofounder, Architecture & Planning, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** August 23, 2018

**What do you like best about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

CityEngine is a must have tool for anyone doing 3D work for any urban area or environment. CityEngine allows us to have absolute control over the 3D - from texturing, simple extrusions, placing 3D assets and components, and creating detailed 3D models and geometry with our own code.

Listing the features I like most include:
-Advanced CGA editing
-The ability to create different scenarios
-Customizing a dashboard with key metrics to inform designs
-Detailed reporting
-Importing and direct linking to GIS data
-Ability to import map data, include streets, aerial imagery, and a terrain file


**What do you dislike about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

Although the image exports can look great, they almost always require some work in Photoshop, or better yet, another rendering program. 
I would love to see support for SketchUp. Right now my workflow takes me through Collada which isn't always clean.
I would love ability to configure the buttons on my UI

**Recommendations to others considering ArcGIS CityEngine:**

The learning curve is steep, but the payoff is worth it. The user group is a little small, but there are a few of us experts out there helping others out.

**What problems is ArcGIS CityEngine solving and how is that benefiting you?**

We use CityEngine so many different ways for so many different projects that this is a tough question for me to answer. Put simply, we are able to develop rich 3D environments very, very, very fast, that has either allowed to us to earn a little more profit, and provide our clients with multiple iterations or design concepts.

Here is an example of one recent CityEngine success...

In 2017, Oshkosh Corporation announced they had started a search for the location of their new global HQ. Earlier in the year, Oshkosh Corp was presented with a concept for a new waterfront campus in the downtown Oshkosh, but decided that the site was not large enough and too far from the interstate. 
Determined to retain Oshkosh Corp, the City performed its own site availability assessment in GIS and found 19 sites that met some of Oshkosh Corp's criteria, but only Lakeshore Golf Course met all criteria.

With one month to meet the proposal deadline, the City hired my firm (Houseal Lavigne Associates) to develop a program, conceptual plans, 3D renderings, and an online webscene. The site had to incorporate key features such as dramatic views of their main building, public recreational amenities, riverwalk and trail connections, access to Interstate 41, neighborhoods, and opportunities for future expansion. 

Utilizing CityEngine, we produced an attractive and engaging 3D model. The illustrations and webscene were critical in helping the public visualize the potential for the development and ultimately win support to offer a portion of the golf course as a location for the new global HQ. The Oshkosh Corp’s Board of Directors accepted the City’s proposal to retain their global HQ and will break ground in 2018. 

  ### 13. Design a city or two. 

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Architecture & Planning | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** December 17, 2018

**What do you like best about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

CityEngine allows urban developers the opportunity to define 3D modeling. Why create a building when you can envision an ecosystem that lives, breathes, and shows your ideas of the future for an area. 

**What do you dislike about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

With less than 11 years in the 3D modeling software market there are others who have the same or better approaches to mapping a brown space for a project. CityEngine will have to prove to clients they are able to provide many, if not all, aspects to the design experience 

**What problems is ArcGIS CityEngine solving and how is that benefiting you?**

CityEngine is allowing clients to formal an area and make ideal proposals for the space and lots made available for an given project. Buildings and models can be created quickly, effective, and changed to fit any setting. 

  ### 14. High tech modeling

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Architecture & Planning | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** September 07, 2018

**What do you like best about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

Advance 3D technology is the top in the industry. It is fairly easy to use and represents the real world well. the 3D satellite imagery and terrain is also very accurate.

**What do you dislike about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

I enjoyed most of this program but the variety of images or 3D models use capsule expand more and include more detail in the future. Otherwise this program is high quality.

**What problems is ArcGIS CityEngine solving and how is that benefiting you?**

Business problems include adjusting models and improving while using a program that is simple to use. Also, the amount of time it takes to build a model is critical in order to make use of time. This program is very interactive which saves on time.

  ### 15. My honest review for city engine.

**Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Technology and Services | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** December 19, 2018

**What do you like best about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

It's CGA editing feature is very advanced. It's detailed reporting is very nice and one other great feature is importing and direct linking to GIS data.

**What do you dislike about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

Unstable integration to other software is it's major drawback. It's collaboration function is not good.

**What problems is ArcGIS CityEngine solving and how is that benefiting you?**

It's helps me alot. Thanks to city engine .

  ### 16. Great software 

**Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Consumer Services | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** December 18, 2018

**What do you like best about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

Setup and diagnostic process. Although I did like organizing properties 

**What do you dislike about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

Downloads were slower than I would usually prefer.

**What problems is ArcGIS CityEngine solving and how is that benefiting you?**

Organization and spreadsheets were very helpful 

  ### 17. City Engine is a great soft

**Rating:** 1.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Fred A. | General Manager, Information Technology and Services, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** August 22, 2018

**What do you like best about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

The flexibility with which it allows users in 3D Model

**What do you dislike about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

City Engine is a steep learning curve, also I can’t connect to ArcGIS online with my Organization acc

**What problems is ArcGIS CityEngine solving and how is that benefiting you?**

It allows me to create 3D visualization for  consumption by my entire Univer

  ### 18. Good visualization app

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Mingwei S. | Traffic EIT, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** September 09, 2018

**What do you like best about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

I like the interface design and the commands are intuitive.

**What do you dislike about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

I don’t like the collaboration function and the rendering can be better

**What problems is ArcGIS CityEngine solving and how is that benefiting you?**

I am not sure.

  ### 19. Seems like an awesome planning/modeling software. 

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Government Administration | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** September 16, 2018

**What do you like best about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

I love the ability to truly be able to see, plan, and manipulate GIS data with spacial representation. 

**What do you dislike about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

I haven't used this software enough to be overly critical.  It does seem to take some basic knowledge of Esri software to be able to fully utilize the software. 

**What problems is ArcGIS CityEngine solving and how is that benefiting you?**

Adding spacial modeling to our planning and zoning conversations. 

  ### 20. Excellent for fast city planning rough draft and final draft

**Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Apparel & Fashion | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** April 19, 2018

**What do you like best about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

Access to satellite landscape geodata maps for desire project location and transition the data to other 3D Applications. Generate City in few minutes

**What do you dislike about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

Unstable Integration to other Software or Game Engines is a major drawback. This could be among other reasons why many potential users out there avoid the Software package. Other big firms do use it with their custom "Scripts" to avoid features limitations.



**What problems is ArcGIS CityEngine solving and how is that benefiting you?**

Cityengine made it very easy to create a 3D visualizations using existing data. 

  ### 21. City Engine For Campus Modeling 

**Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Higher Education | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** March 22, 2017

**What do you like best about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

CGA is straight forward and extremely logical. You can easily incorporate higher level algorithms for colors based on 3D properties. If you have a Adobe CS textures can be easily customized. Although some of the desired capabilities arent quite what I would like them to be, data can be easily manipulated in ArcMap to work around the existing constraints. Ex: Vector derived BaseMaps as Terrains. 

**What do you dislike about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

Hardware requirements, many of my friend work for various companies/municipalities who's budgets wont support the hardware requirements. 


**Recommendations to others considering ArcGIS CityEngine:**

Depending on your current needs ArcGIS Pro may be a better more straight forward option. City Engine is easier to customize but Pro has a much smaller learning curve and many 3D GP Tools. Plus if you find you need a more robust modeling software in the future you can easily move your work from Pro to CityEngine. 

**What problems is ArcGIS CityEngine solving and how is that benefiting you?**

We are using it for below grade modeling of pipe networks and tunnel systems. In the future we hope to integrate project plans from the Planning Office with the existing campus. 

  ### 22. 3D modeling and GIS integration

**Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars

**Reviewed by:** Verified User in Higher Education | Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

**Reviewed Date:** May 16, 2016

**What do you like best about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

If you are familiar with ESRI's flagship product, ArcGIS, CityEngine will feel somewhat familiar. However, it also adds a lot more, not the least of which is a 3D component, which can be done to some degree with ArcScene, but CityEngine takes this much, much further. 

Using CGA scripting, CityEngine allows you to further customize your data layers using "rule" files. You can save these rules to use on other projects, or share with others. This made it really easy for me to jump in and start using CityEngine right away, using rule files from templates to begin visualizing our data in a new way.

It also integrates with other 3D software. I could easily pull in Sketchup models and AutoCAD models and have them working with our ArcMap layers flawlessly.

I also love that it runs on Mac. I don't typically use Macs, but the computer with the best specs where I work just happens to be a Mac. 

**What do you dislike about ArcGIS CityEngine?**

Personally, I'm not someone with a ton of coding experience, and learning CGA script was a bit of a surprise. However, I'm familiar with this approach, as a similar thing happens with Python in higher-level ArcMap applications. 

CGA script isn't particularly difficult to dissect and get running, but sometimes I wish there were more toolbars and built-in commands to get it going. Someone entirely without coding experience or understanding would likely have a difficult time.

Also, which is to be expected, it uses a lot of the computer's resources to run. I was almost at a risk of not being able to use the program, but, luckily, we had a spare Mac with more powerful specs.

**Recommendations to others considering ArcGIS CityEngine:**

CityEngine is perfect if you have someone with an understanding of GIS (especially ArcGIS) as well as an understanding of 3D modeling (and several pipelines for moving models around).

It does require some understanding of coding. 

It also does require a fairly powerful machine to run. 

**What problems is ArcGIS CityEngine solving and how is that benefiting you?**

I was assigned the task of creating a 3D visualization using existing GIS data and SketchUp models as a base. CityEngine made this extremely easy, and the visualization already looks better just a few days in than anything that could be created in a 3D program or a GIS program in the same time frame.

Terrain is especially powerful. You have a few options for how the buildings sit on the terrain, but, that's right, they'll be bumped up on the terrain (using a DEM or whatever you have) and create a truly 3D view. This is also great for roads, which can hug the terrain.


## ArcGIS CityEngine Discussions
  - [What are the system requirements for CityEngine?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/system-requirements-7bd7ef04-09ae-4da9-9b4d-06eb8f244811) - 1 comment, 1 upvote
  - [What exactly is procedural modeling?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/procedural-modeling-2bf52bf5-0cb9-4a42-abd9-f000a3c5b23c) - 1 comment, 1 upvote
  - [What is CGA?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/procedural-modeling) - 1 comment, 1 upvote
  - [Can I use CityEngine to generate 3D buildings out of LiDAR data?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/capabilities-c46c9eee-74ae-4628-aefe-479010904657) - 1 comment, 1 upvote
  - [Does CityEngine support the creation of 3D KML files?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/capabilities-4b2d36fd-4c4d-4ff6-852e-3a74e63e5630) - 1 comment, 1 upvote

- [View ArcGIS CityEngine pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/arcgis-cityengine/reviews?section=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-05-14+00%3A30%3A52+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=1eea810b-5a46-4d07-ad59-503aa6524703&secure%5Btoken%5D=c86e4410eabaa08d57e22b2c8386981bcb893d6570d3adf11e0da592e39ace7c&format=llm_user)

## ArcGIS CityEngine Features
**Design**
- Sculpting
- Topology
- Drawing
- Brush Variety 
- Effects

**Plan**
- Documentation 
- Sequence
- Annotate
- Collaborate 

**Plan**
- Documentation
- Sequence
- Annotate
- Collaborate

**Move**
- Animate
- Render
- Views

**Design**
- 3D Modeling
- 3D Rendering 
- Drawing
- Editing 

**Design**
- 3D Modeling
- 3D Rendering
- 2D Modeling
- Editing

**Store & Manage**
- Pipeline 
- Controls
- Template library 

**Construction**
- Fabrication
- Reinforcement
- Clash Detection
- Grading
- Earthwork

**Analysis**
- Sustainability
- Liveability
- Movement

**Engineering**
- Hydraulic engineering
- Hydrologic engineering
- Transportation engineering
- Structural engineering

**Generative AI**
- AI Text-to-Image
- AI Text-to-3D

## Top ArcGIS CityEngine Alternatives
  - [SketchUp](https://www.g2.com/products/sketchup/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (1,296 reviews)
  - [Civil 3D](https://www.g2.com/products/civil-3d/reviews) - 4.4/5.0 (288 reviews)
  - [Autodesk InfraWorks](https://www.g2.com/products/autodesk-infraworks/reviews) - 4.2/5.0 (36 reviews)

