CoreSpatial 3D vs Esri for secure government GIS
Government agencies weighing alternatives to Esri for 3D usually want three things: control of where the data lives, mapping that interoperates with everything else they run, and costs that do not climb with every new user. Here is how CoreSpatial 3D by NGS compares, including where Esri is still the better fit.
CoreSpatial 3D and Esri ArcGIS compared
Esri details are summarized from Esri's public product information. Check current terms with Esri before you decide.
| Decision factor | CoreSpatial 3D by NGS | Esri ArcGIS |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Always on your own infrastructure, in connected, restricted, or fully disconnected networks | ArcGIS Online is hosted by Esri; ArcGIS Enterprise can be self-hosted |
| 3D engine | Self-hosted Cesium ion, with no runtime dependency on the Cesium cloud | ArcGIS scenes and scene layers |
| 3D standard | Cesium 3D Tiles, an OGC Community Standard | I3S scene layers, also an OGC Community Standard |
| Your own 3D data | LiDAR, drone imagery, and photogrammetry processed into 3D Tiles inside CoreSpatial Portal | Processed with Esri's own reality-mapping and 3D tools |
| 2D alongside 3D | WMS, WMTS, WFS, and ArcGIS sources in the same CoreSpatial Portal view | ArcGIS web maps and web scenes |
| Underlying software | Built on GeoServer, PostGIS, GDAL, and MapStore2, plus the self-hosted Cesium ion engine | Proprietary Esri software |
| Licensing | Included in the CoreSpatial subscription, priced per deployment rather than per user or per CPU | Licensed by user type, with ArcGIS Enterprise server components licensed by core |
| Desktop analysis | Web-first; analysts can keep a desktop GIS such as QGIS or ArcGIS Pro over OGC services | ArcGIS Pro, a mature desktop GIS with deep 3D analysis tools |
When each one is the better fit
Choose CoreSpatial 3D When
- 3D has to run on air-gapped, classified, or bandwidth-constrained networks with no cloud dependency.
- You want to stream your own LiDAR and photogrammetry as 3D Tiles on infrastructure you control.
- User counts are growing and per-user licensing is driving up renewals.
- You want open standards end to end, so your data and services are not tied to one vendor.
Esri May Be the Better Fit When
- Your analysts depend on ArcGIS Pro's desktop 3D analysis tools every day.
- Key applications are built directly on the Esri REST API and cannot be changed soon.
- You prefer an Esri-hosted SaaS platform over running your own infrastructure.
It does not have to be all or nothing. CoreSpatial Portal can show ArcGIS sources next to OGC services and 3D Tiles, so agencies can run both while they move workloads across. Our CEO started his career at Esri Defense Services, so we know both platforms well.
Moving 3D and GIS workloads to CoreSpatial
CoreSpatial 3D
Specifications, the buyer's checklist, and what ships with self-hosted streaming 3D.
Learn moreArcGIS Enterprise Migration
Where each part of ArcGIS Enterprise lands in CoreSpatial, and how the move works.
Learn moreGovernment GIS Licensing
How per-deployment pricing compares to per-user and per-core licensing.
Learn moreCoreSpatial 3D vs Esri questions
Is CoreSpatial 3D an alternative to Esri for 3D GIS?
Yes, for organizations that need self-hosted 3D visualization. CoreSpatial 3D streams global terrain, imagery, buildings, and your own 3D Tiles on your own infrastructure, alongside the 2D services in CoreSpatial Portal. Teams that rely heavily on ArcGIS Pro desktop analysis can keep it and connect it to CoreSpatial over OGC services.
Is CoreSpatial 3D open source?
CoreSpatial is built on open-source software, including GeoServer, PostGIS, GDAL, and MapStore2, and on the open 3D Tiles standard. The 3D engine itself is a self-hosted deployment of Cesium ion, a commercial product, which is included in the CoreSpatial subscription.
Can CoreSpatial 3D run in air-gapped government environments?
Yes. Cesium ion and the global 3D content run on your own servers, so CoreSpatial 3D works in connected, restricted, and fully disconnected networks with no call out to a cloud service.
Can we use our existing Esri data and services?
Yes. CoreSpatial Portal can display ArcGIS sources alongside OGC services, and data can be moved into PostGIS with GDAL when you are ready. The SDI Modernization package covers a full migration.
How is CoreSpatial 3D priced compared to Esri?
CoreSpatial 3D is included in the CoreSpatial subscription, which is priced per deployment rather than per user or per CPU. Esri pricing depends on your agreement, so contact NGS for a side by side comparison against your current licensing.
See CoreSpatial 3D next to what you run today
Tell us about your environment and we will set up a side by side walkthrough.