USDZ — Apple AR Quick Look (based on Pixar USD)
Open BetaUSDZ is a container format for AR assets from Apple and Pixar (WWDC 2018): an uncompressed ZIP packaging a USD scene together with textures into a single file that an iPhone opens straight from Safari via a rel="ar" link and places a 3D model on the user's table. Our exporter takes the bbox of an OSM area, extrudes buildings to volume by height (from height tags or building:levels × story, otherwise by heuristic) and assembles a USDZ package with PBR materials. Honest about limits: these are static mesh-only models with no animation, color is a solid fill per building type with no photorealistic facade textures, and buildings are hollow shells without interiors. USD generation requires pxr or trimesh under the hood; the practical export ceiling is about 5 km² to stay under the AR Quick Look limit.
Key Features
About USDZ Format
USDZ is Apple's way of delivering a three-dimensional model to a user without an app: an uncompressed archive with a USD scene and textures inside, which the iPhone opens straight from Safari and places in front of you through AR Quick Look. The format appeared in 2018 and has since become the "view in augmented reality" standard on iOS.
For a map this is a rare scenario where three dimensions work for the person rather than for beauty: the client opens a link and sees a city block on their desk, turns it with their fingers, looks at it from above. No installation and no explanations are needed.
The file holds the buildings of the selected area, extruded into volume by height, with a color material by type of development and an optional ground plane underneath. No animation, no facade textures and no interiors: these are static LOD1 shells. The practical ceiling is about 5 km²; beyond that the file becomes too heavy for Quick Look.
What Program Opens USDZ Files
The following programs and applications can open, edit, and work with USDZ — Apple AR Quick Look (based on Pixar USD) (.usdz) files exported from OSM2CDR:
Format specifications
- Open standard
- 3D coordinates supported
- Lossless (no quality loss)
- No attributes
- Output: 1 file
- An uncompressed-ZIP USDZ for Apple AR Quick Look: buildings extruded by height with per-type PBR color, hollow mesh-only shells, ~5 km2 practical ceiling.
Who Uses USDZ Maps
How to Export USDZ
How to Open After Export
- iPhone or iPad — send the file to yourself in Messages or by email and tap it: Quick Look will open the model and offer to place it in the room.
- Your own site — a link like <a rel="ar" href="map.usdz"><img src="preview.jpg"></a>; it matters that the server serves the file with the model/vnd.usdz+zip type.
- macOS — Finder shows a preview with the space bar, while Reality Composer and Reality Converter open the model for edits and conversion.
- Windows and Linux — usdview from OpenUSD or online viewers built on three.js: there is no native USDZ support outside Apple's ecosystem.
- A model that is too heavy — reduce the area: a city block looks noticeably better in AR than a whole city, and it loads faster.
Popular maps in USDZ
Get USDZ — Apple AR Quick Look (based on Pixar USD) map exports
Download professional USDZ maps from OpenStreetMap. Instant generation, any area.