diff --git a/python/3d/auto_generated/qgs3dmapsettings.sip.in b/python/3d/auto_generated/qgs3dmapsettings.sip.in
index ed9fe0385e397..ececc4a5889c9 100644
--- a/python/3d/auto_generated/qgs3dmapsettings.sip.in
+++ b/python/3d/auto_generated/qgs3dmapsettings.sip.in
@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@ class Qgs3DMapSettings : QObject, QgsTemporalRangeObject
 {
 %Docstring(signature="appended")
 Definition of the world.
+
+.. warning::
+
+   Qgs3DMapSettings are a QObject subclass, and accordingly are not
+   safe for access across different threads. See Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot instead
+   for a safe snapshot of settings from Qgs3DMapSettings.
 %End
 
 %TypeHeaderCode
@@ -28,6 +34,7 @@ Definition of the world.
     ~Qgs3DMapSettings();
 
 
+
     void readXml( const QDomElement &elem, const QgsReadWriteContext &context );
 %Docstring
 Reads configuration from a DOM element previously written by :py:func:`~Qgs3DMapSettings.writeXml`
diff --git a/python/PyQt6/3d/auto_generated/qgs3dmapsettings.sip.in b/python/PyQt6/3d/auto_generated/qgs3dmapsettings.sip.in
index ed9fe0385e397..ececc4a5889c9 100644
--- a/python/PyQt6/3d/auto_generated/qgs3dmapsettings.sip.in
+++ b/python/PyQt6/3d/auto_generated/qgs3dmapsettings.sip.in
@@ -16,6 +16,12 @@ class Qgs3DMapSettings : QObject, QgsTemporalRangeObject
 {
 %Docstring(signature="appended")
 Definition of the world.
+
+.. warning::
+
+   Qgs3DMapSettings are a QObject subclass, and accordingly are not
+   safe for access across different threads. See Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot instead
+   for a safe snapshot of settings from Qgs3DMapSettings.
 %End
 
 %TypeHeaderCode
@@ -28,6 +34,7 @@ Definition of the world.
     ~Qgs3DMapSettings();
 
 
+
     void readXml( const QDomElement &elem, const QgsReadWriteContext &context );
 %Docstring
 Reads configuration from a DOM element previously written by :py:func:`~Qgs3DMapSettings.writeXml`
diff --git a/src/3d/CMakeLists.txt b/src/3d/CMakeLists.txt
index 7735a3c65ce1e..534ff97f25aaf 100644
--- a/src/3d/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/3d/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ set(QGIS_3D_SRCS
   qgs3dmapexportsettings.cpp
   qgs3dmapscene.cpp
   qgs3dmapsettings.cpp
+  qgs3dmapsettingssnapshot.cpp
   qgs3dmaptool.cpp
   qgs3dmapcanvas.cpp
   qgs3dsceneexporter.cpp
@@ -117,6 +118,7 @@ set(QGIS_3D_HDRS
   qgs3daxissettings.h
   qgs3dmapscene.h
   qgs3dmapsettings.h
+  qgs3dmapsettingssnapshot.h
   qgs3dmaptool.h
   qgs3dsceneexporter.h
   qgs3dtypes.h
diff --git a/src/3d/mesh/qgsmesh3dentity_p.cpp b/src/3d/mesh/qgsmesh3dentity_p.cpp
index e89134bdba69d..c238ab915b9e8 100644
--- a/src/3d/mesh/qgsmesh3dentity_p.cpp
+++ b/src/3d/mesh/qgsmesh3dentity_p.cpp
@@ -20,12 +20,12 @@
 #include <Qt3DRender/QGeometryRenderer>
 
 #include "qgsmeshlayer.h"
-#include "qgs3dmapsettings.h"
+#include "qgs3dmapsettingssnapshot.h"
 #include "qgsmesh3dmaterial_p.h"
 
 
 
-QgsMesh3DEntity::QgsMesh3DEntity( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map,
+QgsMesh3DEntity::QgsMesh3DEntity( const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map,
                                   const QgsTriangularMesh &triangularMesh,
                                   const QgsMesh3DSymbol *symbol )
   : mMapSettings( map )
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ QgsMesh3DEntity::QgsMesh3DEntity( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map,
 {}
 
 QgsMeshDataset3DEntity::QgsMeshDataset3DEntity(
-  const Qgs3DMapSettings &map,
+  const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map,
   const QgsTriangularMesh &triangularMesh,
   QgsMeshLayer *meshLayer,
   const QgsMesh3DSymbol *symbol )
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ QgsMeshLayer *QgsMeshDataset3DEntity::layer() const
 }
 
 QgsMesh3DTerrainTileEntity::QgsMesh3DTerrainTileEntity(
-  const Qgs3DMapSettings &map,
+  const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map,
   const QgsTriangularMesh &triangularMesh,
   const QgsMesh3DSymbol *symbol,
   QgsChunkNodeId nodeId,
diff --git a/src/3d/mesh/qgsmesh3dentity_p.h b/src/3d/mesh/qgsmesh3dentity_p.h
index 81b7287ecfd38..4fa687d3ec2a7 100644
--- a/src/3d/mesh/qgsmesh3dentity_p.h
+++ b/src/3d/mesh/qgsmesh3dentity_p.h
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 #include <Qt3DCore/QEntity>
 
 #include "mesh/qgsmesh3dgeometry_p.h"
-#include "qgs3dmapsettings.h"
+#include "qgs3dmapsettingssnapshot.h"
 #include "qgsmesh3dsymbol.h"
 #include "qgsterraintileentity_p.h"
 
@@ -52,13 +52,13 @@ class QgsMesh3DEntity
     void build();
   protected:
     //! Constructor
-    QgsMesh3DEntity( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map,
+    QgsMesh3DEntity( const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map,
                      const QgsTriangularMesh &triangularMesh,
                      const QgsMesh3DSymbol *symbol );
 
     virtual ~QgsMesh3DEntity() = default;
 
-    Qgs3DMapSettings mMapSettings;
+    Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot mMapSettings;
     QgsTriangularMesh mTriangularMesh;
     std::unique_ptr< QgsMesh3DSymbol > mSymbol;
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ class QgsMeshDataset3DEntity: public Qt3DCore::QEntity, public QgsMesh3DEntity
 
   public:
     //! Constructor
-    QgsMeshDataset3DEntity( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map,
+    QgsMeshDataset3DEntity( const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map,
                             const QgsTriangularMesh &triangularMesh,
                             QgsMeshLayer *meshLayer,
                             const QgsMesh3DSymbol *symbol );
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ class QgsMesh3DTerrainTileEntity: public QgsTerrainTileEntity, public QgsMesh3DE
     Q_OBJECT
 
   public:
-    QgsMesh3DTerrainTileEntity( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map,
+    QgsMesh3DTerrainTileEntity( const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map,
                                 const QgsTriangularMesh &triangularMesh,
                                 const QgsMesh3DSymbol *symbol,
                                 QgsChunkNodeId nodeId,
diff --git a/src/3d/mesh/qgsmeshterraingenerator.cpp b/src/3d/mesh/qgsmeshterraingenerator.cpp
index 7285093b222c6..88aa2f27658a1 100644
--- a/src/3d/mesh/qgsmeshterraingenerator.cpp
+++ b/src/3d/mesh/qgsmeshterraingenerator.cpp
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 #include "qgsterrainentity_p.h"
 #include "qgsterraintextureimage_p.h"
 #include "qgsmeshlayerutils.h"
-
+#include "qgs3dmapsettings.h"
 
 QgsMeshTerrainTileLoader::QgsMeshTerrainTileLoader( QgsTerrainEntity *terrain, QgsChunkNode *node, const QgsTriangularMesh &triangularMesh, const QgsMesh3DSymbol *symbol )
   : QgsTerrainTileLoader( terrain, node )
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ QgsMeshTerrainTileLoader::QgsMeshTerrainTileLoader( QgsTerrainEntity *terrain, Q
 
 Qt3DCore::QEntity *QgsMeshTerrainTileLoader::createEntity( Qt3DCore::QEntity *parent )
 {
-  QgsMesh3DTerrainTileEntity *entity = new QgsMesh3DTerrainTileEntity( terrain()->map3D(), mTriangularMesh, mSymbol.get(), mNode->tileId(), parent );
+  QgsMesh3DTerrainTileEntity *entity = new QgsMesh3DTerrainTileEntity( terrain()->map3D().snapshot(), mTriangularMesh, mSymbol.get(), mNode->tileId(), parent );
   entity->build();
   createTexture( entity );
 
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ void QgsMeshTerrainGenerator::readXml( const QDomElement &elem )
   mSymbol->readXml( elem.firstChildElement( "symbol" ), rwc );
 }
 
-float QgsMeshTerrainGenerator::heightAt( double x, double y, const Qgs3DMapSettings & ) const
+float QgsMeshTerrainGenerator::heightAt( double x, double y, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot & ) const
 {
   return QgsMeshLayerUtils::interpolateZForPoint( mTriangularMesh, x, y );
 }
diff --git a/src/3d/mesh/qgsmeshterraingenerator.h b/src/3d/mesh/qgsmeshterraingenerator.h
index c9fb246310f21..2e00661010ea0 100644
--- a/src/3d/mesh/qgsmeshterraingenerator.h
+++ b/src/3d/mesh/qgsmeshterraingenerator.h
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ class _3D_EXPORT QgsMeshTerrainGenerator: public QgsTerrainGenerator
     QgsRectangle rootChunkExtent() const override;
     void writeXml( QDomElement &elem ) const override;
     void readXml( const QDomElement &elem ) override;
-    float heightAt( double x, double y, const Qgs3DMapSettings & ) const override;
+    float heightAt( double x, double y, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map ) const override;
 
   private slots:
     void updateTriangularMesh();
diff --git a/src/3d/qgs3dmapsettings.cpp b/src/3d/qgs3dmapsettings.cpp
index 9447f60a7b2d1..33d8b0df12b25 100644
--- a/src/3d/qgs3dmapsettings.cpp
+++ b/src/3d/qgs3dmapsettings.cpp
@@ -21,9 +21,6 @@
 #include "qgsmeshterraingenerator.h"
 #include "qgsonlineterraingenerator.h"
 #include "qgsprojectviewsettings.h"
-#include "qgsvectorlayer3drenderer.h"
-#include "qgsmeshlayer3drenderer.h"
-#include "qgspointcloudlayer3drenderer.h"
 #include "qgsprojectelevationproperties.h"
 #include "qgsterrainprovider.h"
 #include "qgslightsource.h"
@@ -31,6 +28,8 @@
 #include "qgsrasterlayer.h"
 #include "qgspointlightsettings.h"
 #include "qgsdirectionallightsettings.h"
+#include "qgsthreadingutils.h"
+#include "qgs3dmapsettingssnapshot.h"
 
 #include <QDomDocument>
 #include <QDomElement>
@@ -118,6 +117,25 @@ Qgs3DMapSettings::~Qgs3DMapSettings()
   qDeleteAll( mLightSources );
 }
 
+Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot Qgs3DMapSettings::snapshot() const
+{
+  QGIS_PROTECT_QOBJECT_THREAD_ACCESS
+
+  Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot res;
+  res.setCrs( mCrs );
+  res.setTransformContext( mTransformContext );
+  res.setOrigin( mOrigin );
+  res.setExtent( mExtent );
+  res.setTemporalRange( temporalRange() );
+  res.setSelectionColor( mSelectionColor );
+  res.setOutputDpi( mDpi );
+  res.setFieldOfView( mFieldOfView );
+  res.setTerrainRenderingEnabled( mTerrainRenderingEnabled );
+  res.setTerrainVerticalScale( mTerrainVerticalScale );
+  res.setTerrainGenerator( mTerrainGenerator.get() );
+  return res;
+}
+
 void Qgs3DMapSettings::readXml( const QDomElement &elem, const QgsReadWriteContext &context )
 {
   QgsProjectDirtyBlocker blocker( QgsProject::instance() );
diff --git a/src/3d/qgs3dmapsettings.h b/src/3d/qgs3dmapsettings.h
index c9abdfa3957bb..eee9c9aeb9bc4 100644
--- a/src/3d/qgs3dmapsettings.h
+++ b/src/3d/qgs3dmapsettings.h
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ class QgsLightSource;
 class QgsAbstract3DRenderer;
 class QgsReadWriteContext;
 class QgsProject;
+class Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot;
 
 class QDomElement;
 
@@ -47,6 +48,9 @@ class QDomElement;
  * \ingroup 3d
  * \brief Definition of the world.
  *
+ * \warning Qgs3DMapSettings are a QObject subclass, and accordingly are not
+ * safe for access across different threads. See Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot instead
+ * for a safe snapshot of settings from Qgs3DMapSettings.
  */
 class _3D_EXPORT Qgs3DMapSettings : public QObject, public QgsTemporalRangeObject
 {
@@ -59,6 +63,13 @@ class _3D_EXPORT Qgs3DMapSettings : public QObject, public QgsTemporalRangeObjec
 
     Qgs3DMapSettings &operator=( Qgs3DMapSettings const & ) = delete;
 
+    /**
+     * Returns a snapshot of settings from this object in a thread-safe, cheap-to-copy structure.
+     *
+     * \since QGIS 3.40
+     */
+    Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot snapshot() const SIP_SKIP;
+
     //! Reads configuration from a DOM element previously written by writeXml()
     void readXml( const QDomElement &elem, const QgsReadWriteContext &context );
     //! Writes configuration to a DOM element, to be used later with readXml()
diff --git a/src/3d/qgs3dmapsettingssnapshot.cpp b/src/3d/qgs3dmapsettingssnapshot.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..5619c38185eeb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/3d/qgs3dmapsettingssnapshot.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+/***************************************************************************
+  qgs3dmapsettingssnapshot.cpp
+  --------------------------------------
+  Date                 : August 2024
+  Copyright            : (C) 2024 by Nyall Dawson
+  Email                : nyall dot dawson at gmail dot com
+ ***************************************************************************
+ *                                                                         *
+ *   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify  *
+ *   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by  *
+ *   the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or     *
+ *   (at your option) any later version.                                   *
+ *                                                                         *
+ ***************************************************************************/
+
+#include "qgs3dmapsettingssnapshot.h"
+#include "qgs3dutils.h"
+
+QgsVector3D Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot::mapToWorldCoordinates( const QgsVector3D &mapCoords ) const
+{
+  return Qgs3DUtils::mapToWorldCoordinates( mapCoords, mOrigin );
+}
+
+QgsVector3D Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot::worldToMapCoordinates( const QgsVector3D &worldCoords ) const
+{
+  return Qgs3DUtils::worldToMapCoordinates( worldCoords, mOrigin );
+}
diff --git a/src/3d/qgs3dmapsettingssnapshot.h b/src/3d/qgs3dmapsettingssnapshot.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..5734c29ea75e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/3d/qgs3dmapsettingssnapshot.h
@@ -0,0 +1,254 @@
+/***************************************************************************
+  qgs3dmapsettingssnapshot.h
+  --------------------------------------
+  Date                 : August 2024
+  Copyright            : (C) 2024 by Nyall Dawson
+  Email                : nyall dot dawson at gmail dot com
+ ***************************************************************************
+ *                                                                         *
+ *   This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify  *
+ *   it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by  *
+ *   the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or     *
+ *   (at your option) any later version.                                   *
+ *                                                                         *
+ ***************************************************************************/
+
+#ifndef QGS3DMAPSETTINGSSNAPSHOT_H
+#define QGS3DMAPSETTINGSSNAPSHOT_H
+
+#include "qgis_3d.h"
+#include "qgsvector3d.h"
+#include "qgsrectangle.h"
+#include "qgsrange.h"
+#include "qgscoordinatereferencesystem.h"
+#include "qgscoordinatetransformcontext.h"
+
+#include <QColor>
+
+class QgsTerrainGenerator;
+
+#define SIP_NO_FILE
+
+/**
+ * \ingroup 3d
+ * \brief A snapshot of properties from Qgs3DMapSettings, in a thread-safe, cheap-to-copy structure.
+ *
+ * \note Not available in Python bindings.
+ *
+ * \since QGIS 3.40
+ */
+class _3D_EXPORT Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot
+{
+
+  public:
+
+    Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot() = default;
+
+    /**
+     * Sets the coordinate reference system used in the 3D scene
+     *
+     * \see crs()
+     */
+    void setCrs( const QgsCoordinateReferenceSystem &crs ) { mCrs = crs; }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the coordinate reference system used in the 3D scene.
+     *
+     * \see setCrs()
+     */
+    QgsCoordinateReferenceSystem crs() const { return mCrs; }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the coordinate transform context, which stores various
+     * information regarding which datum transforms should be used when transforming points
+     * from a source to destination coordinate reference system.
+     *
+     * \see setTransformContext()
+     */
+    QgsCoordinateTransformContext transformContext() const { return mTransformContext; }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets the coordinate transform \a context, which stores various
+     * information regarding which datum transforms should be used when transforming points
+     * from a source to destination coordinate reference system.
+     *
+     * \see transformContext()
+     */
+    void setTransformContext( const QgsCoordinateTransformContext &context ) { mTransformContext = context; }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the 3D scene's 2D extent in the 3D scene's CRS
+     *
+     * \see crs()
+     * \see setExtent()
+     */
+    QgsRectangle extent() const { return mExtent; }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets the 3D scene's 2D \a extent in the 3D scene's CRS, while also setting the scene's origin to the extent's center
+     * This needs to be called during initialization, as terrain will only be generated
+     * within this extent and layer 3D data will only be loaded within this extent too.
+     *
+     * \see extent()
+     * \see setOrigin()
+     * \see setCrs()
+     */
+    void setExtent( const QgsRectangle &extent ) { mExtent = extent; }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets coordinates in map CRS at which our 3D world has origin (0,0,0)
+     *
+     * We move the 3D world origin to the center of the extent of our terrain: this is done
+     * to minimize the impact of numerical errors when operating with 32-bit floats.
+     * Unfortunately this is not enough when working with a large area (still results in jitter
+     * with scenes spanning hundreds of kilometers and zooming in a lot).
+     *
+     * Need to look into more advanced techniques like "relative to center" or "relative to eye"
+     * to improve the precision.
+     *
+     * \see origin()
+     */
+    void setOrigin( const QgsVector3D &origin ) { mOrigin = origin; }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns coordinates in map CRS at which 3D scene has origin (0,0,0)
+     *
+     * \see setOrigin()
+     */
+    QgsVector3D origin() const { return mOrigin; }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets the temporal \a range for the map.
+     *
+     * \see temporalRange()
+    */
+    void setTemporalRange( const QgsDateTimeRange &range ) { mTemporalRange = range; }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the temporal range for the map.
+     *
+     * \see setTemporalRange()
+    */
+    const QgsDateTimeRange &temporalRange() const { return mTemporalRange; }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets color used for selected features
+     *
+     * \see selectionColor()
+     */
+    void setSelectionColor( const QColor &color ) { mSelectionColor = color; }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns color used for selected features
+     *
+     * \see setSelectionColor()
+     */
+    QColor selectionColor() const { return mSelectionColor; }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets DPI used for conversion between real world units (e.g. mm) and pixels
+     *
+     * \see outputDpi()
+     */
+    void setOutputDpi( const double dpi ) {mDpi = dpi;}
+
+    /**
+     * Returns DPI used for conversion between real world units (e.g. mm) and pixels
+     * Default value is 96
+     *
+     * \see setOutputDpi()
+     */
+    double outputDpi() const { return mDpi; }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the camera lens' field of view.
+     *
+     * \see setFieldOfView()
+     */
+    float fieldOfView() const { return mFieldOfView; }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets the camera lens' field of view.
+     *
+     * \see fieldOfView()
+     */
+    void setFieldOfView( const float fieldOfView ) { mFieldOfView = fieldOfView; }
+
+    /**
+     * Converts map coordinates to 3D world coordinates (applies offset and turns (x,y,z) into (x,-z,y)).
+     *
+     * \see worldToMapCoordinates()
+     */
+    QgsVector3D mapToWorldCoordinates( const QgsVector3D &mapCoords ) const;
+
+    /**
+     * Converts 3D world coordinates to map coordinates (applies offset and turns (x,y,z) into (x,-z,y)).
+     *
+     * \see mapToWorldCoordinates()
+     */
+    QgsVector3D worldToMapCoordinates( const QgsVector3D &worldCoords ) const;
+
+    /**
+     * Returns whether the 2D terrain surface will be rendered.
+     * \see setTerrainRenderingEnabled()
+     */
+    bool terrainRenderingEnabled() const { return mTerrainRenderingEnabled; }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets whether the 2D terrain surface will be rendered in.
+     * \see terrainRenderingEnabled()
+     */
+    void setTerrainRenderingEnabled( bool terrainRenderingEnabled ) { mTerrainRenderingEnabled = terrainRenderingEnabled; }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets the vertical scale (exaggeration) of terrain.
+     * (1 = true scale, > 1 = hills get more pronounced)
+     *
+     * \see terrainVerticalScale()
+     */
+    void setTerrainVerticalScale( double zScale ) { mTerrainVerticalScale = zScale; }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns vertical scale (exaggeration) of terrain
+     * \see setTerrainVerticalScale()
+     */
+    double terrainVerticalScale() const { return mTerrainVerticalScale; }
+
+    /**
+     * Sets terrain generator.
+     *
+     * Ownership is NOT transferred, and belongs to the Qgs3DMapSettings.
+     *
+     * \see terrainGenerator()
+     */
+    void setTerrainGenerator( QgsTerrainGenerator *gen ) { mTerrainGenerator = gen; }
+
+    /**
+     * Returns the terrain generator.
+     *
+     * \see setTerrainGenerator()
+     */
+    QgsTerrainGenerator *terrainGenerator() const { return mTerrainGenerator; }
+
+
+  private:
+    QgsCoordinateReferenceSystem mCrs;   //!< Destination coordinate system of the world
+    //! Coordinate transform context
+    QgsCoordinateTransformContext mTransformContext;
+    //! Offset in map CRS coordinates at which our 3D world has origin (0,0,0)
+    QgsVector3D mOrigin;
+    QgsRectangle mExtent; //!< 2d extent used to limit the 3d view
+    QgsDateTimeRange mTemporalRange;
+    QColor mSelectionColor; //!< Color to be used for selected map features
+    double mDpi = 96;  //!< Dot per inch value for the screen / painter
+    float mFieldOfView = 45.0f; //!< Camera lens field of view value
+    bool mTerrainRenderingEnabled = true;
+    double mTerrainVerticalScale = 1;   //!< Multiplier of terrain heights to make the terrain shape more pronounced
+
+    // not owned, currently a pointer to the Qgs3DMapSettings terrain generator.
+    // TODO -- fix during implementation of https://github.com/qgis/QGIS-Enhancement-Proposals/issues/301
+    QgsTerrainGenerator *mTerrainGenerator = nullptr;  //!< Implementation of the terrain generation
+};
+
+
+#endif // QGS3DMAPSETTINGSSNAPSHOT_H
diff --git a/src/3d/qgs3dutils.cpp b/src/3d/qgs3dutils.cpp
index 74709da626c2f..c1b268fad8150 100644
--- a/src/3d/qgs3dutils.cpp
+++ b/src/3d/qgs3dutils.cpp
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ Qgs3DTypes::CullingMode Qgs3DUtils::cullingModeFromString( const QString &str )
     return Qgs3DTypes::NoCulling;
 }
 
-float Qgs3DUtils::clampAltitude( const QgsPoint &p, Qgis::AltitudeClamping altClamp, Qgis::AltitudeBinding altBind, float offset, const QgsPoint &centroid, const Qgs3DMapSettings &map )
+float Qgs3DUtils::clampAltitude( const QgsPoint &p, Qgis::AltitudeClamping altClamp, Qgis::AltitudeBinding altBind, float offset, const QgsPoint &centroid, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map )
 {
   float terrainZ = 0;
   switch ( altClamp )
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ float Qgs3DUtils::clampAltitude( const QgsPoint &p, Qgis::AltitudeClamping altCl
   return z;
 }
 
-void Qgs3DUtils::clampAltitudes( QgsLineString *lineString, Qgis::AltitudeClamping altClamp, Qgis::AltitudeBinding altBind, const QgsPoint &centroid, float offset, const Qgs3DMapSettings &map )
+void Qgs3DUtils::clampAltitudes( QgsLineString *lineString, Qgis::AltitudeClamping altClamp, Qgis::AltitudeBinding altBind, const QgsPoint &centroid, float offset, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map )
 {
   for ( int i = 0; i < lineString->nCoordinates(); ++i )
   {
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ void Qgs3DUtils::clampAltitudes( QgsLineString *lineString, Qgis::AltitudeClampi
 }
 
 
-bool Qgs3DUtils::clampAltitudes( QgsPolygon *polygon, Qgis::AltitudeClamping altClamp, Qgis::AltitudeBinding altBind, float offset, const Qgs3DMapSettings &map )
+bool Qgs3DUtils::clampAltitudes( QgsPolygon *polygon, Qgis::AltitudeClamping altClamp, Qgis::AltitudeBinding altBind, float offset, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map )
 {
   if ( !polygon->is3D() )
     polygon->addZValue( 0 );
@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ QMatrix4x4 Qgs3DUtils::stringToMatrix4x4( const QString &str )
   return m;
 }
 
-void Qgs3DUtils::extractPointPositions( const QgsFeature &f, const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, Qgis::AltitudeClamping altClamp, QVector<QVector3D> &positions )
+void Qgs3DUtils::extractPointPositions( const QgsFeature &f, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, Qgis::AltitudeClamping altClamp, QVector<QVector3D> &positions )
 {
   const QgsAbstractGeometry *g = f.geometry().constGet();
   for ( auto it = g->vertices_begin(); it != g->vertices_end(); ++it )
diff --git a/src/3d/qgs3dutils.h b/src/3d/qgs3dutils.h
index 433c0843b9c39..8e9bd1ea73926 100644
--- a/src/3d/qgs3dutils.h
+++ b/src/3d/qgs3dutils.h
@@ -130,11 +130,11 @@ class _3D_EXPORT Qgs3DUtils
     static Qgs3DTypes::CullingMode cullingModeFromString( const QString &str );
 
     //! Clamps altitude of a vertex according to the settings, returns Z value
-    static float clampAltitude( const QgsPoint &p, Qgis::AltitudeClamping altClamp, Qgis::AltitudeBinding altBind, float offset, const QgsPoint &centroid, const Qgs3DMapSettings &map );
+    static float clampAltitude( const QgsPoint &p, Qgis::AltitudeClamping altClamp, Qgis::AltitudeBinding altBind, float offset, const QgsPoint &centroid, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map );
     //! Clamps altitude of vertices of a linestring according to the settings
-    static void clampAltitudes( QgsLineString *lineString, Qgis::AltitudeClamping altClamp, Qgis::AltitudeBinding altBind, const QgsPoint &centroid, float offset, const Qgs3DMapSettings &map );
+    static void clampAltitudes( QgsLineString *lineString, Qgis::AltitudeClamping altClamp, Qgis::AltitudeBinding altBind, const QgsPoint &centroid, float offset, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map );
     //! Clamps altitude of vertices of a polygon according to the settings
-    static bool clampAltitudes( QgsPolygon *polygon, Qgis::AltitudeClamping altClamp, Qgis::AltitudeBinding altBind, float offset, const Qgs3DMapSettings &map );
+    static bool clampAltitudes( QgsPolygon *polygon, Qgis::AltitudeClamping altClamp, Qgis::AltitudeBinding altBind, float offset, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map );
 
     //! Converts a 4x4 transform matrix to a string
     static QString matrix4x4toString( const QMatrix4x4 &m );
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ class _3D_EXPORT Qgs3DUtils
     static QMatrix4x4 stringToMatrix4x4( const QString &str );
 
     //! Calculates (x,y,z) positions of (multi)point from the given feature
-    static void extractPointPositions( const QgsFeature &f, const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, Qgis::AltitudeClamping altClamp, QVector<QVector3D> &positions );
+    static void extractPointPositions( const QgsFeature &f, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, Qgis::AltitudeClamping altClamp, QVector<QVector3D> &positions );
 
     /**
      * Returns TRUE if bbox is completely outside the current viewing volume.
diff --git a/src/3d/qgsfeature3dhandler_p.h b/src/3d/qgsfeature3dhandler_p.h
index 0434ba9998f42..1ae8f8acd9eef 100644
--- a/src/3d/qgsfeature3dhandler_p.h
+++ b/src/3d/qgsfeature3dhandler_p.h
@@ -33,8 +33,7 @@ class QgsFeature;
 
 
 #include "qgsexpressioncontext.h"
-
-class Qgs3DMapSettings;
+#include "qgs3dmapsettingssnapshot.h"
 
 #define SIP_NO_FILE
 
@@ -48,9 +47,9 @@ class Qgs3DMapSettings;
 class Qgs3DRenderContext
 {
   public:
-    Qgs3DRenderContext( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map ) : mMap( map ) {}
+    Qgs3DRenderContext( const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map ) : mMap( map ) {}
 
-    const Qgs3DMapSettings &map() const { return mMap; }
+    const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map() const { return mMap; }
 
     /**
      * Sets the expression context. This context is used for all expression evaluation
@@ -75,7 +74,7 @@ class Qgs3DRenderContext
     const QgsExpressionContext &expressionContext() const { return mExpressionContext; } SIP_SKIP
 
   private:
-    const Qgs3DMapSettings &mMap;
+    Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot mMap;
     //! Expression context
     QgsExpressionContext mExpressionContext;
 
diff --git a/src/3d/qgsmeshlayer3drenderer.cpp b/src/3d/qgsmeshlayer3drenderer.cpp
index 8a23ad5a87eb5..3d739e1d553ba 100644
--- a/src/3d/qgsmeshlayer3drenderer.cpp
+++ b/src/3d/qgsmeshlayer3drenderer.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include "qgsmeshlayer.h"
 #include "qgsxmlutils.h"
 #include "qgsmesh3dentity_p.h"
+#include "qgs3dmapsettings.h"
 
 QgsMeshLayer3DRendererMetadata::QgsMeshLayer3DRendererMetadata()
   : Qgs3DRendererAbstractMetadata( QStringLiteral( "mesh" ) )
@@ -91,7 +92,7 @@ Qt3DCore::QEntity *QgsMeshLayer3DRenderer::createEntity( const Qgs3DMapSettings
   const QgsCoordinateTransform coordTrans( meshLayer->crs(), map.crs(), map.transformContext() );
   meshLayer->updateTriangularMesh( coordTrans );
   const QgsTriangularMesh triangularMesh = *meshLayer->triangularMeshByLodIndex( mSymbol->levelOfDetailIndex() );
-  QgsMeshDataset3DEntity *meshEntity = new QgsMeshDataset3DEntity( map, triangularMesh, meshLayer, mSymbol.get() );
+  QgsMeshDataset3DEntity *meshEntity = new QgsMeshDataset3DEntity( map.snapshot(), triangularMesh, meshLayer, mSymbol.get() );
   meshEntity->build();
   entity = meshEntity;
 
diff --git a/src/3d/qgspointcloudlayer3drenderer.cpp b/src/3d/qgspointcloudlayer3drenderer.cpp
index 07ff97126f037..500586debde90 100644
--- a/src/3d/qgspointcloudlayer3drenderer.cpp
+++ b/src/3d/qgspointcloudlayer3drenderer.cpp
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 #include "qgspointcloud3dsymbol.h"
 #include "qgspointcloudlayerelevationproperties.h"
 
-QgsPointCloud3DRenderContext::QgsPointCloud3DRenderContext( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, const QgsCoordinateTransform &coordinateTransform, std::unique_ptr<QgsPointCloud3DSymbol> symbol, double zValueScale, double zValueFixedOffset )
+QgsPointCloud3DRenderContext::QgsPointCloud3DRenderContext( const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, const QgsCoordinateTransform &coordinateTransform, std::unique_ptr<QgsPointCloud3DSymbol> symbol, double zValueScale, double zValueFixedOffset )
   : Qgs3DRenderContext( map )
   , mSymbol( std::move( symbol ) )
   , mZValueScale( zValueScale )
@@ -161,13 +161,13 @@ Qt3DCore::QEntity *QgsPointCloudLayer3DRenderer::createEntity( const Qgs3DMapSet
   Qt3DCore::QEntity *entity = nullptr;
   if ( pcl->dataProvider()->index() )
   {
-    entity = new QgsPointCloudLayerChunkedEntity( pcl->dataProvider()->index(), map, coordinateTransform, dynamic_cast<QgsPointCloud3DSymbol *>( mSymbol->clone() ), maximumScreenError(), showBoundingBoxes(),
+    entity = new QgsPointCloudLayerChunkedEntity( pcl->dataProvider()->index(), map.snapshot(), coordinateTransform, dynamic_cast<QgsPointCloud3DSymbol *>( mSymbol->clone() ), maximumScreenError(), showBoundingBoxes(),
         static_cast< const QgsPointCloudLayerElevationProperties * >( pcl->elevationProperties() )->zScale(),
         static_cast< const QgsPointCloudLayerElevationProperties * >( pcl->elevationProperties() )->zOffset(), mPointBudget );
   }
   else if ( !pcl->dataProvider()->subIndexes().isEmpty() )
   {
-    entity = new QgsVirtualPointCloudEntity( pcl, map, coordinateTransform, dynamic_cast<QgsPointCloud3DSymbol *>( mSymbol->clone() ), maximumScreenError(), showBoundingBoxes(),
+    entity = new QgsVirtualPointCloudEntity( pcl, map.snapshot(), coordinateTransform, dynamic_cast<QgsPointCloud3DSymbol *>( mSymbol->clone() ), maximumScreenError(), showBoundingBoxes(),
         static_cast< const QgsPointCloudLayerElevationProperties * >( pcl->elevationProperties() )->zScale(),
         static_cast< const QgsPointCloudLayerElevationProperties * >( pcl->elevationProperties() )->zOffset(), mPointBudget );
   }
diff --git a/src/3d/qgspointcloudlayer3drenderer.h b/src/3d/qgspointcloudlayer3drenderer.h
index 77789607d9354..10749d7e06213 100644
--- a/src/3d/qgspointcloudlayer3drenderer.h
+++ b/src/3d/qgspointcloudlayer3drenderer.h
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class _3D_NO_EXPORT QgsPointCloud3DRenderContext : public Qgs3DRenderContext
      * The \a zValueFixedOffset argument specifies any constant offset value which must be added to z values
      * taken from the point cloud index.
      */
-    QgsPointCloud3DRenderContext( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, const QgsCoordinateTransform &coordinateTransform, std::unique_ptr< QgsPointCloud3DSymbol > symbol,
+    QgsPointCloud3DRenderContext( const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, const QgsCoordinateTransform &coordinateTransform, std::unique_ptr< QgsPointCloud3DSymbol > symbol,
                                   double zValueScale, double zValueFixedOffset );
 
     QgsPointCloud3DRenderContext( const QgsPointCloud3DRenderContext &rh ) = delete;
diff --git a/src/3d/qgspointcloudlayerchunkloader_p.cpp b/src/3d/qgspointcloudlayerchunkloader_p.cpp
index cfd55d326eeb0..1393071fe16ae 100644
--- a/src/3d/qgspointcloudlayerchunkloader_p.cpp
+++ b/src/3d/qgspointcloudlayerchunkloader_p.cpp
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ Qt3DCore::QEntity *QgsPointCloudLayerChunkLoader::createEntity( Qt3DCore::QEntit
 ///////////////
 
 
-QgsPointCloudLayerChunkLoaderFactory::QgsPointCloudLayerChunkLoaderFactory( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, const QgsCoordinateTransform &coordinateTransform, QgsPointCloudIndex *pc, QgsPointCloud3DSymbol *symbol,
+QgsPointCloudLayerChunkLoaderFactory::QgsPointCloudLayerChunkLoaderFactory( const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, const QgsCoordinateTransform &coordinateTransform, QgsPointCloudIndex *pc, QgsPointCloud3DSymbol *symbol,
     double zValueScale, double zValueOffset, int pointBudget )
   : mMap( map )
   , mCoordinateTransform( coordinateTransform )
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ int QgsPointCloudLayerChunkLoaderFactory::primitivesCount( QgsChunkNode *node )
   return mPointCloudIndex->nodePointCount( n );
 }
 
-QgsAABB nodeBoundsToAABB( QgsPointCloudDataBounds nodeBounds, QgsVector3D offset, QgsVector3D scale, const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, const QgsCoordinateTransform &coordinateTransform, double zValueOffset );
+QgsAABB nodeBoundsToAABB( QgsPointCloudDataBounds nodeBounds, QgsVector3D offset, QgsVector3D scale, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, const QgsCoordinateTransform &coordinateTransform, double zValueOffset );
 
 QgsChunkNode *QgsPointCloudLayerChunkLoaderFactory::createRootNode() const
 {
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ QVector<QgsChunkNode *> QgsPointCloudLayerChunkLoaderFactory::createChildren( Qg
 ///////////////
 
 
-QgsAABB nodeBoundsToAABB( QgsPointCloudDataBounds nodeBounds, QgsVector3D offset, QgsVector3D scale, const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, const QgsCoordinateTransform &coordinateTransform, double zValueOffset )
+QgsAABB nodeBoundsToAABB( QgsPointCloudDataBounds nodeBounds, QgsVector3D offset, QgsVector3D scale, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, const QgsCoordinateTransform &coordinateTransform, double zValueOffset )
 {
   QgsVector3D extentMin3D( nodeBounds.xMin() * scale.x() + offset.x(), nodeBounds.yMin() * scale.y() + offset.y(), nodeBounds.zMin() * scale.z() + offset.z() + zValueOffset );
   QgsVector3D extentMax3D( nodeBounds.xMax() * scale.x() + offset.x(), nodeBounds.yMax() * scale.y() + offset.y(), nodeBounds.zMax() * scale.z() + offset.z() + zValueOffset );
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ QgsAABB nodeBoundsToAABB( QgsPointCloudDataBounds nodeBounds, QgsVector3D offset
 }
 
 
-QgsPointCloudLayerChunkedEntity::QgsPointCloudLayerChunkedEntity( QgsPointCloudIndex *pc, const Qgs3DMapSettings &map,
+QgsPointCloudLayerChunkedEntity::QgsPointCloudLayerChunkedEntity( QgsPointCloudIndex *pc, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map,
     const QgsCoordinateTransform &coordinateTransform, QgsPointCloud3DSymbol *symbol,
     float maximumScreenSpaceError, bool showBoundingBoxes,
     double zValueScale, double zValueOffset,
diff --git a/src/3d/qgspointcloudlayerchunkloader_p.h b/src/3d/qgspointcloudlayerchunkloader_p.h
index 377182ff260e2..c8add0cbb4abb 100644
--- a/src/3d/qgspointcloudlayerchunkloader_p.h
+++ b/src/3d/qgspointcloudlayerchunkloader_p.h
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ class QgsPointCloudLayerChunkLoaderFactory : public QgsChunkLoaderFactory
      * Constructs the factory
      * The factory takes ownership over the passed \a symbol
      */
-    QgsPointCloudLayerChunkLoaderFactory( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, const QgsCoordinateTransform &coordinateTransform, QgsPointCloudIndex *pc, QgsPointCloud3DSymbol *symbol,
+    QgsPointCloudLayerChunkLoaderFactory( const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, const QgsCoordinateTransform &coordinateTransform, QgsPointCloudIndex *pc, QgsPointCloud3DSymbol *symbol,
                                           double zValueScale, double zValueOffset, int pointBudget );
 
     //! Creates loader for the given chunk node. Ownership of the returned is passed to the caller.
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ class QgsPointCloudLayerChunkLoaderFactory : public QgsChunkLoaderFactory
     virtual QgsChunkNode *createRootNode() const override;
     virtual QVector<QgsChunkNode *> createChildren( QgsChunkNode *node ) const override;
     virtual int primitivesCount( QgsChunkNode *node ) const override;
-    const Qgs3DMapSettings &mMap;
+    Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot mMap;
     QgsCoordinateTransform mCoordinateTransform;
     QgsPointCloudIndex *mPointCloudIndex;
     std::unique_ptr< QgsPointCloud3DSymbol > mSymbol;
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ class QgsPointCloudLayerChunkedEntity : public QgsChunkedEntity
 {
     Q_OBJECT
   public:
-    explicit QgsPointCloudLayerChunkedEntity( QgsPointCloudIndex *pc, const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, const QgsCoordinateTransform &coordinateTransform, QgsPointCloud3DSymbol *symbol, float maxScreenError, bool showBoundingBoxes,
+    explicit QgsPointCloudLayerChunkedEntity( QgsPointCloudIndex *pc, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, const QgsCoordinateTransform &coordinateTransform, QgsPointCloud3DSymbol *symbol, float maxScreenError, bool showBoundingBoxes,
         double zValueScale, double zValueOffset, int pointBudget );
 
     QVector<QgsRayCastingUtils::RayHit> rayIntersection( const QgsRayCastingUtils::Ray3D &ray, const QgsRayCastingUtils::RayCastContext &context ) const override;
diff --git a/src/3d/qgsrubberband3d.cpp b/src/3d/qgsrubberband3d.cpp
index f314bf8b7dee0..f43a6db200a21 100644
--- a/src/3d/qgsrubberband3d.cpp
+++ b/src/3d/qgsrubberband3d.cpp
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ void QgsRubberBand3D::updateGeometry()
 {
   QgsLineVertexData lineData;
   lineData.withAdjacency = true;
-  lineData.init( Qgis::AltitudeClamping::Absolute, Qgis::AltitudeBinding::Vertex, 0, mMapSettings );
+  lineData.init( Qgis::AltitudeClamping::Absolute, Qgis::AltitudeBinding::Vertex, 0, mMapSettings->snapshot() );
   lineData.addLineString( mLineString );
 
   mPositionAttribute->buffer()->setData( lineData.createVertexBuffer() );
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ void QgsRubberBand3D::updateMarkerMaterial()
 {
   delete mMarkerMaterial;
   mMarkerMaterial = new QgsPoint3DBillboardMaterial();
-  mMarkerMaterial->setTexture2DFromSymbol( mMarkerSymbol, *mMapSettings );
+  mMarkerMaterial->setTexture2DFromSymbol( mMarkerSymbol, mMapSettings->snapshot() );
   mMarkerEntity->addComponent( mMarkerMaterial );
 
   //TODO: QgsAbstract3DEngine::sizeChanged should have const QSize &size param
diff --git a/src/3d/qgsrulebasedchunkloader_p.cpp b/src/3d/qgsrulebasedchunkloader_p.cpp
index 1407b18273a32..66f86f5975988 100644
--- a/src/3d/qgsrulebasedchunkloader_p.cpp
+++ b/src/3d/qgsrulebasedchunkloader_p.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ QgsRuleBasedChunkLoader::QgsRuleBasedChunkLoader( const QgsRuleBasedChunkLoaderF
   }
 
   QgsVectorLayer *layer = mFactory->mLayer;
-  const Qgs3DMapSettings &map = mFactory->mMap;
+  const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map = mFactory->mMap;
 
   QgsExpressionContext exprContext( Qgs3DUtils::globalProjectLayerExpressionContext( layer ) );
   exprContext.setFields( layer->fields() );
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ Qt3DCore::QEntity *QgsRuleBasedChunkLoader::createEntity( Qt3DCore::QEntity *par
 ///////////////
 
 
-QgsRuleBasedChunkLoaderFactory::QgsRuleBasedChunkLoaderFactory( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, QgsVectorLayer *vl, QgsRuleBased3DRenderer::Rule *rootRule, int leafLevel, double zMin, double zMax )
+QgsRuleBasedChunkLoaderFactory::QgsRuleBasedChunkLoaderFactory( const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, QgsVectorLayer *vl, QgsRuleBased3DRenderer::Rule *rootRule, int leafLevel, double zMin, double zMax )
   : mMap( map )
   , mLayer( vl )
   , mRootRule( rootRule->clone() )
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ QgsChunkLoader *QgsRuleBasedChunkLoaderFactory::createChunkLoader( QgsChunkNode
 
 QgsRuleBasedChunkedEntity::QgsRuleBasedChunkedEntity( QgsVectorLayer *vl, double zMin, double zMax, const QgsVectorLayer3DTilingSettings &tilingSettings, QgsRuleBased3DRenderer::Rule *rootRule, const Qgs3DMapSettings &map )
   : QgsChunkedEntity( -1, // max. allowed screen error (negative tau means that we need to go until leaves are reached)
-                      new QgsRuleBasedChunkLoaderFactory( map, vl, rootRule, tilingSettings.zoomLevelsCount() - 1, zMin, zMax ), true )
+                      new QgsRuleBasedChunkLoaderFactory( map.snapshot(), vl, rootRule, tilingSettings.zoomLevelsCount() - 1, zMin, zMax ), true )
 {
   mTransform = new Qt3DCore::QTransform;
   if ( applyTerrainOffset() )
diff --git a/src/3d/qgsrulebasedchunkloader_p.h b/src/3d/qgsrulebasedchunkloader_p.h
index 02cf6ac03af64..f64a061fb19d3 100644
--- a/src/3d/qgsrulebasedchunkloader_p.h
+++ b/src/3d/qgsrulebasedchunkloader_p.h
@@ -59,13 +59,13 @@ class QgsRuleBasedChunkLoaderFactory : public QgsQuadtreeChunkLoaderFactory
 
   public:
     //! Constructs the factory (vl and rootRule must not be null)
-    QgsRuleBasedChunkLoaderFactory( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, QgsVectorLayer *vl, QgsRuleBased3DRenderer::Rule *rootRule, int leafLevel, double zMin, double zMax );
+    QgsRuleBasedChunkLoaderFactory( const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, QgsVectorLayer *vl, QgsRuleBased3DRenderer::Rule *rootRule, int leafLevel, double zMin, double zMax );
     ~QgsRuleBasedChunkLoaderFactory() override;
 
     //! Creates loader for the given chunk node. Ownership of the returned is passed to the caller.
     virtual QgsChunkLoader *createChunkLoader( QgsChunkNode *node ) const override;
 
-    const Qgs3DMapSettings &mMap;
+    Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot mMap;
     QgsVectorLayer *mLayer;
     std::unique_ptr<QgsRuleBased3DRenderer::Rule> mRootRule;
     int mLeafLevel;
diff --git a/src/3d/qgstiledscenechunkloader_p.cpp b/src/3d/qgstiledscenechunkloader_p.cpp
index 23fe0b3eb9985..7c86e07cd3a15 100644
--- a/src/3d/qgstiledscenechunkloader_p.cpp
+++ b/src/3d/qgstiledscenechunkloader_p.cpp
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ Qt3DCore::QEntity *QgsTiledSceneChunkLoader::createEntity( Qt3DCore::QEntity *pa
 
 ///
 
-QgsTiledSceneChunkLoaderFactory::QgsTiledSceneChunkLoaderFactory( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, const QgsTiledSceneIndex &index, double zValueScale, double zValueOffset )
+QgsTiledSceneChunkLoaderFactory::QgsTiledSceneChunkLoaderFactory( const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, const QgsTiledSceneIndex &index, double zValueScale, double zValueOffset )
   : mMap( map )
   , mIndex( index )
   , mZValueScale( zValueScale )
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ void QgsTiledSceneChunkLoaderFactory::prepareChildren( QgsChunkNode *node )
 
 ///
 
-QgsTiledSceneLayerChunkedEntity::QgsTiledSceneLayerChunkedEntity( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, const QgsTiledSceneIndex &index, double maximumScreenError, bool showBoundingBoxes, double zValueScale, double zValueOffset )
+QgsTiledSceneLayerChunkedEntity::QgsTiledSceneLayerChunkedEntity( const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, const QgsTiledSceneIndex &index, double maximumScreenError, bool showBoundingBoxes, double zValueScale, double zValueOffset )
   : QgsChunkedEntity( maximumScreenError, new QgsTiledSceneChunkLoaderFactory( map, index, zValueScale, zValueOffset ), true )
   , mIndex( index )
 {
diff --git a/src/3d/qgstiledscenechunkloader_p.h b/src/3d/qgstiledscenechunkloader_p.h
index dd6c95f2c5c0e..5a9c0aaa92fe0 100644
--- a/src/3d/qgstiledscenechunkloader_p.h
+++ b/src/3d/qgstiledscenechunkloader_p.h
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #include "qgschunknode_p.h"
 #include "qgstiledsceneindex.h"
 #include "qgstiledscenetile.h"
+#include "qgs3dmapsettingssnapshot.h"
 
 #include <QFutureWatcher>
 
@@ -79,7 +80,7 @@ class QgsTiledSceneChunkLoaderFactory : public QgsChunkLoaderFactory
 {
     Q_OBJECT
   public:
-    QgsTiledSceneChunkLoaderFactory( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, const QgsTiledSceneIndex &index,
+    QgsTiledSceneChunkLoaderFactory( const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, const QgsTiledSceneIndex &index,
                                      double zValueScale, double zValueOffset );
 
     virtual QgsChunkLoader *createChunkLoader( QgsChunkNode *node ) const override;
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ class QgsTiledSceneChunkLoaderFactory : public QgsChunkLoaderFactory
     QgsChunkNode *nodeForTile( const QgsTiledSceneTile &t, const QgsChunkNodeId &nodeId, QgsChunkNode *parent ) const;
     void fetchHierarchyForNode( long long nodeId, QgsChunkNode *origNode );
 
-    const Qgs3DMapSettings &mMap;
+    Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot mMap;
     QString mRelativePathBase;
     mutable QgsTiledSceneIndex mIndex;
     double mZValueScale = 1.0;
@@ -117,7 +118,7 @@ class QgsTiledSceneLayerChunkedEntity : public QgsChunkedEntity
 {
     Q_OBJECT
   public:
-    explicit QgsTiledSceneLayerChunkedEntity( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, const QgsTiledSceneIndex &index, double maximumScreenError, bool showBoundingBoxes,
+    explicit QgsTiledSceneLayerChunkedEntity( const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, const QgsTiledSceneIndex &index, double maximumScreenError, bool showBoundingBoxes,
         double zValueScale, double zValueOffset );
 
     ~QgsTiledSceneLayerChunkedEntity();
diff --git a/src/3d/qgstiledscenelayer3drenderer.cpp b/src/3d/qgstiledscenelayer3drenderer.cpp
index 7fc9c2eff193c..b4d84e70912c1 100644
--- a/src/3d/qgstiledscenelayer3drenderer.cpp
+++ b/src/3d/qgstiledscenelayer3drenderer.cpp
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ Qt3DCore::QEntity *QgsTiledSceneLayer3DRenderer::createEntity( const Qgs3DMapSet
 
   QgsTiledSceneIndex index = tsl->dataProvider()->index();
 
-  return new QgsTiledSceneLayerChunkedEntity( map, index,
+  return new QgsTiledSceneLayerChunkedEntity( map.snapshot(), index,
          maximumScreenError(),
          showBoundingBoxes(),
          qgis::down_cast< const QgsTiledSceneLayerElevationProperties * >( tsl->elevationProperties() )->zScale(),
diff --git a/src/3d/qgsvectorlayerchunkloader_p.cpp b/src/3d/qgsvectorlayerchunkloader_p.cpp
index b641baf3d1118..2632ed193804e 100644
--- a/src/3d/qgsvectorlayerchunkloader_p.cpp
+++ b/src/3d/qgsvectorlayerchunkloader_p.cpp
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ QgsVectorLayerChunkLoader::QgsVectorLayerChunkLoader( const QgsVectorLayerChunkL
 
   QgsVectorLayer *layer = mFactory->mLayer;
   mLayerName = mFactory->mLayer->name();
-  const Qgs3DMapSettings &map = mFactory->mMap;
+  const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map = mFactory->mMap;
 
   QgsFeature3DHandler *handler = QgsApplication::symbol3DRegistry()->createHandlerForSymbol( layer, mFactory->mSymbol.get() );
   if ( !handler )
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ Qt3DCore::QEntity *QgsVectorLayerChunkLoader::createEntity( Qt3DCore::QEntity *p
 ///////////////
 
 
-QgsVectorLayerChunkLoaderFactory::QgsVectorLayerChunkLoaderFactory( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, QgsVectorLayer *vl, QgsAbstract3DSymbol *symbol, int leafLevel, double zMin, double zMax )
+QgsVectorLayerChunkLoaderFactory::QgsVectorLayerChunkLoaderFactory( const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, QgsVectorLayer *vl, QgsAbstract3DSymbol *symbol, int leafLevel, double zMin, double zMax )
   : mMap( map )
   , mLayer( vl )
   , mSymbol( symbol->clone() )
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ QgsChunkLoader *QgsVectorLayerChunkLoaderFactory::createChunkLoader( QgsChunkNod
 
 QgsVectorLayerChunkedEntity::QgsVectorLayerChunkedEntity( QgsVectorLayer *vl, double zMin, double zMax, const QgsVectorLayer3DTilingSettings &tilingSettings, QgsAbstract3DSymbol *symbol, const Qgs3DMapSettings &map )
   : QgsChunkedEntity( -1, // max. allowed screen error (negative tau means that we need to go until leaves are reached)
-                      new QgsVectorLayerChunkLoaderFactory( map, vl, symbol, tilingSettings.zoomLevelsCount() - 1, zMin, zMax ), true )
+                      new QgsVectorLayerChunkLoaderFactory( map.snapshot(), vl, symbol, tilingSettings.zoomLevelsCount() - 1, zMin, zMax ), true )
 {
   mTransform = new Qt3DCore::QTransform;
   if ( applyTerrainOffset() )
diff --git a/src/3d/qgsvectorlayerchunkloader_p.h b/src/3d/qgsvectorlayerchunkloader_p.h
index 38bdeeb0cb989..0c464ce3eb4a1 100644
--- a/src/3d/qgsvectorlayerchunkloader_p.h
+++ b/src/3d/qgsvectorlayerchunkloader_p.h
@@ -61,12 +61,12 @@ class QgsVectorLayerChunkLoaderFactory : public QgsQuadtreeChunkLoaderFactory
 
   public:
     //! Constructs the factory
-    QgsVectorLayerChunkLoaderFactory( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, QgsVectorLayer *vl, QgsAbstract3DSymbol *symbol, int leafLevel, double zMin, double zMax );
+    QgsVectorLayerChunkLoaderFactory( const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, QgsVectorLayer *vl, QgsAbstract3DSymbol *symbol, int leafLevel, double zMin, double zMax );
 
     //! Creates loader for the given chunk node. Ownership of the returned is passed to the caller.
     virtual QgsChunkLoader *createChunkLoader( QgsChunkNode *node ) const override;
 
-    const Qgs3DMapSettings &mMap;
+    Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot mMap;
     QgsVectorLayer *mLayer;
     std::unique_ptr<QgsAbstract3DSymbol> mSymbol;
     int mLeafLevel;
diff --git a/src/3d/qgsvirtualpointcloudentity_p.cpp b/src/3d/qgsvirtualpointcloudentity_p.cpp
index 66204dbe5cebe..401b29f1eb258 100644
--- a/src/3d/qgsvirtualpointcloudentity_p.cpp
+++ b/src/3d/qgsvirtualpointcloudentity_p.cpp
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 
 
 QgsVirtualPointCloudEntity::QgsVirtualPointCloudEntity( QgsPointCloudLayer *layer,
-    const Qgs3DMapSettings &map,
+    const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map,
     const QgsCoordinateTransform &coordinateTransform,
     QgsPointCloud3DSymbol *symbol,
     float maximumScreenSpaceError,
diff --git a/src/3d/qgsvirtualpointcloudentity_p.h b/src/3d/qgsvirtualpointcloudentity_p.h
index 918b1d529eeab..99a628382eb6e 100644
--- a/src/3d/qgsvirtualpointcloudentity_p.h
+++ b/src/3d/qgsvirtualpointcloudentity_p.h
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 #include "qgscoordinatetransform.h"
 #include "qgschunkedentity_p.h"
 #include "qgs3dmapsceneentity_p.h"
+#include "qgs3dmapsettingssnapshot.h"
 
 class QgsAABB;
 class QgsChunkBoundsEntity;
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ class QgsVirtualPointCloudEntity : public Qgs3DMapSceneEntity
     Q_OBJECT
   public:
     //! Constructs
-    QgsVirtualPointCloudEntity( QgsPointCloudLayer *layer, const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, const QgsCoordinateTransform &coordinateTransform, QgsPointCloud3DSymbol *symbol, float maxScreenError, bool showBoundingBoxes,
+    QgsVirtualPointCloudEntity( QgsPointCloudLayer *layer, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, const QgsCoordinateTransform &coordinateTransform, QgsPointCloud3DSymbol *symbol, float maxScreenError, bool showBoundingBoxes,
                                 double zValueScale, double zValueOffset, int pointBudget );
 
     //! This is called when the camera moves. It's responsible for loading new indexes and decides if subindex will be rendered as bbox or chunked entity.
@@ -95,7 +96,7 @@ class QgsVirtualPointCloudEntity : public Qgs3DMapSceneEntity
     QMap<int, QgsChunkedEntity *> mChunkedEntitiesMap;
     QgsChunkBoundsEntity *mBboxesEntity = nullptr;
     QList<QgsAABB> mBboxes;
-    const Qgs3DMapSettings &mMap;
+    Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot mMap;
     QgsCoordinateTransform mCoordinateTransform;
     QgsPointCloudIndex *mPointCloudIndex;
     std::unique_ptr< QgsPointCloud3DSymbol > mSymbol;
diff --git a/src/3d/symbols/qgsline3dsymbol_p.cpp b/src/3d/symbols/qgsline3dsymbol_p.cpp
index 4ff809701fe11..09536fa291181 100644
--- a/src/3d/symbols/qgsline3dsymbol_p.cpp
+++ b/src/3d/symbols/qgsline3dsymbol_p.cpp
@@ -272,8 +272,8 @@ bool QgsThickLine3DSymbolHandler::prepare( const Qgs3DRenderContext &context, QS
 
   outNormal.withAdjacency = true;
   outSelected.withAdjacency = true;
-  outNormal.init( mSymbol->altitudeClamping(), mSymbol->altitudeBinding(), mSymbol->offset(), &context.map() );
-  outSelected.init( mSymbol->altitudeClamping(), mSymbol->altitudeBinding(), mSymbol->offset(), &context.map() );
+  outNormal.init( mSymbol->altitudeClamping(), mSymbol->altitudeBinding(), mSymbol->offset(), context.map() );
+  outSelected.init( mSymbol->altitudeClamping(), mSymbol->altitudeBinding(), mSymbol->offset(), context.map() );
 
   QSet<QString> attrs = mSymbol->dataDefinedProperties().referencedFields( context.expressionContext() );
   attributeNames.unite( attrs );
diff --git a/src/3d/symbols/qgslinevertexdata_p.cpp b/src/3d/symbols/qgslinevertexdata_p.cpp
index 8cc02f15bdd71..5c0d7cef8df5f 100644
--- a/src/3d/symbols/qgslinevertexdata_p.cpp
+++ b/src/3d/symbols/qgslinevertexdata_p.cpp
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ QgsLineVertexData::QgsLineVertexData()
   vertices << QVector3D();
 }
 
-void QgsLineVertexData::init( Qgis::AltitudeClamping clamping, Qgis::AltitudeBinding binding, float height, const Qgs3DMapSettings *map )
+void QgsLineVertexData::init( Qgis::AltitudeClamping clamping, Qgis::AltitudeBinding binding, float height, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map )
 {
   altClamping = clamping;
   altBinding = binding;
@@ -133,9 +133,9 @@ void QgsLineVertexData::addLineString( const QgsLineString &lineString, float ex
   for ( int i = 0; i < lineString.vertexCount(); ++i )
   {
     QgsPoint p = lineString.pointN( i );
-    float z = Qgs3DUtils::clampAltitude( p, altClamping, altBinding, baseHeight + extraHeightOffset, centroid, *mapSettings );
+    float z = Qgs3DUtils::clampAltitude( p, altClamping, altBinding, baseHeight + extraHeightOffset, centroid, mapSettings );
 
-    vertices << QVector3D( p.x() - mapSettings->origin().x(), z, -( p.y() - mapSettings->origin().y() ) );
+    vertices << QVector3D( p.x() - mapSettings.origin().x(), z, -( p.y() - mapSettings.origin().y() ) );
     indexes << vertices.count() - 1;
   }
 
@@ -160,15 +160,15 @@ void QgsLineVertexData::addVerticalLines( const QgsLineString &lineString, float
   for ( int i = 0; i < lineString.vertexCount(); ++i )
   {
     QgsPoint p = lineString.pointN( i );
-    float z = Qgs3DUtils::clampAltitude( p, altClamping, altBinding, baseHeight + extraHeightOffset, centroid, *mapSettings );
+    float z = Qgs3DUtils::clampAltitude( p, altClamping, altBinding, baseHeight + extraHeightOffset, centroid, mapSettings );
     float z2 = z + verticalLength;
 
     if ( withAdjacency )
       indexes << vertices.count();  // add the following vertex (for adjacency)
 
-    vertices << QVector3D( p.x() - mapSettings->origin().x(), z, -( p.y() - mapSettings->origin().y() ) );
+    vertices << QVector3D( p.x() - mapSettings.origin().x(), z, -( p.y() - mapSettings.origin().y() ) );
     indexes << vertices.count() - 1;
-    vertices << QVector3D( p.x() - mapSettings->origin().x(), z2, -( p.y() - mapSettings->origin().y() ) );
+    vertices << QVector3D( p.x() - mapSettings.origin().x(), z2, -( p.y() - mapSettings.origin().y() ) );
     indexes << vertices.count() - 1;
 
     if ( withAdjacency )
diff --git a/src/3d/symbols/qgslinevertexdata_p.h b/src/3d/symbols/qgslinevertexdata_p.h
index fd0272a427bd4..fb52daf2af322 100644
--- a/src/3d/symbols/qgslinevertexdata_p.h
+++ b/src/3d/symbols/qgslinevertexdata_p.h
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #define SIP_NO_FILE
 
 #include "qgis.h"
+#include "qgs3dmapsettingssnapshot.h"
 
 
 namespace Qt3DCore
@@ -51,7 +52,6 @@ namespace Qt3DRender
 #endif
 
 class QgsLineString;
-class Qgs3DMapSettings;
 
 
 /**
@@ -79,11 +79,11 @@ struct QgsLineVertexData
   Qgis::AltitudeClamping altClamping = Qgis::AltitudeClamping::Relative;
   Qgis::AltitudeBinding altBinding = Qgis::AltitudeBinding::Vertex;
   float baseHeight = 0;
-  const Qgs3DMapSettings *mapSettings = nullptr;
+  Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot mapSettings;
 
   QgsLineVertexData();
 
-  void init( Qgis::AltitudeClamping clamping, Qgis::AltitudeBinding binding, float height, const Qgs3DMapSettings *map );
+  void init( Qgis::AltitudeClamping clamping, Qgis::AltitudeBinding binding, float height, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map );
 
   QByteArray createVertexBuffer();
   QByteArray createIndexBuffer();
diff --git a/src/3d/symbols/qgspoint3dbillboardmaterial.cpp b/src/3d/symbols/qgspoint3dbillboardmaterial.cpp
index 57e0ad15b26dd..d7b1bf0fb4b7e 100644
--- a/src/3d/symbols/qgspoint3dbillboardmaterial.cpp
+++ b/src/3d/symbols/qgspoint3dbillboardmaterial.cpp
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include "qgssymbollayerutils.h"
 #include "qgs3dmapsettings.h"
 #include "qgsmarkersymbol.h"
+#include "qgs3dmapsettingssnapshot.h"
 
 QgsPoint3DBillboardMaterial::QgsPoint3DBillboardMaterial()
   : mSize( new Qt3DRender::QParameter( "BB_SIZE", QSizeF( 100, 100 ), this ) )
@@ -113,14 +114,14 @@ void QgsPoint3DBillboardMaterial::setTexture2DFromImage( QImage image, double si
   setSize( QSizeF( size + size, size + size ) );
 }
 
-void QgsPoint3DBillboardMaterial::useDefaultSymbol( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, bool selected )
+void QgsPoint3DBillboardMaterial::useDefaultSymbol( const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, bool selected )
 {
   // Default texture
   const std::unique_ptr< QgsMarkerSymbol> defaultSymbol( static_cast<QgsMarkerSymbol *>( QgsSymbol::defaultSymbol( Qgis::GeometryType::Point ) ) );
   setTexture2DFromSymbol( defaultSymbol.get(), map, selected );
 }
 
-void QgsPoint3DBillboardMaterial::setTexture2DFromSymbol( QgsMarkerSymbol *markerSymbol, const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, bool selected )
+void QgsPoint3DBillboardMaterial::setTexture2DFromSymbol( QgsMarkerSymbol *markerSymbol, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, bool selected )
 {
   QgsRenderContext context;
   context.setSelectionColor( map.selectionColor() );
diff --git a/src/3d/symbols/qgspoint3dbillboardmaterial.h b/src/3d/symbols/qgspoint3dbillboardmaterial.h
index b9230c91cadef..1cdbe3b3b7e4d 100644
--- a/src/3d/symbols/qgspoint3dbillboardmaterial.h
+++ b/src/3d/symbols/qgspoint3dbillboardmaterial.h
@@ -53,10 +53,10 @@ class QgsPoint3DBillboardMaterial : public Qt3DRender::QMaterial
     QSizeF windowSize() const;
 
     //! Set default symbol for the texture with \a map and \a selected parameter for rendering.
-    void useDefaultSymbol( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, bool selected = false );
+    void useDefaultSymbol( const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, bool selected = false );
 
     //! Set \a markerSymbol for the texture with \a map and \a selected parameter for rendering.
-    void setTexture2DFromSymbol( QgsMarkerSymbol *markerSymbol, const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, bool selected = false );
+    void setTexture2DFromSymbol( QgsMarkerSymbol *markerSymbol, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, bool selected = false );
 
   private:
     //! Set the texture2D of the billboard from \a image with \a size.
diff --git a/src/3d/symbols/qgspoint3dsymbol_p.cpp b/src/3d/symbols/qgspoint3dsymbol_p.cpp
index 8bec1d439723a..60d149355d88b 100644
--- a/src/3d/symbols/qgspoint3dsymbol_p.cpp
+++ b/src/3d/symbols/qgspoint3dsymbol_p.cpp
@@ -409,8 +409,8 @@ class QgsModelPoint3DSymbolHandler : public QgsFeature3DHandler
 
   private:
 
-    static void addSceneEntities( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, const QVector<QVector3D> &positions, const QgsPoint3DSymbol *symbol, Qt3DCore::QEntity *parent );
-    static void addMeshEntities( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, const QVector<QVector3D> &positions, const QgsPoint3DSymbol *symbol, Qt3DCore::QEntity *parent, bool are_selected );
+    static void addSceneEntities( const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, const QVector<QVector3D> &positions, const QgsPoint3DSymbol *symbol, Qt3DCore::QEntity *parent );
+    static void addMeshEntities( const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, const QVector<QVector3D> &positions, const QgsPoint3DSymbol *symbol, Qt3DCore::QEntity *parent, bool are_selected );
     static Qt3DCore::QTransform *transform( QVector3D position, const QgsPoint3DSymbol *symbol );
 
     //! temporary data we will pass to the tessellator
@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@ void QgsModelPoint3DSymbolHandler::makeEntity( Qt3DCore::QEntity *parent, const
 
 
 
-void QgsModelPoint3DSymbolHandler::addSceneEntities( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, const QVector<QVector3D> &positions, const QgsPoint3DSymbol *symbol, Qt3DCore::QEntity *parent )
+void QgsModelPoint3DSymbolHandler::addSceneEntities( const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, const QVector<QVector3D> &positions, const QgsPoint3DSymbol *symbol, Qt3DCore::QEntity *parent )
 {
   Q_UNUSED( map )
   for ( const QVector3D &position : positions )
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ void QgsModelPoint3DSymbolHandler::addSceneEntities( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map
   }
 }
 
-void QgsModelPoint3DSymbolHandler::addMeshEntities( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, const QVector<QVector3D> &positions, const QgsPoint3DSymbol *symbol, Qt3DCore::QEntity *parent, bool are_selected )
+void QgsModelPoint3DSymbolHandler::addMeshEntities( const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, const QVector<QVector3D> &positions, const QgsPoint3DSymbol *symbol, Qt3DCore::QEntity *parent, bool are_selected )
 {
   if ( positions.empty() )
     return;
diff --git a/src/3d/symbols/qgspoint3dsymbol_p.h b/src/3d/symbols/qgspoint3dsymbol_p.h
index d2a6901526029..ab30b55c96f55 100644
--- a/src/3d/symbols/qgspoint3dsymbol_p.h
+++ b/src/3d/symbols/qgspoint3dsymbol_p.h
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ namespace Qgs3DSymbolImpl
   QgsFeature3DHandler *handlerForPoint3DSymbol( QgsVectorLayer *layer, const QgsAbstract3DSymbol *symbol );
 
   //! convenience function to create a complete entity from QgsPolygon3DSymbol (will run getFeatures() on the layer)
-  Qt3DCore::QEntity *entityForPoint3DSymbol( const Qgs3DMapSettings &map, QgsVectorLayer *layer, const QgsPoint3DSymbol &symbol );
+  Qt3DCore::QEntity *entityForPoint3DSymbol( const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map, QgsVectorLayer *layer, const QgsPoint3DSymbol &symbol );
 }
 
 /// @endcond
diff --git a/src/3d/symbols/qgspolygon3dsymbol_p.cpp b/src/3d/symbols/qgspolygon3dsymbol_p.cpp
index de1dee02c8564..fe6d460c1ef76 100644
--- a/src/3d/symbols/qgspolygon3dsymbol_p.cpp
+++ b/src/3d/symbols/qgspolygon3dsymbol_p.cpp
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ class QgsPolygon3DSymbolHandler : public QgsFeature3DHandler
 bool QgsPolygon3DSymbolHandler::prepare( const Qgs3DRenderContext &context, QSet<QString> &attributeNames )
 {
   outEdges.withAdjacency = true;
-  outEdges.init( mSymbol->altitudeClamping(), mSymbol->altitudeBinding(), 0, &context.map() );
+  outEdges.init( mSymbol->altitudeClamping(), mSymbol->altitudeBinding(), 0, context.map() );
 
   const QgsPhongTexturedMaterialSettings *texturedMaterialSettings = dynamic_cast< const QgsPhongTexturedMaterialSettings * >( mSymbol->materialSettings() );
 
diff --git a/src/3d/terrain/qgsdemterraingenerator.cpp b/src/3d/terrain/qgsdemterraingenerator.cpp
index a8b04d72f8ada..e808daff83429 100644
--- a/src/3d/terrain/qgsdemterraingenerator.cpp
+++ b/src/3d/terrain/qgsdemterraingenerator.cpp
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ QgsRectangle QgsDemTerrainGenerator::rootChunkExtent() const
   return mTerrainTilingScheme.tileToExtent( 0, 0, 0 );
 }
 
-float QgsDemTerrainGenerator::heightAt( double x, double y, const Qgs3DMapSettings &map ) const
+float QgsDemTerrainGenerator::heightAt( double x, double y, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map ) const
 {
   Q_UNUSED( map )
   if ( mHeightMapGenerator )
diff --git a/src/3d/terrain/qgsdemterraingenerator.h b/src/3d/terrain/qgsdemterraingenerator.h
index 7bbba6c84894d..257aeef8b6641 100644
--- a/src/3d/terrain/qgsdemterraingenerator.h
+++ b/src/3d/terrain/qgsdemterraingenerator.h
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class _3D_EXPORT QgsDemTerrainGenerator : public QgsTerrainGenerator
     Type type() const override;
     QgsRectangle rootChunkExtent() const override;
     void setExtent( const QgsRectangle &extent ) override;
-    float heightAt( double x, double y, const Qgs3DMapSettings &map ) const override;
+    float heightAt( double x, double y, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map ) const override;
     void writeXml( QDomElement &elem ) const override;
     void readXml( const QDomElement &elem ) override;
     void resolveReferences( const QgsProject &project ) override;
diff --git a/src/3d/terrain/qgsonlineterraingenerator.cpp b/src/3d/terrain/qgsonlineterraingenerator.cpp
index 6e5fdc9e0015e..323088b10e13c 100644
--- a/src/3d/terrain/qgsonlineterraingenerator.cpp
+++ b/src/3d/terrain/qgsonlineterraingenerator.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ QgsRectangle QgsOnlineTerrainGenerator::rootChunkExtent() const
   return mTerrainTilingScheme.tileToExtent( 0, 0, 0 );
 }
 
-float QgsOnlineTerrainGenerator::heightAt( double x, double y, const Qgs3DMapSettings &map ) const
+float QgsOnlineTerrainGenerator::heightAt( double x, double y, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map ) const
 {
   Q_UNUSED( map )
   if ( mHeightMapGenerator )
diff --git a/src/3d/terrain/qgsonlineterraingenerator.h b/src/3d/terrain/qgsonlineterraingenerator.h
index 1a2b28f3a768a..8f203ed11289a 100644
--- a/src/3d/terrain/qgsonlineterraingenerator.h
+++ b/src/3d/terrain/qgsonlineterraingenerator.h
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ class _3D_EXPORT QgsOnlineTerrainGenerator : public QgsTerrainGenerator
     Type type() const override;
     QgsRectangle rootChunkExtent() const override;
     void setExtent( const QgsRectangle &extent ) override;
-    float heightAt( double x, double y, const Qgs3DMapSettings &map ) const override;
+    float heightAt( double x, double y, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map ) const override;
     void writeXml( QDomElement &elem ) const override;
     void readXml( const QDomElement &elem ) override;
     //void resolveReferences( const QgsProject &project ) override;
diff --git a/src/3d/terrain/qgsterraingenerator.cpp b/src/3d/terrain/qgsterraingenerator.cpp
index b735c778d07a8..e8929c15f3315 100644
--- a/src/3d/terrain/qgsterraingenerator.cpp
+++ b/src/3d/terrain/qgsterraingenerator.cpp
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ void QgsTerrainGenerator::rootChunkHeightRange( float &hMin, float &hMax ) const
   hMax = 400;
 }
 
-float QgsTerrainGenerator::heightAt( double x, double y, const Qgs3DMapSettings &map ) const
+float QgsTerrainGenerator::heightAt( double x, double y, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map ) const
 {
   Q_UNUSED( x )
   Q_UNUSED( y )
diff --git a/src/3d/terrain/qgsterraingenerator.h b/src/3d/terrain/qgsterraingenerator.h
index 86356dacd5e81..461e22c420e02 100644
--- a/src/3d/terrain/qgsterraingenerator.h
+++ b/src/3d/terrain/qgsterraingenerator.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 
 class QgsAABB;
 class Qgs3DMapSettings;
+class Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot;
 class QgsRectangle;
 class QgsTerrainEntity;
 
@@ -87,7 +88,7 @@ class _3D_EXPORT QgsTerrainGenerator : public QgsQuadtreeChunkLoaderFactory
     virtual void rootChunkHeightRange( float &hMin, float &hMax ) const;
 
     //! Returns height at (x,y) in terrain's CRS
-    virtual float heightAt( double x, double y, const Qgs3DMapSettings &map ) const;
+    virtual float heightAt( double x, double y, const Qgs3DMapSettingsSnapshot &map ) const;
 
     //! Write terrain generator's configuration to XML
     virtual void writeXml( QDomElement &elem ) const = 0;
diff --git a/tests/src/3d/testqgsmesh3drendering.cpp b/tests/src/3d/testqgsmesh3drendering.cpp
index 312bfd95577e7..bc06081849fbb 100644
--- a/tests/src/3d/testqgsmesh3drendering.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/3d/testqgsmesh3drendering.cpp
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include "qgsoffscreen3dengine.h"
 #include "qgspointlightsettings.h"
 #include "qgsproject.h"
+#include "qgs3dmapsettingssnapshot.h"
 
 
 class TestQgsMesh3DRendering : public QgsTest
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ void TestQgsMesh3DRendering::testMeshTerrain()
   meshTerrain->setLayer( mLayerMeshTerrain );
   map->setTerrainGenerator( meshTerrain );
 
-  QCOMPARE( meshTerrain->heightAt( 750, 2500, *map ), 500.0 );
+  QCOMPARE( meshTerrain->heightAt( 750, 2500, map->snapshot() ), 500.0 );
 
   QgsOffscreen3DEngine engine;
   Qgs3DMapScene *scene = new Qgs3DMapScene( *map, &engine );