Caroline Tasse
Branch Manager
Vectuel Middle East
[email protected]
The increasing use of 3D data in urban planning and the multiplicity of people involved in such projects implies the need for a tool to share and display this data. Here's a look at one such tool
3D technology is fast evolving from being a purely technical tool into a decision making tool in the hands for all stakeholders of territory governance.
There are two main reasons for this expansion. One is the technological availability of computers (hardware) and software to receive 3D databases in high definition. This involves more data to store and visualise, better display capacities and more powerful calculation tools. The other is the diversification and the increase in needs of the territory governance stakeholders. Limited to GIS engineers in the past, 3D has now being used in a wide range of applications like architecture, communications, town planning, security, design and transport. Among them, urbanism and architecture are the most significant areas.
The increasing popularity of 3D is necessitating the need for high definition data. The simulation of an architectural building with low quality 3D environment provides a poor rendering and does not achieve the desired results. A proliferation of 3D users, including architects, urban planners, transport managers and a lot of others jobs which were initially not perfectly aware of GIS management and skills implies the need of a common database.
A PLUG-IN
This need is addressed by RCP, an ArcGIS plug-in developed by Vectuel- VirtuelCity Group to manage and share all 3D data and to import, export and transform 3D data in a GIS. VirtuelCity has developed the solution to address all the main requirements of the territory governance, namely, understanding, planning and management.
With 3D GIS opening to new players like architects and town planners who have specific requirements, it is critical that the data be accurate. It also needs to be enriched with information like more precise details of facades, street furniture and roof superstructures.
Also, knowing that no software can answer all business needs, it is essential to distinguish the creation of data from its use and to emphasise the interoperability of this data to enable all territory stakeholders to work with it.
RCP enables integration, sharing and management of 3D databases and allows users to handle them like traditional 2D databases. 2D and 3D are gathered in a single and common reference table. The plug-in allows users to import and export 3D data. This data is live, allowing users to add, remove or change anything they want or need for project development.
BEST PRACTICES
The public association of metropolitan areas of Pays de Montbéliard (CAPM), in the East of France has been using 3D technologies for the last few years in communication, town planning, city management and territorial marketing, making data interoperability a priority. The project has acquired the RCP software to integrate its 3D textured model in its ArcGIS server and all its existing software tools.
The project comprises of the following aspects:
- Production of export for software
- Structuring the 3D database
- Implementing a workflow between 2D and 3D databases
- Integration of the 3D data into the RCP Manager
- Training of the CAPM team on RCP Manager and RCP Transformer
CAPM has adopted the RCP software as a link in its 3D chain to achieve a comprehensive 3D workflow integrated in its ArcGIS-based GIS system.
Business model of CAPM
The business model of CAPM is as follows:
- One town of CAPM expresses interest in receiving details of an existing economic area in Sketchup format
- The CAPM selects the concerned area in ArcGIS and exports it in .skp
- The town of CAPM designs its new development within this area in 3D with Sketchup
- The CAPM imports the project in 3D via RCP Manager and adds attributes to it (construction date, demolition date, etc.)
- The CAPM thus updates its 3D database
- The CAPM exports the new project area in real time for communication in its different tools
- The city can do analysis such as flooding on the project area
- The CAPM exports the area to update its website.
Data is dynamic, interoperable and reactive. Any data pertaining to development projects/ongoing projects can be changed, added or deleted. RCP allows managing a 3D database in the same way as a 2D one, with enhanced possibilities: to produce 3D models of projects with any format, to extract movies from it for promotion and to enrich in 3D the projects areas. It is a simple and relevant solution to make the management of 3D accessible to anyone and to transform GIS into 3D GIS.
