
Accelerating the planning process with 3D city model

- Company: Esri UK
- Client: Nottingham City Council
- Year: 2023
- Region: England
- Visualisation, 3D modelling and animations
- Geographical information systems (GIS) and mapping
- Plan-making, planning application and data management systems
Introduction
Challenges
First the council developed a couple of lightweight public applications using ArcGIS, including an app for helping tourists to discover and appreciate the vast network of caves that lies beneath the historic city centre. Soon, though, a bold ambition arose to create a detailed 3D digital twin of the entire city, covering more than 73 square kilometres and depicting thousands of historic and modern buildings, open spaces and infrastructure.
Solutions
Far more than just a 3D model, the citywide digital twin embeds and visualises a vast amount of contextual information, including 2D data on conservation areas and flood plains, and street-level videos from CCTV cameras. The solution also includes a 3D photo-realistic mesh from Bluesky and live traffic data, both of which are streamed directly from Esri’s Living Atlas of the World.
Results
A single source for all planning information
For the first time, Nottingham City Council’s planners can see all the information they need relating to the pre-planning application process in a single GIS application.
Quicker decision making in planning process
Using the Digital Twin, planners can now make faster, well-informed decisions about the potential impacts of new developments on the city’s distinctive character and skyline.
Improved transparency and engagement
Planners can use the Digital Twin in meetings with developers to improve the transparency of the planning process and support interactive discussions about any modifications that need to be made to plans.
Greater ROI from ArcGIS and 2D data holdings
The Digital Twin has significantly increased the return on investment that the council gains from ArcGIS licenses and staff training.
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