Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Existing Detailed 3D City Models
Application of 3D Models
Today, even 3D models are nothing new in GIS, since they are very popular among
layman users. Besides providing an attractive view of landscape or city, these
models also cover many practical aspects. Decades ago, building a model meant
a physical model from paper or balsa. Today, talking about models or 3D models
means, for many people, virtual digital models. These models are used across
different application areas.
3D models bring, for example, new possibilities to the tourist industry, because
they are good for the presentation and promotion of historical sites, castles or
monuments (Jedli
ˇ
ka et al.
2012
; Popelka and Brychtov
´
2012
). However, tech-
niques of 3D city modelling are also used for the reconstruction of already defunct
towns or their parts, as in the
Rome Reborn
project, which deals with the recon-
struction of Rome from 320
AD
(University of Virginia
2010
).
Realistic building models have mode forward disciplines such as architecture or
the building industry. We may also expect that the 3D model will be a necessary
part of the documentation of public utility networks, which may result in the 3D
cadastre for estate evidence. Using 3D building models for facility management and
BIM (
Building Information Modelling
) is also quite common (Kolbe
2009
).
A useful application based on the model of a real town is the German energy-GIS
project Sun Area. It uses 3D data to evaluate which roofs are well situated for solar
energy generation (SUN-AREA
2011
). 3D city models are also used for analysing
heating and building energy demands (Strzalka et al.
2011
).
3D building models are also very useful for navigation in large buildings, such
as, for example, indoor navigation for the visually impaired tested at the University
of Nevada (Wolterbeek
2012
). A very important project using 3D building models
is the NATO STANDEX Counter Terrorism Project. This project deals with the
remote detection of suicide attacks based on microwave scanning in real time and
3D space (STANDEX
2012
). Other utilizations, in addition to those mentioned
above, are also possible. L¨wner et al. (
2013b
) provides a general overview of the
applications of 3D city models.
Detailed 3D City Models
Detailed 3D models usually have a smaller territorial extent. 3D campus maps are
good examples of this. 3D models of campuses may be found all over the world,
e.g. at airports in Beijing, London, Prague, Rotterdam; at hospitals in Johannesburg,
Panama, Sevilla; at commercial and financial centres such as the World Financial
Center in New York and the World Trade Center in Barcelona; at convention and
exhibition centres in Hong Kong, Las Vegas, etc. (3D Warehouse
2013
).
