Leicestershire – Photorealistic 3D models from Bluesky are being used to produce a new interactive map of London. Created by the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA), part of the Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment at University College London (UCL), the 3D virtual map brings together live real-time data streams including sensor readings, TFL transport updates, and social media information such as geolocated tweets from Twitter. These are then visualised over the Bluesky MetroVista mesh models to provide a live view of the city.
The MetroVista product range uses new aerial mapping technology to simultaneously capture vertical and oblique photography together with laser scanned height measurements. These provide real world context for CASA’s mapping platform which is intended to support uses in environmental monitoring, transport, architecture and urban planning.
“The value of Bluesky’s MetroVista data is that it provides an immediately recognisable visual reference and context for other, potentially more abstract forms of data,” commented Oliver Dawkins, Research Assistant at the Bartlett Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis. “We are so used to seeing real world imagery with platforms like Google Earth that we can struggle to get a sense of place when presented with more traditional architectural block models.”
“Using MetroVista gives a greater sense of real-world location which can be useful for communicating location-based insights” Dawkins continued. “The Bluesky data helps users make a connection between the various streams of data we present such as traffic updates or bike hire schemes, and to imagine and explore their relationship with a specific location. The model helps to show where ‘here’ actually is.”
CASA have used SafeSoftware FME to pre-process the Bluesky MetroVista data and combine it with further geographic information including map tiles, building footprints and point cloud data. These data can then be imported into a game engine for visualisation and interaction by users. Their system is backed by a database which stores the attributes of 3D objects in the model. Finally, real-time data from a range of webservices and APIs are also streamed into the game engine to create an informationally rich, real-time map of the city: a Digital Twin.
Captured using the world’s first large format imagery and LiDAR hybrid airborne sensor, Bluesky MetroVista imagery collection includes simultaneously captured oblique and vertical aerial photography. The MetroVista datasets also include geographically accurate, phototextured, mesh models ready for use in 3D GIS, CAD and other modelling software as well as visualisation, gaming and Virtual Reality workflows. MetroVista data is currently available for London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Nottingham, Oxford, Cambridge, Brighton, Norwich, Leicester, Derby and Newcastle.
About Bluesky:
Bluesky International is the leading aerial survey and geographic data company in the UK producing and maintaining seamless digital aerial photography and height data on a national scale in both Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. Bluesky also undertakes bespoke surveys, including LiDAR, for a range of public and private sector clients.
Bluesky International operates a range of aircraft and sensors including three Ultracam Eagle Mark 3s, a CityMapper which allows the simultaneous collection of vertical and oblique imagery as well as LiDAR data, and a Galaxy LiDAR which is mounted with a thermal sensor and survey grade camera. These systems put Bluesky International in the enviable position of being able to provide customers with unique and cost-effective geospatial solutions.
As well as being an established and respected aerial survey company Bluesky International is also highly innovative and continually strives to develop new products and services by embracing new technology and methods. This has resulted in the development of some unique products such as the National Tree Map (NTM).
These datasets underpin long term contracts with local and central governments and many major blue-chip companies from a range of market sectors including financial services, utilities, telecoms, web portals, construction and environment. Bluesky International has offices in the UK, US, Republic of Ireland and a dedicated production centre in India.
