3 Advantages of Using 3D Rendering Services for City Planning and Development

3d rendering for city planning

This article will examine some benefits of using 3D architectural rendering services for city planning and development. More and more people are showing interest in urban planning and development, and the need for better and more efficient cities can no longer be neglected. Scientists have identified the importance of the efficient use of resources and emphasize the need to teach environmental education to students and reduce the world’s carbon emissions. However, despite continuous warnings, expert opinions are ignored. 

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Cities are critical engines of economic growth while simultaneously being the major consumer of resources. These resources come in various forms, including; water, food, electricity, medicines, and expertise. The consumption of city resources poses challenges with waste reduction, use and upgrade of technology, and awareness and educational campaigns for citizens. 

The role of urban planners

Urban planners guide the urban development of new or existing communities while considering environmental and public welfare. An urban planner must also consider aspects that make it an area desirable, equitable, efficient, and convenient to work and live within. An exceptional urban planner also follows an eco-friendly, climate-informed, and sustainable approach that reduces disaster risk encourages longevity, and manages the environment. As more urban development trends are gaining momentum, including co-working, cohabitation, experiential retail, and big-box development, it is essential to consider broader design aspects such as 3d architectural site plan rendering services.

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Regional and urban planners typically require a master’s and bachelor’s degree from accredited universities with experience in public policy, planning, or related fields like environmental science. Urban planners handle massive projects, advocate for communities and keep public interests in mind. However, it is challenging to juggle code enforcement, economic development, resources, land use, transportation, and urban development. Other tasks that urban planners might also encounter frequently include the following:

  • Ensure affordable housing
  • Evaluate trends in transportation and enforce transportation plans according to the specific needs of the community
  • Manage the number of multi-family and single-family homes within the neighborhood or area
  • Plan for the existence and construction of new buildings
  • Planning community facilities and green spaces
  • Work to guarantee sufficient water and sewer services for a community
  • Work to preserve structures around the city

Given the time constraints that urban developers encounter, there are several advantages of using 3D construction rendering services to ensure that urban developments don’t become urban jungles.

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3 Advantages of using 3D rendering services for city planning and development

1. How 3D modeling supports city planning and development

3D modeling or digital representations of modern cities are critical in urban development. Simulations and virtual modeling allow decision-makers to test, assess, and explore the measures taken during city planning and development. Digitization on cloud-enabled platforms promotes collaboration among stakeholders who can optimize results and make cities safer, innovative, sustainable, and more livable. Adaptation to climate change and mitigation is critical for local authorities and governments and is the core of significant decisions in city planning globally.

Through the analysis of 3D architectural modeling services, leaders can compare city conditions over time and simulate potential future scenarios. Envisioning development plans in 3D form allows stakeholders to understand the consequences of interventions, understand interrelationships, and identify errors in planning as early as the pre-investment stage. Green spaces in cities reduce the impact of pollution and lessen the heat island effect that traps heat in urban spaces. 3D Rendering can create 3D models of trees that can be 3D modeled and monitored for health to preserve these critical areas.

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3D modeling professionals can calculate solar potential on rooftops, check urban vegetation for health, and plan the ideal design for critical infrastructure and energy grids. Acknowledgment of changes in biomass and ensuring clearance from the power lines can also help pinpoint diseases early on, preventing vegetation loss. Communities can use simulations to prepare for natural disasters like fires and floods, and the models and data help identify risk areas and plan evacuations.

2. Modern Cities create positive changes 

Well-planned, built, and governed cities can be significant catalysts for positive changes. As more people live in urban cities, responsible development of cities will help rise above environmental and societal challenges worldwide. To exceed the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as making cities safe, resilient, sustainable, and inclusive, city administrations must make informed decisions. The combination of state-of-the-art technologies can offer critical data to spur sustainable transformation. Simple image-based 3D models, including densely matched ones, have substantial gaps in data. It is challenging to capture image-based data in obstructed areas between buildings, under trees, or in shadow areas.

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Low-quality 3D models provide unsatisfactory results for untextured roads or smooth surfaces like water. Introducing the second data source enhances the quality and accuracy of 3D meshes and models. Hybrid data is among the key technological breakthroughs in 3D technology and the simultaneous Lidar point clouds and images captured. Optical images have a high point accuracy in an X/Y plane, while Lidar has a high point accuracy in a Z component.

Using Lidar can add more precision to mesh models because it can penetrate foliage and detect objects in shadowed parts between buildings. On the other hand, optical data offers clarity for the top-surface models, where four-color images are preferred for interpretation. The workflow software integration produces ranges from the Lidar and imagery datasets, including colorized point clouds, orthophotos, and referenced images. Once combined with comprehensive GIS or geographic information systems and BIM design services or building information modeling, it becomes possible to convert the real world into its replica in digital form to facilitate planning, analysis, and management.

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3. Creating sustainable cities with 3D city models

Thanks to the many 3D modeling applications available, cities worldwide are starting to put 3D city models into full practice. A digital twin is a simulated virtual representation of a town or place used for testing. For example, St. Gallen in Switzerland joined forces with the Hexagon, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and an architectural company to develop the city’s digital twin. Accurate 3D city models were also designed with the help of mapping software (the Leica CityMapper-2 airborne mapping system) to assist architects, and urban planners in identifying suitable areas for fresh-air corridors and green belts.

The demand for 3D visualization services, 3D models, and data has steadily increased. Countries are utilizing digital twins and 3D Rendering for sustainable development. For example, the 3DNL digital twin of the Netherlands is hosted on the cloud-based collaboration and visualization platform of Hexagon for geospatial services and data. 3DNL includes asset management, mesh measurements, shadow and sun analysis that allow high-rise simulations, solar-capacity calculations, and building cross-section analysis.

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Summary

Urban Designers are increasingly using 3D modeling for city planning and development. 3D models enhance cloud-enabled platforms, promote stakeholder teamwork, optimizes results, and make cities safer, innovative, sustainable, and more livable. Utilizing 3D rendering services allows for simplified planning and development of sustainable and livable cities. Urban planners and architects that use 3D models ultimately benefit the public.

How Cad Crowd can assist

At Cad Crowd, we have the privilege of working with some of the best architectural designers in the world. If you’re looking for help with your construction project, look no further than us. Get a free quote today.