3D models released for Christchurch city

The release of a new set of 3D models of central Christchurch today – as part of the Canterbury Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI) Programme led by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) – means it will now be much easier to visualise the inner city as it was before September 2010.

The release is facilitated by 3D Enabled Cities – one of eight projects in the Canterbury SDI Programme that began in 2013 to support the recovery effort by enabling improved sharing of location-based information between government agencies and the private sector.

“The ZNO Christchurch Central Model Set that was released this week will help to visualise ongoing changes to the landscape in central Christchurch,” says LINZ Chief Executive Peter Mersi.

The model set is a virtual record of the buildings that existed prior to September 2010, and the buildings that remain today. It covers commercial, heritage, and major apartment buildings in 36 ‘core city blocks’ and four ‘outer CBD blocks’.

“These models will help to retain a digital snapshot of lost heritage in the centre of Christchurch. The models have already been used in Christchurch Central Recovery Plan videos, public kiosks, and augmented reality apps.”

Released under an open license, the models are available to anyone at no cost – the first time a 3D model set this extensive and accurate has been freely available in New Zealand.

“A benefit of the open license means that anyone can download and improve the models, and use them in a range of ways to celebrate the heritage that has been lost.”

The Christchurch Central Development Unit’s (CCDU) Blueprint models and the Christchurch City Council’s (CCC) Building Footprint (BFP) data are also being made available under an open license this week.

“This is a great step towards creating a strong foundation for 3D visualisation of Christchurch,” says Christchurch Central Development Unit Director Warwick Isaacs.

The CCDU Blueprint model set includes 3D models of the initial conceptual designs of anchor projects from the Christchurch Central Recovery Plan visualisations.

The open licensing of the CCC BFP data is important as the data has been used to enhance the ZNO Central Christchurch model set by improving its accuracy when placed on a map.

This accuracy will ensure that the 3D models can become an authoritative resource for urban planners and designers. The model set will help these professionals to design better buildings and outdoor spaces by enabling them to visualise developments around their designs and simulate environmental effects.

“To make this collection of models even more useful, we hope that architects and their clients will contribute 3D models of ‘to be built’ developments. Christchurch people, tenants, and investors will then be better able to visualise what the city will look like in the future.

“These releases are an excellent example of several key organisations working together to release information that can help Christchurch people support the rebuild in different ways.”

To access the ZNO Central Christchurch and the CCDU Blueprint model sets, visit the Trimble 3D Warehouse website, http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/.

The Council building footprint data is publicly available information and can be requested by emailing informationservices@ccc.govt.nz.

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