Africa Surveyors May-June issue 2021

GEOGRAPHICS
Photorealistic 3D models from aerial mapping
specialist Bluesky are being used to create realworld
interactive visualisations to transform
how unbuilt commercial and residential property is
presented for sale. Created by 3D rendering company
Lunas, the real estate presentations can be run on
interactive touch displays including tables and giant
video walls, as well as on mobile phones, tablets and
websites.
Using the Bluesky MetroVista mesh models as a base,
new developments are shown in-situ and potential
purchasers can interact with the surrounding
environment, explore the neighbourhood and even
experience different weather conditions.
Bluesky Models Transform Real Estate
Marketing with Lunas 3D Visualisations
“In order to create these presentations, we need upto-date
base maps of the highest visual quality and
geographic accuracy,” commented Slava Oganesian,
CEO and Co-founder of Montreal-based Lunas
Inc. “Which is why we worked with Bluesky. The
MetroVista data captures a city as it actually is, with
highly accurate LiDAR measurements of the terrain
and existing developments and unparalleled visual
records achieved through the simultaneous capture of
both vertical and oblique aerial images.
“Building on our work to date with Bluesky we hope
to create 3D twins for all major cities,” Oganesian
continued, “showcasing our urban centres as they
are today and revealing how they will look for future
generations.”
Called L-Touch, the visualisation application is
designed to help developers communicate future
development plans to secure permission to proceed
with a proposal and market the development for
investment and sales. Suitable for use on a variety of
platforms, L-Touch presentations provide a bird’s eye
view of a project once built; affording a 360-degree
view which can be rotated and viewed from different
perspectives and different scales. Office buildings,
apartment blocks and even hotels can be marketed
with additional detail such as price and floor plans.
The visualisations can then be manipulated to
show how they are positioned in relation to the sun,
experience the view from the balcony and understand
proximity to local services such as public transport,
Official geospatial data proves
value during global pandemic
Contributing to national Covid-19 responses
has significantly raised awareness of official
geospatial data, say Europe’s National Mapping,
Cadastral and Land Registration Authorities.
More than 75% of members participating in
EuroGeographics 2021 General Assembly said
that helping to manage and monitor the global
pandemic had raised the profile of their data. Around
60% believe that it will make it easier to explain
its importance to policymakers, whilst 43% think
the public have a better understanding of what
authoritative data is.
At the annual conference of their membership
association, European National Mapping, Cadastral
and Land Registration Authorities reported four main
contributions to national Covid-19 responses:
• Provision of authoritative data
• Working with other government departments
• Implementation of new technologies or systems
• Provision of expertise
Colin Bray, President, EuroGeographics said: “Whether
you’ve downloaded a track and trace app or used
your phone to avoid busy times on public transport,
geographic data is helping us all to stop the spread
of Covid-19.”
“EuroGeographics members are playing their part
by delivering accurate, official land information
and geospatial data and services. They have quickly
adapted their datasets to meet the needs of a fastmoving
situation to ensure those making difficult
decisions can count on them for the most up to
date information available. This has proved vital
green space and leisure facilities. L-Touch can also be
used to showcase different conditions and scenarios
such as weather events, rush-hour traffic and even
future developments nearby.
L-Touch uses the latest gaming technology to
optimise and manipulate the Bluesky MetroVista data.
Captured using the world’s first large format imagery
and LiDAR hybrid airborne sensor, the Bluesky data
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.
for responding to the global pandemic, keeping us
connected and playing a central role in all our lives.”
Léa Bodossian, Secretary General and Executive
Director, EuroGeographics added: “The global
pandemic has redefined business as usual – from
accelerating the adoption of new technologies
to refocusing resources. As a community used
to constant and far-reaching change, we have a
proven ability to respond strategically, as well as
operationally, to these new ways of working. Together,
we must ensure this agility, as well as our data, is
widely recognised, understood and used for maximum
impact and benefit.”
“More than ever before, the world needs accurate
data that it can trust is up to date, definitive and
detailed. We know we cannot expect users to
always come to us, so we continue to find new ways
of achieving its widespread use across both the
European and international systems.”
EuroGeographics annual review, which is published
today (24 June 2021), contains many examples of
how members are supporting pandemic response,
as well as integrating information to provide
insights for realising national climate targets and
biodiversity plans, using satellite positioning for
smarter, precision farming and the development of
autonomous vehicles; and incorporating artificial
intelligence technology into production processes to
improve data quality.
12 May-June issue l 2021 www.africasurveyorsonline.com