News

Widnes Brought To Life Virtually

Source: Widnes Waterfront

A fourteen sq km area of Halton has become one of the first areas in the world to be modelled using a new method of three-dimensional modelling which marries photography and the latest computer aided design techniques.
Developed by Lancashire-based company t3d, the online model which is available live on the Internet, allows users to experience the built environment in an entirely new way.
By using traditional and laser photography an intricate 3D ‘map’ of Widnes has been built up which is accurate to 30cm. Detailing every road, junction, building and pavement in the area, users can tour the area, fly over it or stand ‘within’ the virtual world to see how proposed new developments will impact on existing buildings.
Unlike previous 3D maps, whereby the final models have buildings shown as simple grey-scale blocks, this new system enables actual photography to be applied to the buildings to provide a more life-like representation. Over time the model will have photography applied.
A further application allows for proposed buildings to be artificially inserted into the existing urban fabric to assess its impact in terms of shadowing, impact on the existing skyline and to see how a developer has responded to the location.
The new map has clear benefits for town planners, developers and for public consultation on new developments in the borough.
Tony Tickle from t3d takes up the story: “It’s often difficult for people to fully appreciate the impact that a building will have on its surroundings from an architectural plan or even a scale model. What our system allows people to do is view it as if it were there. “Users can walk around the building at ground level, see how it will effect their home or business within the 14 sq km and fly over the building and see it in its wider context.
“Anyone that is familiar with computer games like Tomb Raider and Second Life will have a sense of the experience that this system can provide - but it is much more flexible as it allows people to roam with complete freedom within the virtual world.
“We are in the process of mapping small areas of London, Leeds and Manchester, but the project for Widnes is on a different scale. To map and render a fourteen sq km area has been a massive undertaking and nothing like this has ever been done before - it is truly a world’s first.”
Councillor Rob Polhill from Halton Council said: “We have invested in this state-of-the-art map as we believe that it will stand us in good stead for years to come. As more and more development is happening in the borough, Haltonians will want to know how the buildings are going to look and fit into the existing town.
“This system allows us to show them at the touch of a button. The council’s own planning department too will make full use of the map in assessing the viability and desirability of proposed buildings almost instantaneously.” Along with the planning and consultation uses, the map will also be used to market development opportunities within the Waterfront area.
The full virtual map of Widnes is available to view at: www.widneswaterfront.co.uk

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