CITYWORKS EXPERT TIPS
5 APPLICATIONS FOR 3D GIS IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND UTILITIES Many organizations already have access to valuable 3D data. Here are five ways to integrate it with your GIS asset management strategy today. BY CARL ALEXANDER, CITYWORKS SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT
3D
data will play a significant role in the digital transformation of local government, utility, and transportation organizations. The good news is that many of these organizations have no shortage of 3D data. Whether you need data on existing city buildings, airport terminals, utility infrastructure, or plant facilities, chances are your organization has as-builts stored somewhere.
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CITYWORKS MAGAZINE | FALL 2021
Additionally, many U.S. states have implemented LiDAR plans to establish regular and ongoing 3D data collection to inform land use, infrastructure, and environmental planning and management. It’s also more common for planning and permitting departments to require 3D plans as part of the application process for new construction. Having access to 3D data is one thing. Leveraging it to ad-
vance your digital transformation is another. How can you start to use 3D data within your organization to inform decision-making? If your organization uses GIS, then 3D mapping may be your answer. 3D Geographic Information Systems (3D GIS) are systems for structuring and managing 3D spatial data, capable of handling 3D geometry structures and performing the spatial analysis function-
