BMC completes 3D mapping of Worli to use for development projects

MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in a leading project has prepared a three-dimensional development plan and the master plan for the Worli area. The plan is being called a 3D geospatial city model. Aaditya Thackeray, Minister of Tourism and Environment, Government of Maharashtra, inaugurated the initiative on September 24.

The project aims to help civic body in multiple development ventures and policy interventions in the area, along with infrastructure planning, natural disaster management, citizens’ safety, environment analysis, and assessment of public amenities. This detailed digital 3D map covers every parameter of the area, with a 360 degree digital panoramic view. The project is covering around 10 square kilometres, encompassing Worli’s entire G-south Ward.

In an official statement, BMC said that even though we live in a 3D world, planning and development activities encompassing urban governance, city infrastructure upgrades, etc are still being done on 2D maps. It added that it is imperative for urban governments to be able to visualize their cities in 3D for getting comprehensive 360 degree view of the urban space to enable them to undertake simulations and conduct detailed analysis on the data, all of which, the BMC said is inefficient and close to impossible to be done on archaic 2D maps.

This particular 3D geospatial model has been created using high-resolution aerial drone imagery and mobile street imagery vehicles mounted with light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors. The aerial data collected is welded with 3600 high-definition street view imagery, which is then fused to create an authentic Geospatial Map. This thereof produces a comprehensive 3D Digital Twin. BMC is looking forward to work more efficiently on unauthorized and illegal settlements, monitoring and mapping of urban flooding, detailed infrastructure planning of roads, bridges, flyovers, etc.