The Tower of London computer models

Abstract

This computer model was commissioned by the Tower Environs Partnership as part of the technical studies to underpin proposed enhancement of the surroundings of the Tower of London. It is intended to provide a sufficiently fine-grained photo-realistic facsimile to allow fine judgement of minor changes in landscape detail. Its credibility is underpinned by close correspondence to the original survey data and by the ability to compare viewpoints with matching photographs taken on site. These models enable examination of the visual impact of both the Tower Environs Scheme proposals and of projected neighbouring schemes which may affect its setting in the future. Future development of the model is proposed to enable change to be experienced before it is committed, to explore different interpretations of historic evidence, and to forge stronger links to other sources of information. In this way, the model can be used as a unified way of finding out more about the Tower and its surroundings, both in the present and in the past. Through these means a much wider and more varied range of people can gain from using the model, increasing the justification for the resources involved in keeping it up to date.