Abstract
Multi-dimensional representation of urban settings has received a great deal of attention among urban planners, policy makers, and urban scholars. This is due to the fact that cities grow vertically and new urbanism strategies encourage higher density and compact city development. Advancements in computer technology and multi-dimensional geospatial data integration, analysis and visualisation play a pivotal role in supporting urban planning and design. However, due to the complexity of the models and technical requirements of the multi-dimensional city models, planners are yet to fully exploit such technologies in their activities. This paper proposes a workflow to support non-experts in using three-dimensional city modelling tools to carry out planning control amendments and assess their implications. The paper focuses on using a parametric three-dimensional (3D) city model to enable planners to measure the physical (e.g., building height, shadow, setback) and functional (e.g., mix of land uses) impacts of new planning controls. The workflow is then implemented in an inner suburb of Metropolitan Melbourne, where urban intensification strategies require the planners to carry out radical changes in regulations. This study demonstrates the power of the proposed 3D visualisation tool for urban planners at taking two-dimensional (2D) Geographic Information System (GIS) procedural modelling to construct a 3D model.
Highlights
Urban intensification and compact city development strategies are generally implemented in metropolitan areas worldwide as a response to rapid population growth [1]
This study has shown that the procedural 3D city modelling tool can be used to analyse and visualise the planning scheme at 3D level
Using the 2D Geographic Information System (GIS) layer, the procedural modelling can extrude the visualisation on a large scale without the need to do modelling on a site-by-site basis
Summary
Urban intensification and compact city development strategies are generally implemented in metropolitan areas worldwide as a response to rapid population growth [1]. Urban planners and policy makers encourage higher building and population densities through urban redevelopment as part of the compact city process. Despite advancements in computer and geospatial technologies, they are limited to classic data and modelling tools for designing, impact assessment and decision making [2]. It has been difficult for urban planners to imagine the application of planning schemes and the controls in designated urban redevelopment areas. It is important that planners have the right toolset to both plan future changes and assess existing conditions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
