VU.CITY launches 3D city modelling to mass market

The property software firm has overhauled its 3D building modelling tool, enabling users to access it from a standard computer.

The smart city platform has been entirely re-engineered so that it no longer needs to be run from a high-specification computer.

The software generates a digital twin of a city, allowing users to see the real-life impact of new buildings and infrastructure on their surrounding environment.

VU.CITY said that schemes can now be accurately tested and developed in the pre-application stage in a way that has not been possible previously.

The firm said the update means that everyone in an office can run the platform simultaneously, with it working more quickly and instinctively – improving functionality in response to customer feedback.

Jamie Holmes, CEO of VU.CITY, said: “We have known for some time that we have a product here that will change the way development is approached, but the key to unlocking that potential has been in making it available for mass adoption.”

The platform has launched with over 16m sq ft of London modelled, as well as other major cities including New York, Paris, Manchester, Birmingham, Belfast, Brighton and Oxford.

VU.CITY model of London

The city models also include consented but unbuilt schemes within the platform, making it possible for planning decisions to take into account future developments.

VU.CITY uses game engineering technology to let users view, zoom, rotate, and interact with a scheme from distances of several miles away to street level. According to the firm, this results in better and more informed decision-making across the development industry; more collaborative working; and money and time savings in the design and planning process.

The software is being used by 25 of London’s 33 local authorities and other major development projects in the capital.

Jason Hawthorne, founding director of VU.CITY, added: “Quite simply, this platform minimises development risk by providing clarity over the nature and impact of schemes at a very early stage. That can only be a good thing for our industry.”