Introducing Nearmap for Post-catastrophe Response
Post Catastrophe Imagery and AI-derived property damage and condition data unite to help insurers process customer claims more efficiently.
Post Catastrophe Imagery and AI-derived property damage and condition data unite to help insurers process customer claims more efficiently.
Above: Brisbane Airport captured on 3 November, 2018. Work on the airport's second runway began in 2012, and is set to open in 2020.
This is the third in a three-part blog series exploring how new 3D geocontent is changing the way infrastructure gets built in modern cities.
The holy grail of urban planners and governments is the so-called “smart city” that’s on the lips of every futurist with a LinkedIn account. But the path to that utopia of connectedness, sustainability, and livability can be strewn with obstacles, not the least of which is starting the planning process with outmoded, incomplete, or poor quality location intelligence.
To understand how current geospatial information underpins smart city planning, we need to take a step back and look at the overall picture of our future cities. Smart and Resilient Cities lists geospatial technology as one of the six essential technologies for creating a smart city, and the fifth Cities in Motion Index names nine dimensions that are the most important factors for a smart and sustainable city: economy, social cohesion, human capital, environment, governance, urban planning, technology, international outreach, and mobility and transportation.
Why is public transport such a priority for transforming cities? Sustainability and livability, as well as opening up development corridors and opportunities, can only be achieved with the evolution of public transport. Billions are now being spent on projects such as the Melbourne and Sydney metro rail lines, Canberra light rail, and extensions to the Sydney and Gold Coast tram networks; however, a recent report found that compared to transport initiatives in cities such as Hong Kong, Chennai, and London, these are still “catch up” projects.
The historic under-investment in public transport in Australian cities means we have to invest more innovation and expenditure to move ahead in world terms. A recent Infrastructure Australia report makes clear recommendations:
We are already seeing how transformative transport initiatives might positively impact Australian cities. Game-changing projects like the proposed VIC Rail Loop would carry 400,000 passengers a day and take 200,000 cars off major roads. So what’s the difference between an expensive transport upgrade, and a truly innovative transport project? To answer that, we need to consider what factors make a transit system integral to a smart city.
As Gustavo Petro, Colombian economist, is widely quoted as saying, “A developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It’s where the rich use public transportation.”
Improved mobility equates to expanded opportunity
Less traffic begets cities that are more environmentally friendly, with deeper social integration
Efficient, effective transport planning is much more feasible with access to wide-scale, current 3D reality models of Australia’s urban and regional areas.
The new Redcliffe Station in Perth, captured on 23 September, 2018. The $1.86 billion Forrestfield-Airport Link will deliver a new rail service to the eastern suburbs of Perth — with three new stations at Redcliffe, Airport Central, and Forrestfield.
Local government areas (LGAs) and community leaders in successful smart cities engage their communities from the ground up. The transformation process necessarily involves major construction projects, expenditure of public funds, and upheaval in the lives of residents. If the future benefits aren’t fully explained and understood, and community feedback is not addressed, projects will stall. 3D representations — a so-called “digital twin” — of current and projected plans are an invaluable tool for community engagement, bringing future projects to life to encourage enthusiasm and participation in changes that require community support — including potential homeowner displacement, disrupted transit service, increased fares or tolls, etc.
History shows that Australians are likely to respond well to innovation that’s carefully introduced at the LGA and community level. ABS figures show that 86% of Australians have internet in the home — although work is still needed to connect those in remote areas. Importantly for the future, 97% of households with children under 15 have internet access. With such good saturation and uptake, LGAs and other stakeholders can utilise this to deliver interconnectivity and access to services, strengthen and facilitate social networks and education networks , enhance community and take full advantage of future innovations.
The Australian Government’s 2030 goals set in their voluntary national review are realistic and achievable, if all levels of governance and the private sector are involved. Bridging the digital divide, particularly in regional areas, is essential if citizens are to be included as our cities change. Government at the federal, state, and local levels, in consultation with an engaged population, can and will drive change if they meet the challenges head on and adopt progressive technologies to drive the adoption of and success of their most transformative projects.
Choosing the right tools to future-proof your major project and its impact on the urban environment is an important part of the digital infrastructure process. Learn more about Nearmap 3D, and view more 3D fly-throughs on our YouTube channel. You can also learn more about our 3D mesh in ArcGIS Online.
