Nottingham's Digital Twin: Pioneering Smart Urban Planning with Aerial Data

EAASI Companies: Bluesky International, Esri, Hexagon Geosystems

Project Overview

Nottingham City Council has established itself as a pioneer in digitally advanced city planning by developing a comprehensive digital twin of the entire city. This groundbreaking initiative integrates high-resolution aerial data with advanced 3D modelling to create an interactive platform that enhances urban planning, public engagement, and environmental management.

The project demonstrates how cutting-edge airborne mapping technology can provide accurate, comprehensive geospatial insights for smarter urban management.

Nottingham’s digital twin integrates high-resolution aerial data with advanced 3D modelling to create an interactive platform that enhances city planning, public engagement, and environmental management. (Image courtesy: Hexagon, Bluesky International)

Technical Solution

Nottingham City Council partnered with Bluesky International, an EAASI member specializing in aerial surveys utilizing Leica Geosystems' airborne solutions. The technical implementation involved:

• Advanced Aerial Survey: Conducted using the Leica CityMapper-2 by Hexagon, a hybrid urban mapping sensor capable of capturing both vertical and oblique imagery alongside high-point-density LiDAR.
  

• Multi-Dataset Acquisition: The ability to collect multiple datasets in a single flight reduced costs and carbon emissions while increasing the speed and consistency of data acquisition.
  

• MetroVista 3D Mesh Model: The platform was developed using Bluesky International's innovative MetroVista 3D mesh model product, combining detailed point cloud data with immersive mesh models.
  

• Streamlined Data Processing: Generated orthophotos, classified point clouds, and detailed 3D mesh models of building facades, road networks, and vegetation with remarkable accuracy.
  

• Integrated Planning Platform: The 3D object model from Bluesky MetroVista forms the foundation of the digital twin, which is deployed through Nottingham's online tool built on Esri's technology stack, including ArcGIS Urban and other GIS solutions. Accessible to multiple council departments, the platform enables urban planners and decision-makers to visualize development scenarios and conduct assessments with greater precision.
  

Project Benefits

The digital twin has transformed Nottingham's approach to urban planning and infrastructure management. Planners can now drop proposed 3D building models directly into the digital twin and link them to relevant planning documents, including permissions and proposals.

Embedded analytical tools—such as line-of-sight analysis, shadow assessment, and measurement capabilities—allow planners to assess the potential impact of new developments more efficiently, accelerating decision-making processes.

The platform has enhanced the city's ability to monitor urban growth, assess environmental changes, and improve transport infrastructure with greater confidence that proposed developments align with the existing urban fabric.

Additionally, the digital twin supports public engagement by enabling citizens to explore and understand the impact of urban changes, offering transparency and increased participation in the planning process. The integrated approach has also improved sustainability by reducing the need for multiple survey flights and minimizing associated carbon emissions.

Future Outlook

Nottingham's success in creating a multifunctional digital twin demonstrates how aerial surveying and advanced geospatial data processing can support more transparent, efficient, and sustainable urban planning. The project sets a benchmark for UK cities and establishes a model that could be replicated globally as urban centres seek to leverage digital technologies for smarter city management and climate resilience.

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This case study appeared in the article  published by GIM International: Powering smart cities with airborne precision data

Learn more about how other EAASI members utilize crewed aerial technology to address global challenges in our Use Cases series, a dedicated section showcasing real-world applications and achievements by EAASI's diverse members.