Whether you’re designing an apartment block, installing 5G infrastructure, simulating a new road design, or creating a stadium crowd surveillance system, high-accuracy 3D spatial data is a robust and effective tool for analysing visibility and sightlines, also known as ‘viewshed analysis’ for infrastructure projects.
The need to stage and simulate scenarios for viewshed testing is ever-increasing with large infrastructure and building projects. Finding solutions has never been more straightforward with accurate and readily available spatial data supported by cloud computing and algorithmic calculations.
Spatial technology company Aerometrex has seen an increase in demand for its 3D reality mesh models and LIDAR point clouds supporting viewshed analysis in both Australia and the United States.
Why use 3d data for viewshed?
Using 3D datasets, whether photogrammetry models or LIDAR, saves substantial time and money for infrastructure viewshed analysis.
Customers use those 3D data formats to support engineering and surveyor analysis of project sites. Spatially accurate data helps inspect areas as they currently are and simulate how future changes affect the space.
Applications for viewshed solutions using 3D data could include mapping a mine site’s route for continuous 5G coverage, safety camera positions along a highway, sightlines between existing structures and planned projects, or shadow casts of new buildings.
The applications of view simulations are as diverse as the end clients.
Stadium security by euclideon
2022 saw software company Euclideon design a precise camera security system for Oracle Park Stadium in San Francisco. The project utilised high-resolution 3D data, cloud computing, and algorithmic calculation to serve as an example of their platform’s flexible and straightforward solution for client use.
The surveillance solution’s base dataset is Aerometrex’s high-resolution reality mesh model of San Francisco. The San Francisco 3D model features a complete capture of Oracle Park, and the stadium’s open-roof design means every seat location exists within the model.
Aerometrex’s models are always built with precise geo-accuracy, making them an ideal staging environment for such spatial simulations.
Aerometrex’s 3D model was staged in Euclideon’s udCloud platform, making the high-fidelity dataset streamable within a browser interface.
A camera placement algorithm calculates sightlines between a representative 200- seat sample from the upper tier and the underside of the stadium’s roof, showing both the placement and minimum required cameras.
The solution shows every sightline between the sample seats and the camera to which it is visible and highlights invisible seats for further investigation.
Combining elements of accurate data inputs, cloud computing, and algorithmic calculations delivered results under ten seconds during the company’s testing.
Learn more
Accurate data for viewshed projects is available through Aerometrex’s web store across Australia and USA. Buyers can choose between purchasing an entire city or custom sections within the dataset. That flexibility helps customers buy data as, and when, they need it for project work.
To learn more about Australian 3D data on the MetroMap 3D store, metromap.com.au/plans/custom-data/.
This sponsored editorial was brought to you by Aerometrex.