The Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA) at University Collage London has built a three-dimensional model of 20 square kilometres of London. The model, funded by the Greater London Authority, is designed to help improve transport and planning in the capital. It has been developed to demonstrate how proposals for things like tall buildings and new transport systems can be shown visually to help the planning process. The model will allow the public to view exactly how a proposed development will effect an area and how it will look.

“We needed [a model] where you could put information in, such as crime levels or pollution,” said one of the projects architects, Dr Andrew Hudson-Smith. “Whatever you want, you can put into the model. For instance, the police can view a map with crime hotspots highlighted on it. That can be used to plan the optimum location of police resources across the city.”

Most of the model is made up of simple grey blocks representing the exact shape and scales of buildings, with more costly buildings photo-realistically rendered. Hudson-Smith added that ‘Virtual London’ will soon be publicly accessible on the GLA website, allowing people to visit parts of London online.