Illustrating the transition of Christchurch central business district (CBD) buildings before and after the earthquakes.
Our 3D models were built by Sydney-based company AAM NZ Ltd. Their GeoCirrus software uses LIDAR (light sensing and ranging) technology, which calculates the exact distance to an object by bouncing laser light off it. The resulting 3D building outlines are combined with high-resolution aerial photographs, existing geographical information system (GIS), and other data to create a detailed and accurate city model.
AAM completed a flyover of the central city in January 2018 to record LIDAR data for the current model.
The 3D model will be used for consultation purposes, augmented reality projects, visualisations such as the pre- and post-quake CBD visualisation, and by the members of the public to explore a digital version of their city.
3D models of Christchurch CBD created from flyovers in 2010 and 2018 are used for smart projects such as:
The visualisation starts with a 3D model of the central city in 2010 and illustrates the loss of buildings through the earthquakes and then the subsequent emergence of the new central business district (CBD).
Due to the quality and complexity of the 3D data, the visualiser is not currently supported on mobile devices, or screen resolutions less than 1024 pixels wide or 700 pixels tall. It is also recommended that you use a fast broadband internet connection instead of cellular data network as it may use significant data.
2018 3D model files available to download here: