Drones make 3D Seoul map

A 3D city map by the Seoul Metropolitan Government has been using the same version since 2012. It updated new building structures only by attaching their graphic images onto the existing map despite low graphic quality, like City Hall, a blue structure above, renovated in August 2012. / Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

By Ko Dong-hwan

Seoul's new 3D map is on its way, offering a better understanding of the physical environment around the city's selective landmarks with help of drones.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government will launch the project on 11 of the city's hotspots, including City Hall, Lotte World Mall and Gocheok Sky Dome, using drones with high-definition cameras. Beginning in June 2018, the 3D mapping is South Korea's first such project conducted by a governmental branch. The authority had selected drone specialists over the last year and plans to finalize the project agenda before June.

The latest project will update the old 3D map made by Seoul in 2012, showing all the changes to the cityscape made since then. Until now, new brick-and-mortar developments have been added to the 2012 version by "gluing" their edited images onto the map. This method looked unnatural due to the low graphic quality.

The update has so far been delayed because "V World," a spatial information open platform designed by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, has been acting as a main source of reference to the nation's governmental and national offices as well as local and international companies.

"The most important data for cities planning public policies or private entities erecting businesses or investing in properties is the 3D map," a city official said. "Once we deploy the drones starting next year, the problem of having used the map from 2012 will be resolved."

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