UK pipes to be mapped in 3D
a BBC article describes a plan to map out digitally underground pipes and electrical systems in UK cities, which eventually would be available to workers with some kind of mobile device:
The maze of pipes and cables that snake beneath the UK's streets are to be mapped in a £2.2m pilot project. An intimate knowledge of this tubular underworld is expected to help reduce the number of holes that need to be dug by utilities, and cut traffic jams. Nottingham and Leeds researchers will trial new 3D mapping technologies at half a dozen UK locations.
...
"When utilities and highways authorities are digging in the street, they often find things they didn't expect, or don't find the things they were looking for," explained Mike Farrimond, director of UK Water Industry Research Ltd, which is managing the mapping project. "If we had detailed 3D maps of what was down there, we'd be much more efficient at finding and fixing leaks, and connecting people to services."
(via SmartMobs)
It is a Dutch company who developed this technique. A few weeks ago I went to a presentation of them with some extreme nice features. But for more information about their technique and some samples see http://www.cyclomedia.nl/index.php?lang=en
and http://www.cyclomedia.nl/page.php?id=55 It is a shame though that their features aren't so well displayed on their website, so I had to google a bit:
http://www.cyclomedia.nl/toepassingen/beheer.html
(click on the pictures)
Posted by: Vincent Barnhard | April 17, 2006 at 05:30 AM