Low Poly, High Quality: Free 3D City Models for Games and VR
How to Create a 3D Model of a City for Free
Have you ever wondered how your city would look like in three dimensions? Or how you could design and visualize your urban projects in a realistic and interactive way? If so, you might be interested in learning how to create a 3D model of a city for free.
A 3D model of a city is a digital representation of urban areas that shows terrain, buildings, infrastructure, vegetation, and other elements in three dimensions. It can be used for various purposes, such as planning, design, communication, analysis, simulation, and education. A 3D city model can help you:
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Understand the existing conditions and context of your urban environment
Explore different scenarios and alternatives for your urban development projects
Evaluate the impacts and outcomes of your planning decisions
Communicate your ideas and proposals to others in an engaging and intuitive way
Enhance your creativity and innovation in urban design
In this article, we will show you how to create a 3D model of a city for free using some sources of free data and software. We will also show you some examples of 3D city models from different cities around the world and some benefits of using them for urban planning, design, and visualization.
What are some sources of free data and software for 3D city modeling?
To create a 3D model of a city, you will need two main components: data and software. Data refers to the information that describes the features and attributes of your urban area, such as terrain, buildings, roads, trees, etc. Software refers to the tools that allow you to import, process, visualize, edit, and export your data in a 3D format.
Fortunately, there are many sources of free data and software that you can use for your 3D city modeling project. Here are some examples:
Data
You can find various types of data that can be used for creating a 3D model of a city, such as:
Geographic information system (GIS) data: This is data that contains spatial information about features on the earth's surface. For example, you can find GIS data on building footprints, land use, roads, water bodies, elevation, etc. Some sources of free GIS data are:
: This is a collaborative project that provides open and editable maps of the world.
: This is a public domain map dataset that provides vector and raster data at various scales.
: This is a portal that provides access to various types of geospatial data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
: This is a website that provides free spatial data for countries and regions around the world.
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You can find various types of software that can be used for creating a 3D model of a city, such as:
3D modeling software: This is software that allows you to create, edit, and manipulate 3D models of objects and scenes. For example, you can use 3D modeling software to extrude buildings from footprints, add roofs, windows, doors, etc. Some sources of free 3D modeling software are:
: This is a powerful 3D creation and rendering tool that streamlines many of the mediums more technical aspects, such as animating, posing, setting up lighting, and rendering. It also hosts a massive online library full of Daz-ready content created by professional artists.
: This is a free and open source 3D creation suite that supports the entire 3D pipeline, from modeling to animation to rendering. It also has a large and active community of users and developers.
: This is a simple and intuitive 3D modeling software that allows you to create and modify 3D models of buildings, landscapes, furniture, etc. It also has an online 3D warehouse where you can find and download thousands of free models.
3D visualization software: This is software that allows you to display and interact with your 3D models in a realistic and immersive way. For example, you can use 3D visualization software to fly over your city, zoom in and out, change the lighting and shadows, etc. Some sources of free 3D visualization software are:
: This is a popular application that lets you explore the world in 3D. You can import your own 3D models or use the ones provided by Google and other users. You can also view satellite imagery, maps, terrain, and more.
: This is an open source platform for creating 3D globes and maps in a web browser. You can import your own 3D models or use the ones provided by Cesium and other sources. You can also view geospatial data, terrain, imagery, and more.
: This is a free and open source geographic information system (GIS) that supports various types of data formats and analysis tools. You can import your own 3D models or use the ones provided by QGIS and other sources. You can also view maps, charts, graphs, and more.
How to import and process data in a 3D modeling software?
Once you have obtained the data and software for your 3D city modeling project, you need to import and process the data in a 3D modeling software. This involves the following steps:
Import the data: Depending on the type and format of the data, you may need to convert, georeference, or project it before importing it into your 3D modeling software. For example, if you have GIS data in a shapefile format, you may need to convert it to a 3D model format, such as COLLADA or glTF. If you have raster data, such as satellite imagery or elevation, you may need to georeference it to align it with the coordinate system of your 3D model. If you have data in different coordinate systems, you may need to project them to a common one, such as WGS84.
Process the data: Depending on the quality and accuracy of the data, you may need to clean, edit, or enhance it before using it for your 3D model. For example, if you have building footprints, you may need to remove any errors or gaps, simplify or smooth the geometry, or merge or split the features. If you have elevation data, you may need to fill any holes or gaps, smooth or resample the resolution, or apply a hillshade or color ramp.
Visualize the data: Depending on the type and purpose of the data, you may need to apply different styles, colors, textures, or symbols to make it more realistic and appealing. For example, if you have building footprints, you may need to extrude them to create 3D buildings, add roofs, windows, doors, etc., and apply different materials or colors based on the building type or use. If you have roads, you may need to add lanes, sidewalks, curbs, etc., and apply different colors or patterns based on the road type or direction.
You can use various tools and functions in your 3D modeling software to perform these steps. For example, in Daz 3D, you can use the Import and Export options to import and export different types of data formats. You can also use the Scene tab to view and edit your imported data. In Blender, you can use the Add menu to import different types of data formats. You can also use the Object mode and Edit mode to view and edit your imported data. In SketchUp, you can use the File menu to import different types of data formats. You can also use the Select tool and Move tool to view and edit your imported data.
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Once you have imported and processed the data in your 3D modeling software, you can add more details, textures, and features to your 3D city model. This involves the following steps:
Add details: Depending on the level of detail and realism you want to achieve, you can add more details to your 3D city model, such as furniture, vehicles, people, animals, etc. You can either create your own details or use the ones provided by your 3D modeling software or other sources. For example, in Daz 3D, you can use the Content Library to browse and add variou