Environmental 3D Rendering

There are many real estate agencies, at the local or state level that are using 3D Modeling to help better understand a variety of impacts on the environment as a result of potential policy and infrastructure changes. These models help increase the level of understanding about the natural systems as they currently are and how they will react to varying conditions. These models are also used to help facilitate environmental clean-up, protection and even regulation. Below are a few examples of how 3D Environmental Modeling is used.

Land Cover Change Analysis and Prediction

Mankind’s impact on the Earth’s land surfaces is escalating at an unprecedented rate and it is affecting key processes in the earth’s natural progression. Land use and land cover changes are contributing to local, regional, and global climate changes, including global warming. Changing global biogeochemical cycles are the primary cause of soil degradation and the loss of biodiversity, which influences natural ecosystems by altering the ability of biological systems to support human consumption. An improved understanding of land use and land cover change is necessary for the study of global environmental changes and related earth sciences.

Habitat Impact

Environmental 3D rendering can be used to effectively assess and predict land cover change and determine the consequences of these changes on ecological sustainability. The software can analyze past land cover change, model the potential for land transitions, predict the future course of change, assess the implications of change for biodiversity, and evaluate planning strategies for maintaining ecological sustainability.

Land Development Planning

Environmental modeling allows users to perform a variety of change analyses using two land cover maps of different dates. An environmental 3D model can be used to view any location from any position or angle. It provides a highly realistic virtual world based on real-time data information that can be manipulated to assess different scenarios. 3D environmental modeling is as close as a person can get to truly visualizing a development proposal in a realistic landscape prior to it being built. It is incredibly specific and allows you to focus in on any location on a model within seconds. Using environmental modeling software makes it easier to understand relationships between complex GIS data in the context of landscape and has the potential to reduce costs in EIAs (environmental impact assessment) for visual assessment, since it assists with field survey planning and execution. This accurate visual representation can assist with technical design for routing, structure positioning, and topographic cross-sections. It can even be used as marketing material to promote a project before it is complete.

Assessing Pollution

Environmental modeling increases the level of understanding about natural systems and the way they react to fluctuating environmental conditions. This includes the spread of toxic substances, the short- and long-term effects of exposure to different hazardous substances, and other forms of risk assessments. These 3D models estimate the environmental outcome of pollutants, their impacts on our health and the environment, as well as the costs and benefits of alternative policies. Quite often, these models become the basis for environmental cleanup, new regulations, or protection policies. Environmental 3D modeling is the most advanced way to target environmental changes, monitor land changes, plan land use, assess the impact on specific habitats, and follow climate trends. It is an all-encompassing visual that can be altered to determine the effects of various scenarios using real-time data. More professionals are turning to this technology due to its ability to provide the most accurate information and predictions on the environment we live in.