Cities facing digital challenges
Urban planning is evolving. Cities are facing major challenges: population growth, ecological transition, densification, aging infrastructure, and citizen participation.
To meet these challenges, local authorities, urban planners, and engineers are turning to powerful, collaborative digital tools.
Among them, BIM (Building Information Modeling) and 3D models play a central role and are revolutionizing the way urban projects are designed, simulated, and managed.
What is urban BIM and why is it strategic?
Initially designed for the building sector, BIM refers to a working method based on the creation and use of an intelligent digital model of a structure. In an urban context, we also talk about CIM (City Information Modeling), which applies the principles of BIM to a neighborhood or city.
This 3D model is not just a simple graphic representation. It contains precise information about each element of the built environment: dimensions, materials, conditions, temporality, interactions with networks, etc.
Thanks to BIM, urban planning becomes smarter, more anticipatory, and more sustainable. But for it to be truly effective, a platform capable of orchestrating this complex data is needed. This is where GeoCassini comes in.
GeoCassini: a 100% web-based BIM & GIS platform
1. Convergence between geospatial data and BIM
GeoCassini is a collaborative SaaS platform, accessible via a simple web browser. It allows you to store, view, annotate, and share all data related to an urban development project.
This includes:
- 3D point clouds from LiDAR or photogrammetry,
- 2D plans,
- BIM models in IFC, OBJ, and SKP formats,
- GIS files,
- Georeferenced scans or orthophotos.
Users can cross-reference these sources in a single interface, without installing any specific software.
2. Seamless collaboration between all stakeholders
GeoCassini promotes collaborative work. Local authorities, design offices, surveyors, architects, companies, and citizens can view, enrich, or comment on project data in real time, depending on the level of access granted by the project administrator.
No more need for multiple meetings or sending large files by email: everything is centralized, versioned, and secured on a single platform.
3. Traceable and compliant history
Every action (addition, deletion, annotation) is automatically recorded and time-stamped. This ensures complete traceability, which is essential in the event of an audit, regulatory change, or technical dispute.
4. AI algorithms to go further
The GeoCassini platform also has a major advantage: an ecosystem of partners who make their solutions and AI algorithms available on the platform, allowing you to go even further in your renderings, for example:
- NORM3D solutions allow you to clean up your point cloud or check the reliability of a digital model against a point cloud.
- TCP solutions offer automated management of 3D point clouds for rail, highway, and industrial infrastructure…
The benefits of 3D models for urban planning
1. A better understanding of projects
3D models offer an immersive and realistic visualization of future developments. Gone are the days of 2D cross-sections and plans that are illegible to the uninitiated. Elected officials, citizens, and financiers can more easily visualize the project.
This facilitates political decisions and improves citizen consultation, particularly during public consultation or preliminary investigation phases.
2. Anticipating risks and impacts
Even before the first shovel hits the ground, teams can analyze:
- the visual impact of a new building on the landscape,
- the shadows cast by a building,
- rainwater management and runoff,
- coexistence with existing networks (gas, fiber, electricity, sanitation),
- traffic flows and travel safety.
This preventive approach significantly reduces costly errors and delays.
3. Optimized project management
With GeoCassini, all stakeholders have access to the same version of the project at all times. Changes are integrated into the BIM model in real time. The result: fewer conflicts between stakeholders, better task distribution, and more precise control of costs and deadlines.
Concrete use cases for 3D BIM with GeoCassini
1. Town center redevelopment
When planning the redevelopment of an old town center, the town can scan the existing buildings, roads and street furniture as a point cloud, then insert a 3D model of the redevelopment project.
Citizens can access an interactive visualization of the future town center directly on the web.
2. Creation of a business park
The municipality can integrate into GeoCassini 3D models of the buildings to be constructed, as well as road infrastructures, and dry and wet networks. This makes it possible to simulate truck traffic, plan network connections and coordinate technical work packages more efficiently.
3. Enhancing the value of a heritage site
GeoCassini can be used to create a 3D digital twin of a historic site (monument, temple, palace). This facilitates restoration planning, tourist promotion and even augmented reality applications.
A digital transition accessible to all
One of the great advantages of GeoCassini is its accessibility. There’s no need to train every user in complex software.
Thanks to an intuitive, fully online interface, anyone can:
- visualize a project,
- interact with the layers of information,
- submit comments or documents,
- follow the project’s evolution over time.
The democratization of 3D and BIM tools is essential to promote the digital inclusion of local authorities of all sizes.
A clearer, more sustainable city
Urban BIM, enhanced by realistic 3D models and a web platform like GeoCassini, is transforming the way we think about cities.
It’s no longer just a question of building, but of designing, simulating, dialoguing and anticipating.
By bringing together all stakeholders around a shared, scalable model, GeoCassini brings urban planning into the collaborative digital age.
Building the city of tomorrow means first and foremost understanding it better today.
Do you have a project in mind? Make an appointment with our Business Development Manager to discuss it!