Virtual Singapore is a 3D City Model of Singapore developed based on geometric and image data collected from various public agencies. Virtual Singapore 3D City Model also includes semantic information and attributes, which comprises geometric, geospatial, topology of 3D objects, graphics content, as well as static/legacy and dynamic/real-time data, for example, environmental sensors data, etc.

3D Modelling and Visualisation
Semantic 3D modelling contains detailed information such as texture, material representation of geometrical objects; terrain attributes, for example, water bodies, vegetation, transportation infrastructure, etc. Models of buildings encode the geometry as well as the components of a facility, such as walls, floors, and ceilings, down, down to its fine details, as in the composition of granite, sand and stone in a building material.

Virtual Singapore will build on various existing efforts and integrate different data sources to describe the city with the necessary dynamic data ontology. The 2D data and information co-ordinated through existing geospatial and non-geospatial platforms such as OneMap, People Hub, Business Hub etc. will enrich the 3D Singapore City Model. Advanced information and modelling technology will allow Virtual Singapore to be infused with different sources of static, dynamic and real-time city data and information e.g. demographics, movement, climate.

Realistic representation of physical Singapore in Virtual Singapore will enable virtual experimentation, deployment of public services, advanced analytical tasks and high-fidelity modelling and simulation that current geometrical 3D models do not support. For example, sophisticated tools for multi-perspective and holistic analysis could be developed to support search queries, analytical tasks as well as advanced modelling and simulation for planning and decision-making, in areas such as urban and infrastructure planning and development, environmental and disaster management, and homeland security.

Capabilities of Virtual Singapore

Virtual Singapore offers four major capabilities, namely:

Virtual Experimentation
Virtual Singapore can be used for virtual test-bedding or experimentation. For example, Virtual Singapore can be used to examine the coverage areas of 3G/4G networks, provide realistic visualisation of poor coverage areas, and highlight areas that can be improved on in the 3D city model.

Virtual Test-Bedding
Virtual Singapore can be used as a test-bedding platform to validate the provision of services. For example, the 3D model of the new Sport hub with semantic information within the Virtual Singapore could be used to model and simulate crowd dispersion to establish evacuation procedures during an emergency.

Planning and Decision-Making
With a rich data environment, Virtual Singapore is a holistic and integrated platform to develop analytical applications (i.e. Apps). For instance, an app could be developed to analyse transport flows and pedestrian movement patterns. Such applications would be useful in non-contiguous urban networks such as our parks and park connectors in Punggol.

Research and Development
The rich data environment of Virtual Singapore, when made available to the research community with the necessary access rights, can allow researchers to innovate and develop new technologies or capabilities. The 3D city model with semantic information provides ample opportunities for researchers to develop advanced 3D tools.

Benefits to Stakeholders

With proper security and privacy safeguards, Virtual Singapore will enable public agencies, academia and the research community, the private sector, and also the community to make use of the information and system capabilities for policy and business analysis, decision making, test-bedding of ideas, community collaboration and other activities that require information:

Government
Virtual Singapore is a critical enabler that will enhance various WOG initiatives (Smart Nation, Municipal Services, Nationwide Sensor Network, GeoSpace, OneMap, etc).

Citizens and Residents of Singapore
Through Virtual Singapore, the provision of geo-visualisation, analytical tools and 3D semantics-embedded information will provide people with a virtual yet realistic platform to connect and create awareness and services that enrich their community.

Businesses
Businesses can tap on the wealth of data and information within Virtual Singapore for business analytics, resource planning and management and specialised services.

Research Community
The R&D capabilities of Virtual Singapore allow the creation of new innovations and technologies for public-private collaborations to create value for Singapore. Amongst other new research areas, semantic 3D modelling is an emerging area, where research and development is needed to develop sophisticated tools for multi-party collaboration, complex analysis, and test-bedding.

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