Since July 2023, 3D models of new buildings have been added to maps of 11 Russian cities - Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Nizhniy Novgorod, Irkutsk, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Samara and Saratov. The company said that the first 2GIS had redrawn models of these buildings to show what they would look like at an early construction stage. Now, in addition to other buildings, the main buildings of Moscow State University and the residential buildings on Kotelnicheskaya Embankament, St Basil's cathedral and the entrance groups of VDNKh in Moscow are available in new formats. Also, the Kazan and Saint Isaac's cathedrals, Lakhta center and Savior on spilled blood in Saint Petersburg are now available.New models also include the Krasnodarsky stadium in Krasnodar; the Kremlin in Kazansk; Opera and ballet theater and local lore museum in Novosibirsk; Academic theater in Saratov; Nizhni Novgorod fair in Nizhnii Novgorod; Vologda Saint Sophia cathedral in Vologd; and N.P. Okhlokov drama theater in Irkutsk
In addition to the attractions, models of about 30 parks were updated on the map: deciduous trees, coniferous trees and shrubs are better drawn. Examples include Zaryadye Park in Moscow, Gorky Park in St. Petersburg, Alexander Garden in St.Petersburg, Winter Palace Garden in Novosibirsk, Teatralniy Square in Novosibirsk and Pervomayskiy Square in Yekaterinburg, Kirov Square in Ekaterinburg and Kuibysheva Square in Samara.
2GIS is taking its 3D mapping to the next level of detail: you can now view the details of individual buildings and parks, as well as which trees are growing in each square. You can zoom in on objects and view them from different angles, The the display of realistic models will change depending on the time of day. Just like in real life, they look different in the night than they do during the day, creating an immersive experience that is called immersive mapping.
Not only sights, but other objects have also become more realistic, such as trees. Maps are also more interactive, for example, in the winter, immersive trees fall off and at night, 3D objects get darker, and you can see what animals are kept in simulated zoos. Realistic traffic junctions with updated markings have appeared on maps too.
Immersive maps are geoservices that create an effect of immersion into space through the three-dimensional display of objects and terrain.
The largest mapping services have begun to move towards immersive experiences - creating maps with more details, creating a complete picture of a location and conveying impressions. Google has announced the creation of an immersive map at the Google IO conference in 2019, but has been moving in this direction for a long time before the announcement. Apple maps have also become immersive, but are looking for their own path - trying to show new details for business areas, marina, well-modelled iconic buildings, and carefully applied road elements and signs. 2GIS is also on its own path. On the one hand we want to make maps more natural and real, but we don't want to overload them with unnecessary details. We want to make them even more useful for users to explore the area and understand it, to create a sense of space, and a feeling of being there. We follow the path of providing a new experience when interacting with a map.
We are starting to create new and beautiful 3D models using 2GIS software. There aren’t many of these models yet, but a lot of materials are being developed. Right now, we are choosing a model format which will display all details and have an acceptable file size. This is essential for the speed of loading the model when viewed, so the delivery of 3D content to the online and mobile versions is also customizable. It is necessary to set up a process for collecting data and generating models based on it - automatically, semi-automatically or manually. The objectives are ambitious, as we need to create much more complex shapes than the simple polygons currently in the product. This will involve the involvement of 3D specialists from outside, as well as enthusiasts who are already helping us. We hope that there will be more in the future.
To create a realistic and natural-looking map, you need to work with not only buildings, but with the environment as a whole - the infrastructure around homes, parks, alleyways, forests, roads and everything else related, like bus stops, traffic barriers, or fire hoses. Just a few days ago a beautiful 3D model was published online.
Now we will work on realistic highways, interchanges, road markings, and detailed vegetation. We are learning how to find urban green spaces using algorithms for automatic decoding of satellite images. The first results of this work have already been seen on the battlefield. We examine the results, test the technology, and see what can be automated next.
All this work will require changes in approaches to 3D modelling and collection of new data, development of delivery mechanisms and the capabilities of the final 2GIS product.
The results of research into immersive mapping of cartographic data are expected to gradually appear in products during 2023 - in projects, in cities, or in specific areas.
You can also experiment by showing scenes in different settings - day, night and different seasons, animations and more.
As our colleague Andrey Kochanov said, "The map should be so that you want to follow it." I think that's a good way to put it.
Thanks for watching!