Based in Israel, GeoSim Systems began in 1999. GeoSim utilizes modern technology to build 3-D models of actual places for its clients. Thus far, 3-D models of Center City Philadelphia and Milan, Italy have been created.
The technology which is used to build digital 3-D objects has become widespread in the mass market in the form of video games, on TV, and in movies. GeoSim’s environments suggest new uses in the marketplace with possibilities for developers, city planners, tourism, real estate, etc.
The building of a digitally modeled 3-D space begins with data collection, done through the combined use of aerial and ground photography. The data is processed first as geometric shapes organized in space using computer software. Finally, photographic texture is applied to the geometry to make buildings, roads, terrain and other urban landscape elements.

To learn more about GeoSim go to www.geosimcities.com

The model of the Virtual University City Project is completed!
See screenshots of the model in our "model area" section.

Last winter, University City has became the focus of a new project that aims to create a realistic-looking but completely virtual world in an interactive 3-D model. This model will digitally reconstruct University City’s college campuses and the areas connecting them.
The Virtual University City project is being led by the Cartographic Modeling Lab at the University of Pennsylvania, and is jointly supported by Drexel University and the University of the Sciences.
The first phase of the project, data collection, consisted of filming and photographing all the areas to be modeled, by air, a foot crew, and a van with a camera-mechanism. The filming phase took place from November of 2004 through the spring of 2005..
GeoSim, the group applying the technology for the creation of the project, has already completed a similar 3-D modeling project in Center City with the help of the Center City District. The finished Center City model provides a realistic glimpse into the design, architecture, and available resources in Center City. Examples from that model are available on the GeoSim Systems website at www.geosimcities.com.
The virtual model can be used to give applicants, potential residents, employees or alumni an up-to-date image of the eastern area of University City. Universities, businesses, non-profits, developers and others will be able to send out a CD-ROM that, when combined with the Internet application, provides a virtual 3-D tour of the area with live, updated web content.
Like a hi-tech video game, the final 3-D product will provide numerous ways to see the area, including walking, driving, and flying. In addition, you can choose to see the area from a “bird’s eye” view, and select from different options for various speeds and distances above the ground.

week 5/30/05

The filming is complete! The van and camera-trailer team has finished filming ahead of schedule, and GeoSim's 3D modelers are working in the lab to complete construction of the test model area. (36th St.- 34th St., Walnut St.- Locust St.)

Stay tuned!

week 5/23/05

As of the end of last week, the filming which was originally scheduled to be completed by May 31st was finished ahead of schedule, and the van had begun to shoot the area stretching from Spruce St. to Chestnut St. (north to south), and 44th St. to 37th St. (west to east). This area had been filmed previously but needed to be re-filmed due to equipment malfunctions during the first filming. The filming of the remaining area is expected to take only 3-5 days, and will begin with the start of favorable weather.

Visit the map section of our website for an updated map of the completed areas and areas yet to be filmed.

week 5/16/05

Visit the map section of our website for an updated map of the van's progress and filming agenda by area.

For the next two weeks filming will occur from west to east between 45th St.-33rd St. and from Spruce St. in the north to Woodland Ave. and Civic CenterBlvd. in the south and southwest. The filming will begin on the western edge of this area.

week 5/2/05

This week, filiming will take place in the region bordered by Powelton and Chestnut Streets (North-South) and 32nd and 40th Streets (East-West).

The filming will begin on Drexel's campus between 36th Street and 32nd Street, and will progress westward. With the cooperation of the weather, the filming of this section will be completed in 1-2 weeks.

week 4/18/05

After a long hiatus, data collection is scheduled to resume Monday April 25th. Data collection will begin on 45^th & Baltimore and extend south along 45^th Street to the USP campus.

week 1/5

GeoSim is the focus of a feature on Isreal21c.org !
see the article

week 1/5

Due to the weather and other unforseen delays, data collection will be on hold until some time in February. Meanwhile, GeoSim will be digitally constructing a sample of final Virtual University City 3D model with a small area at the center of Penn's campus, using the data that has been collected thus far. (For the specific area that will be modeled see "model area" on the map).

weeks 12/20 - 12/27

In the coming weeks, while the Cartographic Modeling Lab goes on holiday, the data collection will continue. Progress of data collection will be dictated in large part to the weather, hopefully good weather is in the forecast. So, watch for the Virtual University City van/trailer as the data collection continues around Drexel University.

week 12/13

After several rainy days last week brought the data collection to a standstill, over the weekend Locust Walk was completed from 37th to 40th Streets. In addition, Sansom and Chestnut Streets were done, from 37th to 40th. Unfortunately, due to an equipment problem, data collection will be delayed for three days this week. After the necessary adjustments are made, the data collection should resume this weekend with the remainder of Penn’s campus. Then early next week, data collection is slated to begin near Drexel’s campus

weeks 11/29 - 12/6

After getting all the data collection equipment to Philadelphia from Isreal and then through customs, the equipment took an additional day to assemble. Data collection for the virtual University City model began on Friday December 3, 2004 with Sansom Street between 34th and 37th.

Over the weekend data collection moved onto Locust Walk and the Penn Campus with the addition of Spruce Street. Unfortunately, Monday's data collection was halted due to rain. On Wednesday 12/8, the first section of data collection will be completed and the van will move west for the second section, which includes 37th - 42nd Streets between Chestnut and Spruce Streets.

John Williams, driver and film recording equipment operator, assembles the camera-trailer.

The Virtual University City van and trailer, with police escort.

 

Questions regarding the Virtual University City Model should be directed to:

Marlen Kokaz
GIS Direction
{email}mkokaz@sp2.upenn.edu
{phone}215-746-3240

On any particular day, on the second floor of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Work, the staff of The Cartographic Modeling Lab, or CML for short, can be found working away on dozens of different projects at a time, all of which, in one way or another, relate to maps. On this particular Tuesday, Emily is preparing for today’s “GIS day” activities, for which twenty middle school kids will be visiting the lab to learn about getting the most out of information by thinking in terms of space. Sara is working on redesigning one of the CML’s data websites, Neighborhood Information Systems, to be more accessible to the community, and Ping is compiling data collected from local organizations and government agencies, which form the substance the CML’s online applications.
The CML is a Penn-based research center that utilizes a method of research called Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The GIS method looks at information in terms of location, in order to reveal important details, and more recently has also come to define computer software that does this type of analysis. The CML uses research and GIS to support urban and social policy analysis in Philadelphia.
The CML is a joint effort of the School of Social Work and the School of Design, and is partners with the Graduate School of Education and the School of Medicine at Penn. The Lab engages in teaching, training, and outreach in Geographic Information Systems software, as well as assisting academic research and conducting research of its own. Research projects focus on children, housing, community development and planning, and public health.
The CML also uses its collected data to build comprehensive online databases of Philadelphia that function as useful tools for basic research, and are available to anyone with internet access. The CML’s forefront application is the Neighborhood Information System, accessible at www.cml.upenn.edu/nis.

You can find more information on the Cartographic Modeling Lab at www.cml.upenn.edu