Ordnance Survey has used extremely accurate lasers to create an incredibly detailed three-dimensional map of Bournemouth (above) that the organization says  could revolutionise personal navigation, tourism and planning.

As part of a three-year trial, Ordnance Survey shone 700 million individual laser beams from vans and aircraft onto every square metre of the town, combining the captured information with 2D maps and aerial photos to create the 3D map.

‘Three-dimensional maps in themselves aren’t new, but what we’ve achieved in Bournemouth is a level of accuracy and detail that’s never been done before,’ said Glen Hart, head of research at Ordnance Survey. ‘Given the level of detail that we’ve achieved, I think Bournemouth can confidently lay claim to being the best-mapped place on the planet.’

Hart suggests that maps such as this could be of particular use to the emergency services, allowing teams to accurately visualise the scene of a serious incident before arrival. ‘They would have foreknowledge of points of access, be able to see any obstructions and know the size and shape of any buildings involved,’ he said.

Businesses could also use them to calculate heat loss from individual floors and walls in order to improve energy efficiency and drive down carbon emissions.

Ordnance Survey says that it will be continuing with trials to help perfect the technology, but expects detailed mapping in three dimensions to be a reality within the next five years.

December 2009