A 3D Visualization of Transportation Corridor: An Effective Tool in Pre-Analysis of Engineering Project

Abstract

The development of any infrastructure must go through the design, methodology, materials acquisition and the construction. After the completion of any project, external factors always cause unanticipated future complications such as building or dam collapse. Therefore, one efficient way of overcoming these challenges is to carry out a 3D modelling of the proposed infrastructure and its environs at the design stage so as to compare it with its future state. However, no or little information is available on 3D paper modelling while 3D modelling of structures in a digital space before actual construction in Nigeria especially for transportation corridors has not been reported. This paper presents a demonstration of 3D visualization of a transportation corridor as an effective tool in pre-analysis of engineering project. In this work, an existing infrastructure, part of Ikorodu Road (from Maryland Bus stop to Fadeyi Bus stop), was empirically modelled in three dimensions (3D) to serve as a baseline for monitoring the road infrastructure and human activities along this corridor. The geometry of the road was extracted from an existing satellite image; spatial information on the corridor infrastructure was obtained from the field, while the modelling was carried out in different software environments. Results showed a realistic representation of the existing road corridor infrastructure. The transportation corridor, the infrastructure available and the adjoining land-uses were mapped in 3D (X, Y, Z coordinates).