A map of Bournemouth with building models and height information captured from high accuracy lasers.

Ordnance Survey (OS) has revealed a three-dimensional (3D) “map of the future”, which they say could transform the way we think of maps forever.

The UK’s mapping agency has been trialling the use of state-of-the-art lasers to create a detailed map using 700 million individual points of light. Using a combination of land-based laser scanning and aerial laser surveying, an accurate 3D map of the UK seaside resort of Bournemouth has been produced.

Glen Hart, Head of Research at OS, said: “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. This technology could change the way we map the country, but also have a massive impact on things like personal navigation.”

Mr Hart said maps like these could be hugely beneficial to a number of sources. He said for a service such as rescue teams, the maps could provide essential information: “They would have the foreknowledge of points of access, be able to see any obstructions and know the size and shape of any buildings involved. This technology could have a genuine impact on people’s lives.”

StreetMapper 360 was one of the mobile mapping systems used in capturing the data to create the 3D image. It was developed jointly between 3D Laser Mapping – based in Nottingham, and German guidance and navigation specialist IGI for the rapid 3D mapping of highways, runways, railways, infrastructure and buildings.

Dr Graham Hunter, Managing Director of 3D Laser Mapping, commented: “The inclusion of StreetMapper data within this project is a tremendous accolade. It reinforces StreetMapper’s position at the forefront of mobile mapping and builds on the successes to date achieving sub centimetre accurate measurements in real world projects around the globe.”

Click here to see the 3D map of Bournemouth.