Planning and visualising 3D routes for indoor and outdoor spaces using CityEngine

Abstract

With the increasing size and complexity of modern buildings, 3D indoor routing is receiving more attention nowadays. Different elements such as route finding, indoor modelling, and route visualisation need to work together to achieve this goal. For this purpose, we propose a framework that makes use of existing data sources and tools that can minimise the time and effort needed for potential 3D indoor routing applications. Our 3D indoor and building models are generated from CAD files and building footprints using CityEngine and its built-in procedural modelling approach. An Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compatible 3D network is created by combining 3D floor lines and transitions such as staircases and elevators. The resulting routes as well as the indoor and façade models are then visualised through a 3D WebScene generated by CityEngine. Our study demonstrates the usefulness of CityEngine for 3D indoor model generation as well as 3D routing visualisation.