National Capital Model

The National Capital Model – Unreal is a project in partnership with the National Capital Commission (NCC) funded by the SSHRC internship program: New Paradigm New Tools.

The project sets out to digitally recreate Ottawa’s physical environment within Unreal Engine 5.1 through the use of point cloud data, to both generate geometry and accurately model buildings, terrain, and city furniture. In addition, the National Capital Model aims to explore and develop functionality that allows for users to interact with the environment, visualize changes in the urban fabric of Ottawa, and gather data pertaining to urban infrastructure.

The extensive use of point cloud data to model a site allows for a holistic recreation of the environment while retaining façade elements, fixtures, or city furniture that is captured through terrestrial laser scanning.