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How technology is benefitting the world of townscape, landscape and visual impact

As we continue looking back on 10 years of Heritage and Townscape at Turley, Townscape, Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Consultant, Rosa Gonzalez reflects on the digital nature of her role.

Part of my role as a Consultant is to assess how new buildings integrate with the character of their surroundings and potential visual impact, with the output informing decisions on design as well as the management of change. This process involves visiting the site, research, spatial data analysis and exchange of information with the wider team.

Working with people who are not in the same room (or the same city) has been common for many years now, and we have come a long way in making this a dynamic process. Last year shone a light on what is possible digitally, and this now involves everyone not just the tech-savvy!

There are differences between exchange of information and collaboration, both complement each other and are part of the process. Although the benefit of the practical process of walking together through a site or pointing at a physical model of a proposed building can’t be underestimated, the future of collaboration is likely to also rely on meaningful digital engagement.

One of the tools that we have at our disposal at Turley in our assessments is VU.CITY, an interactive 3D model of cities that allow us to visit a site virtually and insert a digital model at an accurate location then ‘walk’ through one or several view versions with the client, the design team and Local Authorities. This allows for ideas to be tested alongside opportunities and constraints to be identified in a digital twin. Vu.City provided a valuable resource on our work for Southwark Charities for an emerging scheme along Blackfriars Road in central London where, working with Fathom Architects, we were able to test different versions in context, have live discussions, and conclude the best approach.

For this project we provided Heritage Statement, Townscape & Visual Impact Assessment, Vu.City modelling and workshop, Design advice as well as Planning and Economics Services.

With 19 UK cities modelled and adopted by 27 of the London Local Authorities, VU.CITY allows us to convey ideas when physical engagement is not possible, assisting the decision-making process in a way in which all stakeholders can relate to the proposal and its impact in the surroundings.

For more information on the digital work of our Heritage and Townscape team, or to discuss a new or existing project, please get in touch with a member of the team.

8 February 2021