3D Energy City

Shiliang Zhang, University of Oslo

Below is an example of generated 3D model for the area of Rousay, Orkney Islands, Scotland (video demonstration, click to start). In the video, the white lines are roads, red lines are power grids, and light blue blocks are buildings.

Rousay-Orkney_Islands-Scotland.mov

Below is the example for Avalon, Los Angeles County, United States (click the video to start the demonstration).

Avalon, Los Angeles County, United States.mov

We have developed an API to automatically create 3D model for city and energy: Cenergy3. Our current API version includes the 3D visualisation of terrain, road network, power grid, and building topology. Our API is free. A description of our API can be found at: https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2512.06459

Cenergy3: An API for City Energy 3D ModelingThe efficient management and planning of urban energy systems require integrated three-dimensional (3D) models that accurately represent both consumption nodes and distribution networks. This paper introduces our developed geospatial Application Programming Interface (API) that automates the generation of 3D urban digital model from open data. The API synthesizes data from OpenTopography, OpenStreetMap, and Overture Maps in generating 3D models. The rendered model visualizes and contextualizes power grid infrastructure alongside the built environment and transportation networks. The API provides interactive figures for the 3D models, which are essential for analyzing infrastructure alignment and spatially linking energy demand nodes (buildings) with energy supply (utility grids). Our API leverages standard Web Mercator coordinates (EPSG:3857) and JSON serialization to ensure interoperability within smart city and energy simulation platforms.

Below is the example of using Cenergy3 via Python code, where we create the 3D model for Kurnell, Sydney, Australia .

We show the result of the 3D model below. Drag the map and zoom in/out to view details.

Below we provide how to use MATLAB to create 3D model via Cenergy3

Below we use JavaScript to create 3D model via Cenergy3, so you can get the 3D model on this webpage directly.

Enter your own OpenTopography API key (free from opentopography.org) and enter the place you want to create 3D model for, then click the request button, and wait to get the 3D model.