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URA signs MOU with Esri to harness world’s most advanced 3D smart city technology for urban planning
Published Date: 15 Nov 2013
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and mapping technology giant Esri have signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will see Singapore bring its urban planning and design processes to new heights with the world’s most advanced 3D smart city technology.
Under the MOU, Esri technology developers in the United States will commit to investing in 3D Geographic Information System (GIS) technology development in collaboration with the URA; and Esri Singapore specialists will provide the agency with local support, advice and expertise.
Esri Founder and President Jack Dangermond, Esri Singapore Managing Director Leslie Wong and URA’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer Tan Siong Leng signed the two-year MOU at the Esri Asia Pacific User Conference in Singapore yesterday.
Managing Director of Esri Singapore, Mr Leslie Wong said: “As one of the world’s fastest growing cities, Singapore uses GIS technology to ensure its ongoing development can meet the needs of its citizens into the future. URA has been instrumental in the development path of 3D GIS technology, advising Esri on the capabilities it requires for its constantly evolving urban development initiatives. We believe through this renewed partnership, the use of 3D GIS technology for urban planning and design simulation will be taken to new heights.”
Through the use of Esri’s advanced 3D smart city technology, Singapore’s urban planners will be able to perform urban design simulations and visualise different scenarios efficiently. For instance, planners are better able to simulate how different building forms affect the surrounding environment and safeguard view corridors to lush greenery. They can also conduct shadow studies on proposed developments to see how public spaces can be shaded for better comfort.
URA’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Mr Tan Siong Leng said: “GIS technology has enabled our city planners to continue building a world-class city in a cohesive manner. Our continued collaboration with Esri and Esri Singapore will enable URA planners to design, build and develop with greater insight and take greater care of the smaller details to enhance our living environment. With Esri’s 3D GIS technology, URA can produce ‘real life’ visualisations of how our city will look before and after urban development.”
URA, Esri, and Esri Singapore have been strategic partners for more than three years, leveraging on GIS technology to deliver GIS applications such as URA maps and the Master Plan 2008. The two-year MOU will see the URA embark on several new spatial projects, and establish a ‘3D Urban Simulation Prototype Lab’ for 3D GIS testing and modelling.
About Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)
The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) is Singapore's national land use planning and conservation agency. URA's mission is "to make Singapore a great city to live, work and play". We strive to create a vibrant and sustainable city of distinction by planning and facilitating Singapore's physical development in partnership with the community. As the main land sales agent for the state, our multifaceted engagement strategy includes the sale of state land to attract and channel private capital investment to develop sites for meeting our land use needs. As the place manager for Marina Bay, we promote exciting activities within Marina Bay in collaboration with other government agencies and private stakeholders. To create an exciting cityscape, the URA also actively promotes architecture and urban design excellence. For more information, please visit us at
www.ura.gov.sg
About Esri and Esri Singapore
With more than 350,000 clients in 150 different countries, Esri is the world’s leading developer of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. GIS employs the science of geography to map and analyse information. Established in 1990, Esri Singapore provides localised GIS expertise and access to the iconic ArcGIS product to hundreds of organisations in Singapore. As market leaders, Esri Singapore use cutting-edge technology to deliver valuable location-based intelligence to its users – a process that helps them to see more and do more with their information. To find out more about Esri Singapore, please visit us at
www.esrisingapore.com.sg
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