12/08/2025
🌍 *Educational Tuesday | Young Surveyors Network FCT – Education Committee*
*August Focus: Digital Twinning & Land Surveying*
Today, we will be looking at ArcGIS Urban, a GIS tool for visualizing and managing digital twins
*ArcGIS Urban – Bringing Digital Twins to Life*
ArcGIS Urban is Esri’s 3D web-based application designed for urban planning and development. It empowers Surveyors, Planners, and Stakeholders to create, visualize, and manage digital twins of cities—transforming survey data into interactive, scenario-based models for informed decision-making.
Unlike static maps, ArcGIS Urban is a platform that integrates zoning rules, building footprints, and infrastructure data into a living model that updates as new survey or sensor data becomes available. For Surveyors, this means going beyond data capture to providing actionable, city-scale intelligence.
*Why ArcGIS Urban is a Game-Changer for Surveyors*
1. *From Field to 3D City Models*
Surveyors can import LiDAR point clouds, drone imagery, GNSS RTK coordinates, and survey data directly into ArcGIS workflows. Once processed in ArcGIS Pro or CityEngine, these datasets become true-to-scale 3D models ready for ArcGIS Urban.
2. *Scenario-Driven Urban Planning*
ArcGIS Urban allows multiple “what-if” scenarios—such as testing zoning code changes, modeling population growth impacts, or visualizing new transport corridors—directly on top of survey-accurate base maps.
3. *Collaboration Without Borders*
Due to the fact that ArcGIS Urban is cloud-based, Planners, Architects, Engineers, and Land Surveyors can work together in real time, reviewing the same digital twin from anywhere in the world.
4. *Integrated Policy & Planning Data*
ArcGIS Urban connects survey-grade base maps with municipal zoning codes, land use policies, and development plans—ensuring planning decisions are backed by accurate geospatial intelligence.
*ArcGIS Urban Digital Twin Workflow in Land Surveying*
1. *Survey-Grade Data Collection*
Capture aerial imagery, LiDAR scans, and GNSS measurements to record terrain, utilities, and building footprints.
2. *Model Creation*
Convert survey data into GIS-ready 3D models in ArcGIS Pro or CityEngine.
3. *Urban Model Setup*
Import 3D models into ArcGIS Urban and configure zoning, land use, and building rules.
4. *Scenario Simulation*
Run simulations for development proposals, sunlight exposure, shadow impacts, or infrastructure placement.
5. *Continuous Updates*
Integrate IoT sensors or periodic surveys to keep the urban twin up-to-date.
*Best Practices for Surveyor-Led ArcGIS Urban Projects*
1. Accuracy First: Start with rigorously controlled and calibrated survey datasets.
2. Data Integration: Merge GIS, BIM, and IoT sensor feeds into one ArcGIS Urban model.
3. Stakeholder Access: Configure role-based permissions for city officials, Surveyors, and the public.
4. Regular Updates: Schedule re-surveys or automate data refresh through connected devices.
5. Standards Compliance: Maintain clear metadata, coordinate systems, and data governance rules.
You can follow this tutorial for more insights on the topic
https://youtu.be/foBS5UMNax0?si=5VXe0EdWNgh2qIxt
*Conclusion*
ArcGIS Urban extends the power of digital twins beyond 3D visualization—making them tools for simulation, policy testing, and collaborative planning. For Land Surveyors, it’s a chance to step into the role of urban data custodians, ensuring that every zoning decision, infrastructure plan, and land development strategy is grounded in precise, up-to-date geospatial intelligence.
By mastering ArcGIS Urban, surveyors are not only mapping the present but also shaping the cities of the future.
📩 Contact Us
For enquiries or collaboration:
✉️ Email: [email protected]
🌐 Website: www.youngsurveyorsnetworkfct.ng
✍🏾 Signed:
Surv. *Uju O. IZUEGBU* , _MNIS, MGEOSON_ –_ Chair, YSN FCT
Surv. *Moyinoluwa OLAJIDE* – Head, Education Committee
