’Google Earth on steroids’ gives a boost to urban development

© 2022 EPFL Alain Herzog, Romain Kirchhoff and Théo Benazzi, Uzufly's co-founders Uzufly's technology uses aerial imaging to generate 3D models of cities and regions with advanced precision, enabling urban planners to incorporate full-scale designs of all types of architectural and urban structures. Two months ago, EPFL spin-off Uzufly moved into The Garage, a business incubator at EPFL Innovation Park where startups can grow and expand. The young firm has created virtual-reality technology that allows urban planners to map out and communicate on their development plans. Uzufly's system uses drones to take aerial photographs, producing thousands of images that are transformed into 3D models through the creation of digital twins, or digital replicas of real-world objects. These objects could be buildings, for example, which are georeferenced down to the centimeter. The company's 3D models incorporate a wide range of urban-planning data and can accommodate any type of architectural design at full scale. EPFL, Uzuverse and its many data available on the platform Théo Benazzi, Uzufly's co-founder and CTO, is heading up efforts to produce these high-precision digital twins.