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A 3d City Model of Kuwait: Data Processing and Possible Applications Dirk Hermsmeyer and Markus H. Guretzki Phoenics GmbH, Grosse Duwelstrasse 28, 30171 Hannover, Germany dhermsmeyer@phoenics.de, mguretzki@phoenics.de Hesham N. Al-Telaihi, Fuad S. Al-Aqeel and Waleed K. Al-Jassim Kuwait Municipality Survey Department, P.O. Box 10 Safat, 13001 Kuwait hishamt@kmun.gov.kw, faqeel@kmun.gov.kw and waleedj@kmun.gov.kw Gottfried Konecny Inst. of Photogrammetry and Geo-Information, Univ. of Hannover, Nienburger Str. 1, 30167 Hannover, Germany konecny@ipi.uni-hannover.de Abstract Topographical line mapping organised by Kuwait Municipality Survey Department (KMSD) is based on air photos and a standardised list of 70 features. A wealth of topographic base map data is available at KMSD, predominantely stored in a CAD data model. PHOENICS GmbH has converted CAD data of a test area in Kuwait into a GIS environment, and has generated a set of advanced vector-based and raster-based geo-data products, including a Digital Terrain Model (DTM), a Digital Terrain and Building Model (DTBM), Digital Orthophotos (DOPs), an orthophotomap, and a landuse map. The DTBM in particular is a useful database in planning telecommunication antenna networks for highly developed inner-city areas. In the telecomm industry DTBMs are used in analyses of line-of-sight and visibility, radio signal propagation studies, and antenna network optimisation projects. In combination with other data layers, such as a digital orthophoto mosaic or a landuse map, DTBMs are used in visualisation studies and 3D-flythroughs. Such animations are frequently designed in architectural planning. Examples of possible applications of geo-data products are shown. Advanced geo-data products generated from KMSD air photos and line mapping data shall help to expand the range of geo-data applications and users in Kuwait. Introduction In the evolution of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) a tendency arose that a base map is the backbone of a GIS, and should be established first. The base map frequently is a topographic map, which shows the visible features of the Earth's surface, often including a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) to describe the distribution of its elevation (Konecny, 1997). Photogrammetric line mapping is the classical way to obtain the topographic base map. Additional official thematic maps often include a cadastral map and a map of utilities. Kuwait Municipality Survey Department (KMSD) is the organization in charge of official mapping for civilian purposes in Kuwait. KMSD and its photogrammetric contractors have compiled line maps by stereo compilation from aerial photos since the 1970s. Early line maps were geometrically inaccurate as a result of discrepancies in the geodetic network they were based upon. In 1980, the setup of the New Geodetic Network of Kuwait (N.G.N.) and the so-called Kuwait Utilities and Data Management System (KUDAMS) project were started. KUDAMS was a large-scale utility management project derived from field survey and aerial photography, implemented on Intergraph equipment basically as a Computer Aided Design (CAD) system for access to public utility data (Al-Jassim, 1996 and 1997). The KUDAMS project was near completion when it was brought to a complete halt by the Iraqui occupation of Kuwait on 1 August 1990, but KUDAMS topography and utility data were stored in duplicate at the Japanese premises of a contractor involved in the project. After the liberation of Kuwait (21 to 25 February 1991) the system was recovered and re-installed in 1991 / 1992 by a Municipal Committee under the Director of Surveys (Konecny, 2005). Decisions of the committee included separation of efforts between the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and Kuwait Municipality. KMSD was assigned the task to maintain the records of topography and the cadastral map. Within KMSD, the Survey Data Section is responsible for photogrammetric work, cadastral mapping, and continuation of any KUDAMS activities. Map information is stored in Microstation J software (by Bentley). As was introduced during the KUDAMS project, the Survey Data Section generates and updates three basic maps, closely following general GIS data and mapping concepts for setting up a National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI):
 Fig.1: Subset of a KMSD topographic base map. While the cadastral map is confidential, the KMSD topographic base map (Fig. 1) is open to the private sector. The base map is generated from air photos following a catalogue of 70 different features (Hermsmeyer et al., 2005). It is stored in 3D dgn files at 1: 500 map scale and includes terrain and building elevation, as well as connective street centre lines, separated by nodes at street intersections. Topographic map information is disseminated to third parties in AutoCAD or Microstation file formats. The topographic base map represents features with points, lines, polygons and text of different colour, size and style. The map of utilities contains information on fresh and brackish water pipes, sewer and storm water systems, high and low tension electricity cables, telephone cables, and street lights. Information for the utilities map is not collected by KMSD, but is provided by other organisations, including the Ministry of Power (MOP, formerly the Ministry of Electricity and Water). As KMSD has little influence on data deliveries from other organisations the map is presently incomplete. Overall, a wealth of standardised, recent and geometrically accurate topographic data exists in Kuwait as a result of the KUDAMS project and regular succeeding updates of maps at KMSD. Today the data is used in organising the Kuwait cadastre efficiently, but the country also has a long history of planning based on geo-data. The First Kuwait Master Plan of 1952 laid down essential principles that have been followed since. The second version of the Kuwait Master Plan was stopped by the Iraqui occupation (as was the KUDAMS project), but in 1992 a wholly new Third Kuwait Master Plan (3KMP) was prepared. This plan was completed around 1997, and GIS technology (based on Arc/Info and ArcView by ESRI) was embodied as an integral part. In planning it is critical to ensure that day-to-day decisions, made as part of the on-going land development process, are consistent with interrelated issues and actions as addressed by the overriding Master Plan, such as infrastructure capacity, adequate provision of public facilities and services, transportation, socio-economic development, etc. In implementing 3KMP, the GIS installation was seen as a pilot project for a Kuwait national GIS, designed for flexible operation and incremental expansion as needed. It was recognised that GIS data provide a most useful means to interrelate the two levels of planning (day-to-day decisions and the Master Plan), as well as the co-operation between different Ministries and organisations involved in land development and management (Al-Jassim, 1996 and 1997). The KMSD topographic base map also provides a sound foundation for implementing private industry applications fast. For example, connectivity of street centre lines allows for implementing traffic and routing applications, such as used in car navigation. In a previous paper (Hermsmeyer et al., 2005) we have shown how PHOENICS GmbH has derived advanced geo-data products, including a Digital Terrain Model (DTM), a Digital Terrain and Building Model (DTBM), Digital Orthophotos (DOPs), an orthophotomap, and a landuse map, from KMSD air photos and and topographic base map data. In this presentation we will show how KMSD topographic base map data can be processed to derive DTBMs (or 3D city models), and how DTBMs are used in telecommunication applications, environmental studies, and Computer Aided Architectural Designs (CAAD) to the benefit of highly developed inner city areas.
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