CityOfBoston Official An official website of the City of Boston

This is the website for the City of Boston’s new Planning Department, which launched on July 1. The staff and many responsibilities of the Boston Planning & Development Agency have moved to the Planning Department of the City of Boston including planning & zoning, urban design, development review, and real estate divisions. Please excuse any misalignment you may see on our site as we transition to the City. Learn more

About 3D

The Boston citywide 3D Smart Model helps staff address complex planning and development challenges using advanced technology. Our virtual model lets us see different ideas in 3D, allowing city planners, policymakers, and the community to explore, assess, and visualize urban planning issues and their impacts, making complex concepts more accessible.

Accessible online, it offers a city-wide view in 3D on request and immediately downloadable in various open-source data formats.

The Citywide 3D Model originated from Boston's 2011 planimetric data and receives regular updates sourced from Urban Design models, CyberCity 3D, and LiDAR data.

Managed through the citySchema model stewardship process by the GIS Lab, this open-source 3D model architecture and digital asset management system was developed by Paul Cote. Its primary aim is to foster collaboration among diverse communities interested in comprehending the evolution and potential changes within different city areas. To learn more about it, visit citySchema.org.