Project Goal
Houseal Lavigne worked with the St. Louis Development Corporation to bring their vision for "The Ville" neighborhood to life with a cutting-edge Digital Twin. This effort included working directly with SLDC's VP of Strategic Partnerships and GIS department to help them gain value out of their investment in GIS. ESRI also assisted with GIS data and support, which allowed for creating a vibrant digital model of the area. Our team also worked with 4theVille, a non-profit that is the neighborhood arts and cultural tourism organization. This project showcases the bold vision for The Ville, celebrating the dedicated residents who are passionately working to revitalize and transform their community. The overall goal was to showcase the vision for neighborhood revitalization through 4 strategic catalytic sites throughout the area. This vision would be represented in the immersive 3D model that the Mayor of St. Louis highlighted in her State of the City address in May of 2024.Business Problem Solved
The St. Louis Development Corporation is the independent economic development agency serving the city of St. Louis. It is an action-oriented organization that exists to empower, develop, and transform St. Louis through a vibrant, just, and growing economy where all can thrive. SLDC was the main driving force behind this project. Their team of experienced, motivated individuals provided the vision for how this project could be a win for the city. This vision was based on the Economic Justice Action Plan, a document that provides specific steps to deliver economic justice to the people, businesses, and neighborhoods of St. Louis. The Economic Justice Action Plan proposes an unprecedented investment in marginalized communities in St. Louis and comprises three strategic pillars: Economic Empowerment, Equitable & Inclusive Development, and Neighborhood Transformation. Each pillar is critical to the future of the city and region at large.
Technology Implemented
GIS data was collected for building footprints, parcels, street centerlines, sidewalks, trees, streetlights, and other points of interest. Attributes were updated to reflect land uses, building types and quality, and redevelopment areas. The attributes were created to meet the needs of rule files that would be coded in ArcGIS CityEngine. ArcGIS CityEngine is a procedural modeling tool that allows for the development of 3D models. Driven by parameters and attributes from the GIS data, CityEngine rules help create a realistic 3D model of the neighborhood. The models can easily be adjusted or randomized across the scene. Townhomes, brownstones, mixed-use development, and complete streets can all be easily modeled with this tool.
Development Team Biography
Devin Lavigne - Houseal Lavigne
Dan Meehan - Houseal Lavigne
Stephen Davis - SLDC
Simon Huang - SLDC
James Djamba - SLDC
Neal Richardson - SLDC