3D for the Public Good
XR’s Untapped Role in Local Services
We often hear about 3D imaging and XR (extended reality) in the context of entertainment, retail, or tech-heavy R&D. But what if their greatest potential lies elsewhere, in the everyday operations of local government, emergency services, and public infrastructure?
As we continue to develop Elata, our AI-powered 3D imaging platform, we’re seeing more opportunities for practical, accessible 3D tools to make a meaningful difference in public service delivery. From planning and preservation to safety and response, 3D has a role to play, and it’s one that’s largely untapped.
This isn’t about future vision. It’s about tools we can use now, in real-world settings, to improve how we design, manage, and support the places we live.
Why Democratising 3D Matters
Traditionally, 3D scanning has been expensive, fragile, and locked behind expert knowledge. That’s changing.
Lightweight, AI-powered systems like Elata can now offer:
Portable, photorealistic scanning with a smartphone
Fast, reliable reconstruction using server-based AI
Outputs that plug into familiar tools like GIS, CAD, or XR viewers
This shift opens the door for local authorities, planners, and community organisations to adopt 3D without high costs, specialised equipment, or steep training curves.
In short, it makes 3D usable for the people who need it most, not just those with research budgets or tech departments.
Disaster Response: Faster Decisions, Safer Outcomes
Imagine a rescue team arriving at a collapsed building with a 3D model of the interior captured just weeks earlier. Or an earthquake response unit using XR tools to visualise damage zones, blocked access points, and structural instability, before setting foot on site.
These aren’t distant possibilities. They’re real, solvable needs in disaster relief scenarios:
Rapid 3D assessment of damaged areas for triage and resource allocation
Overlaying pre- and post-event scans to identify critical structural shifts
Training simulations that mirror actual site conditions for safer planning and deployment
With the right tools, emergency services can make faster, more informed decisions, minimising risk for responders and improving outcomes for affected communities.
Planning and Urban Development: Seeing the Whole Picture
In local planning, 3D imaging can help stakeholders see proposals in spatial context, not just on paper. AI-enhanced 3D scans of buildings, sites, or town centres can support:
Public consultations using XR walkthroughs
Retrofit assessments and conservation mapping
Accessibility and compliance evaluations
Faster approvals and better community buy-in
Crucially, these tools are no longer only available to large cities or engineering firms. With systems like Elata, small councils and local partnerships can scan and share in hours, not weeks.
Heritage and Civic Engagement
3D also plays a powerful role in preserving community memory, especially in towns and cities with limited funding for digital archives.
Local museums, historic buildings, or architectural features can be scanned in detail and used for:
Community education
Virtual heritage trails
Digital restoration planning
Grant applications and funding bids
The same photometric techniques we use for surface detail in commercial projects can be used to protect and share local stories, making the technology part of cultural preservation, not just technical progress.
Final Thoughts: Time to Widen the Frame
There’s a growing call to move digital innovation out of the lab and into the hands of those delivering frontline services. XR and 3D imaging are not just about novelty, they’re about clarity, preparedness, and public value.
If we’re serious about democratising 3D, we need to bring these tools into local hands: into planning meetings, into community centres, into high-vis fieldwork and blue-light vehicles.
Because the future of smart cities and responsive services isn’t just high-tech, it’s accessible tech that works for everyone.
