Simon started out writing code to create 3D models on Unix workstations, processing perspective views and plotting these with ink pen plotters to overlay onto large photographs to show these new developments to planners.

To ensure accuracy he would commission a team to survey camera locations and features within the photographs to ensure we got it right first time – each view would take several hours to complete – plus time to get the ink pen plotters working!

This methodology is now considered to be best practice and used for all Verified Views submitted as part of the planning process eliminating guesswork and artistic interpretation.

These are photographs of Simon’s monitor before affordable colour printers existed! His job was not to create computer generated images but create a digital building model from which 2D drawings and information schedules could be extracted (furniture, areas, doors and windows etc) more efficiently than via the architectural teams.

In 1994 the Latham Report recommended that the construction industry should embrace technology to improve coordination and efficiency.

This construction sequence was created by Simon in 1996 by linking a 3D objects model with data exported from the open plan project planning software. Data were integrated using Unix scripts so that we could type in the date and see what should already be constructed, with transparent red used for components under construction. British Airport Authorities (BAA) commissioned the first large-scale project using the Latham Report recommendations around use of technology.

Working in parallel with the project team, Simon’s job was to model the design and construction information fast enough to communicate the design to the client enabling them to influence the design and then modelling all the contractors’ information in order to identify clashes with the project managers, Bovis, prior to them reaching the construction site.

The construction industry was influenced by Richard Rogers even before he wrote his fabulous 1998 book Cities for a small Planet! Rogers made a convincing case that computer modelling was our best tool for communicating the complex issue of urban planning. People were listening!

Emboldened by this, after the 1996 terrorist bomb in Manchester, Simon approached the newly established Reconstruction Task Force with a proposal and won a commission to integrate all the design information to create a single urban 3D model in order to coordinate the urban design rebuild and engage stakeholders presenting this via an interactive touchscreen installation in the tourist information visitor centre.

Northwich councillors in 2006 with their 3D laptop enabling them to walk around the virtual reality model of Northwich which was being used as part of their flood alleviation strategy and planning process.

Simon took his city modelling ideas to global engineering giant Arup in 2002 and continued his work establishing digital urban models across the UK and internationally. He developed his understanding of how the digital urban model could be integrated with technical-engineered data helping people make informed decisions on complex problems and enjoyed seeing how technology was increasingly being adopted by towns and smaller cities.

These images show councillors in Northwich using their laptop to walk around a digital model of their city as they explored their flood defences and planning processes.

Simon created Digital Urban in order to explore new ideas around engagement and of open ownership of digital urban models.

Our new scalable software platform provides the foundations for this work to evolve, working with Local Authorities on their journey to create a digital twin and then use it to shatter the norms in the planning industry using computer game technologies including virtual reality – and more recently harnessing AI!