You should check VanMap, it has building footprints, contours, sewage... etc...

http://vancouver.ca/VanMap/

you should also check out Microsoft Live Maps, they have excellent birds-eye pics of all of Vancouver. Great for approximating building heights.

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=s6ct2m4r6hck&style=b&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=29230156&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&where1=Vancouver&encType=1

Alternatively if you want a detailed 3d map of the whole downtown region, and dont mind paying a bit for it check out the link below

http://www.computamaps.com/

hope this helps

if that doesn't pan out for you check the school blog section and try getting in touch with the UBC representative

good luck

just download Google Earth 5.0 - it has the entire city of Vancouver in 3D - fully color with all facades of buildings in place. It is awsome for view analysis etc.

I think you can buy the model from the people who made this model for google. You would have to search that out. I also know that Busby did a full model with all the topography of the city back around 2000 or so. But a lot has changed since then.

with a little patience and some computer savvy, you can extract that model from google earth using OGLE OpenGL.

The directions are a little tedious if you haven't done any type of script/code writing before. If you are interested I can send you the files you need to do this yourself later... don't have it set up on the work computer. It doesn't always extract the world's cleanest geometry, however there are tools to fix that too.

Oh, and it's going to make an .OBJ file.

oooooooo very clever 'nect name...




no comment on the actual thread...