An Interactive 3D Physical Model for Real-Time Management of the Built Environment

Abstract This paper presents “City-Pixel”, an innovative interactive 3D physical model designed for intelligent and real-time management of the built environment. The system combines modular 3D-printed pixels with a digital platform to enable dynamic assessments of urban indicators such as land use intensity, building density, and mobility patterns. By integrating physical modeling with GIS databases and Urbano software, City-Pixel facilitates collaboration among diverse stakeholders, including urban planners, policymakers, and developers. The system’s architecture emphasizes user interaction, scalability, and real-time feedback, enhancing decision-making processes in urban planning. The Heliopolis case study demonstrated the system’s efficacy in improving spatial awareness and adaptability across various urban scales while visualizing alternative scenarios for sustainable development. Although hardware limitations related to the ESP32 microcontroller and I2C protocol pose scalability challenges, future research will focus on optimizing components, refining user interfaces, and conducting extensive validation testing. City-Pixel represents a novel approach to urban planning by connecting tangible user interfaces with real-time digital analytics, promoting inclusive, data-driven decision-making for sustainable urban development.