Turkish engineer creates live 3D pixel map of adopted hometown Warsaw
The map features almost 200,000 buildings, moving trams that match their real-life schedules and live weather conditions.
A Turkish software engineer named Bedirhan Yildirim has developed a detailed live 3D map of Warsaw, the city where he resides. Utilizing AI technology and extensive public data from Poland's national mapping office, OpenStreetMap, and other sources, Yildirim created a digital replica featuring approximately 200,000 buildings, moving trams with real schedules, dynamic lighting and weather conditions, and over 45,000 streetlamps that illuminate at night.
Virtual flights through the city are also possible, with users able to fly in various aircraft, including a UFO from the Copernicus Science Centre to the National Stadium.
Yildirim was inspired by similar projects in New York and London but chose Warsaw due to its compact size, flat terrain, and the familiarity of its streets. The project, initially launched on October 22, 2024, has since been enhanced based on user feedback. Poland's open data, including 3D building models and terrain scans, greatly facilitated the creation of the map. Users can adjust the time of day or year, and the map automatically reflects current weather conditions from Open-Meteo.
The map showcases iconic landmarks such as the Palace of Culture and Science and Varso Tower, the EU's tallest building, as well as various neighborhoods, parks, and cemeteries. By utilizing AI, Yildirim was able to accomplish what would have taken an entire team months to complete, transforming Warsaw into an interactive and immersive virtual experience.
Written by urgent.news from Notes from Poland's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
