One of the many reasons I love the internet, more specifically Reddit, is because it allows random citizens to share awesome projects they are working on. I was scrolling through my feed one day, and I saw a scaled-down 3D-printed map of Chicago. The post included very detailed instructions, and I thought perhaps the same thing could be done in Montreal.
Fundamentally, this project aimed to convert LiDAR point cloud data into an elevation map, and subsequently into a 3D model that could be printed. The first step was to collect the data, and luckily enough, it was easily accessible and free, provided by the government of Montreal. The data was organized into neat squared-off tiles, which made it easy to selectively download them. I picked the tiles that showed the area I most frequent and made sure to include places of importance to me. The second step converted the cloud of points into an elevation map. For this, I used the 21-day free trial of ArcGIS which has that specific functionality. I then transformed the elevation map (a black and white image showing the height of each point) into a 3D model using a plugin for QGIS. From there, I used Cura to slice and print the tiles at a .2mm layer height. For more detailed instructions I encourage you to visit the Reddit thread link.
I had two goals in mind for this project. The first was to create a cool-looking map. This meant working with the data and playing with the settings to come up with a map that was worth printing. I had to eliminate the noise from trees using window sampling and find a good balance between noise reduction and still being able to show key details like streets, lakes, and buildings. My second goal was to create a video to better communicate and showcase the printing process. This involved planning the orientation of the print and checking out which angles worked best for the time lapses. There were definitely a couple of hiccups along the way, like dead batteries and missed camera clicks, but this project did help me improve both my printing and video skills and served as a lesson moving forward.
Overall, it was an amazing project and now I have a fun interactive map of the place where I lived. Here are some of my favorite little details that I took pictures of:
Stadium
La Fontaine
Mountain lookout
St Louis park with the gazebo
