When the present-day City of Toronto was consolidated from seven municipalities in 1998, a number of challenges were created, most notably rebuilding the topographic map base, which is the basis for many city services such as sewer design and construction and urban planning. The city’s Survey and Mapping Services group met the task head-on.

The group created an environment called the Enterprise Stereoscopic Model (ESM), which allowed it to rebuild the topographic mapping base, generate high-resolution orthoimagery, and develop spin-off products for other entities. Through the use of 3D modeling within the ESM, applications such as terrain modeling, watershed modeling, stormshed management, and emergency management planning are enhanced by visualization that allows users to see the physical reality of their work sites.