New Citywide Mapping Tool Marks a New Era for Planning in Boston

Tim Logan reports on a new digital 3D map produced by the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BDPA) that models the entire city.

The map is "the latest step in the BPDA’s push to be more transparent, and to spark conversations about planning for the city’s future," according to Logan. Previously, BDPA housed a wooden scale model on the ninth floor of City Hall. The new digital map is public, and the hope is that it will inspire the public to engage with the city's development in new ways.

The map maps 129,000 buildings from East Boston to Mottapan, explains Logan. "The map is pannable and scannable, and detailed enough to capture backyard sheds, rooftop furniture, and lots of trees. And it comes with tools that allow anyone to layer on zoning maps, schools, MBTA stops, and even flood-prone areas."