Encinitas demonstrates new public 3D GIS viewer and spatial‑intelligence tools

City information technology and development services staff on Oct. 22 showed the Encinitas City Council a new 3‑D geographic information system (GIS) viewer and associated spatial‑intelligence tools the city will make available to the public.

The IT director said the 3‑D viewer is part of the city’s existing Esri enterprise license and can display parcel boundaries, zoning, asset and utility location, tree inventories and high‑fire zone data; staff can add layers to visualize specific planning scenarios. The viewer allows users to examine how changes in zoning or inclusionary rates would affect housing unit counts, lot coverage and height relationships; staff noted that detailed engineering calculations remain the domain of engineering software but that the 3‑D model supports planning and community visualization.

City staff explained the data source and update cadence. The 3‑D elevation and structure data previously came from a county aerial flight that used LiDAR prior to 2020; the city is moving to a subscription model to receive more frequent (annual) updates to keep the public model contemporary. Staff said the model is linked to the city’s open GIS data portal and that residents may access layers and the 3‑D viewer from the city web site.

Council reaction: Councilmembers praised the tool and asked staff to use the 3‑D viewer more frequently in planning reports and public presentations. One councilmember urged staff to include future‑condition layers that reflect pending housing‑element zoning proposals to allow council and the public to ‘‘see the same picture’’ when discussing development scenarios.

Next steps: The viewer will be available on the city’s open data hub and staff will expand use across departments and in public materials. Staff said they will provide training and include the viewer in future planning outreach.