Paper sketches and architectural renderings may soon be rubbed out when it comes to urban planning in Logan City.
Council is investigating opportunities for Sensory planning technologies to be trialled and ultimately developed into an integrated system that would provide major benefits across the organisation.
Planning and Development Committee Chairperson, Councillor Cherie Dalley (Division 8), said Sensory Planning was a relatively new tool that involved the creation of an accurate, computerised 'virtual world'.
"This virtual world is similar to a computer game in that a user is able to move through and experience a simulated 3D model of the built environment," she said.
"By examining and manipulating this world, decision makers and planning professionals are assisted in analysing the city's complex systems and spatial structures such as water, sewer and transport infrastructure; housing stock; key demographics; terrain and planning policies.
"As Council's strategic planning activities commonly involve 20 year horizons, it would be short sighted to rely on traditional means to communicate a 2030 vision of the city's future."
The long term vision of Sensory Planning would involve the entire city being modelled accurately in 3D. The potential future form of the city would also be shown, based on planning policies.
Logan City Council is set to trial Sensory Planning on its Logan Central and Beenleigh Local Area Plans.