Exploring Shinjuku Station in Stunning 3D Using Public Data
Shinjuku Station in 3D
I transformed indoor map data from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism into an interactive 3D experience of Shinjuku Station. Using Three.js, I processed the raw geospatial dataset to create a navigable virtual environment. This project demonstrates how open government data can be visualized to help users understand complex urban spaces without needing to visit them physically.
"Turning raw government geospatial data into a walkable 3D world reveals the hidden complexity of the world's busiest station."
HN discussion
- Some users suggest adapting the 3D data into a first-person navigation game to help visitors train for the complex layout, while others warn that using smartphones for navigation inside the station is dangerous and distracts commuters during rush hour.
- Critics note that the visualization contains misleading geometry, such as steep angled arrows that defy physical escalator constraints and missing underground tunnels connecting to Shinjuku-3-chome station.
- The visualization's wireframe aesthetic draws comparisons to classic games like Doom, Quake, and Final Fantasy VII, though some argue the vertical spacing is exaggerated to clarify the station's topological structure rather than its true geometric scale.