Lumion Tutorial: How to Use OpenStreetMap

Mark PhilippAll Topics, Architectural Visualization (ArchViz), Tutorial

Lumion Tutorial: How to Use OpenStreetMap

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Lumion PRO has a relatively new feature that further enhances your ability to create photorealistic architectural visualizations. This feature is known as OpenStreetMap or OSM. In this post, we will talk about what OSM is and why it is useful. Additionally, we will provide a video that shows you how to use OSM within Lumion PRO.

What is OpenStreetMap?

OpenStreetMap LumionOpenStreetMap is an open-source, community-driven map system. Essentially, users can submit map data to the system and anybody is free to use this data once it’s been verified and submitted. It’s kind of like a Wikipedia for GPS maps. OSM keeps track of streets, bodies of water, buildings, and general geography. This means you can get information about buildings within a specific area, including the basic geometry of the building. The important thing about OSM is that it can be Working With OpenStreetMapintegrated into software platforms, which is exactly what Lumion has done.

Why is OSM Useful in Lumion?

Probably the most important feature that OSM brings to Lumion PRO is the ability to add context to your scene. By importing OSM data into Lumion PRO, you can place your design in the context of a neighborhood or a downtown financial sector. If you are working on a design that is going to be built in downtown San Francisco, then you can import the OSM data from downtown San Francisco and place your design among all the other buildings, roads, and bodies of water. This feature will help bring your design to life and allow your clients to see how the finished product will roughly look in the real world.

How to Use OpenStreetMap

First, it is important to note that OSM is only available in Lumion 7 PRO and higher. Additionally, This OSM feature is still in beta. This means that there may be bugs or issues related to the OSM feature that they are working to fix in future releases. Essentially, a beta means that the user can expect some instabilities. However, the feature still works most of the time, without issue.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this post has helped you understand what OSM is and why it is useful for your architectural visualizations. As long as you have Lumion 7 PRO or higher, you can make use of this feature. There are two versions available: Lumion and Lumion Pro. Be sure to investigate the feature differences in versions prior to purchasing to ensure you get all the tools you are looking for. Best of luck with your designs!

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