A Better Way to Find Your Way: UNC Debuts 3-D Interactive Maps

Posted on Sept. 28, 2016

Coming back to campus for Homecoming? Or for reunions next spring? Or anytime? Carolina has a new way to make all of your time spent in Chapel Hill easier with the introduction of a three-dimensional campus map loaded with information.

The University partnered with CampusBird — a Colorado-based company that’s worked with more than 250 colleges, universities and community colleges as well as Google and Disney — to develop a powerful mapping solution for campus. The new interactive map can be accessed at maps.unc.edu.

The map debuted in mid-September, providing students, staff and visitors with a tool to easily explore campus on mobile devices. That innovation was important to UNC’s Engineering Services staff, who implemented the new solution.

Users can access maps.unc.edu on PCs and mobile devices using a variety of web browsers. They also can use the site to navigate campus, zoom in for highly detailed 3-D renderings of campus buildings and landmarks and get detailed descriptions of locations and services.

Maps and directions also can be printed, shared and embedded in departmental websites. Points of interests include:

• ADA accessibility
• Buildings
• Parking
• Points of interest
• Services
• Sustainability
• Transit

Users can drill down within each category to find visitor parking, restrooms, Carolina Dining Services locations, Chapel Hill Transit stops and more.

Additional content is expected to be added in the coming months, including virtual campus tours, 360-degree panoramas and event-specific information.

Abbas Piran, director of engineering information services, said he and his staff chose the CampusBird platform “because it allows us to combine a beautifully rendered 3-D map with advanced software to create, manage and share interactive content and media with our visitors and campus community.”

Since the map’s launch, Piran said his department has received excellent feedback along with several suggestions for new features.

CampusBird is a division of Concept 3D.

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