Towards Drone-Based 3D City Information Modeling for Urban Analysis and Planning

Abstract

City Information Modeling (CIM) has emerged as a digital extension of Building Information Modeling (BIM), enabling integrated representations of urban systems through 3D spatial data, semantic modeling, and temporal dynamics. While its potential aligns with the digital transformation of cities, CIM research remains fragmented by conceptual ambiguities and limited practical implementations. This paper addresses these gaps through a dual-method approach: (1) a PRISMA-BSMS-based systematic literature review of 159 CIM-related publications indexed in Scopus, and (2) an empirical case study applying UAV-based photogrammetry to generate a neighborhood-scale 3D model for Emniyettepe, Istanbul. By integrating bibliometric analysis with a UAV-to-CIM workflow, the study aims to bridge theory and application, offering insights into scalable, cost-effective, and replicable city modeling strategies for planning and research.