PEOPLE will be able to go on "virtual tours" of buildings before they have even been built thanks to a world first, high tech project by the University of Bradford.

A research team at the University have created a virtual Bradford, almost identical to the real thing, that could soon be used for heritage tours, planning meetings and to plan out cycling and walking routes.

The 3D digital replica of the city is expected to be completed by the Summer, and work is underway to produce a similar virtual Saltaire.

The project is a collaboration between the University of Bradford and the Bradford Council, and part-funded by the European Union SCORE project.

It is hoped the project will help cut pollution, improve people's health, lead to the creation of more green spaces and help with air quality.

It will also help city planners make decisions on future building projects and roads, as well allowing people to take tours around historic parts of the city without leaving their home.

Researchers from Visualising Heritage a research team from the School of Archaeological and Forensic Sciences at the University have spent months collecting laser scan data, digital imagery and drone data in order to develop the digital twin.

Virtual reality imagery of Bradford's history to come to life

Professor Chris Gaffney, Chair in Archaeological Sciences, says: “Virtual Bradford represents a revolution in terms of city planning. It will enable people to look at the built environment in a virtual 3D world, and then see what impact new developments have on things like surface water drainage, noise pollution, clean air and visual impact.”

It is thought to be the first open-source 3D replica of a city in the UK to offer this level of detail - organisers hope it will also act as a platform for new cultural developments, such as Bradford's City of Culture 2025 bid.

The project is already being expanded with funding from the Arts & Humanities Research Council to include the UNESCO world heritage site of Saltaire, using the Canal Road Greenway cycle route as a link.

Prof Andrew Wilson, Chair in Forensic and Archaeological Sciences, says Virtual Bradford will hopefully be used to create more green spaces in the city.

He said: “One of the biggest issues Virtual Bradford will contribute to is clean air, and it will help to support the creation of ‘active travel neighbourhoods’, the whole premise of which is to limit through-traffic on local roads to make them safer, and thereby promote cycling and walking as part of everyday leisure activities.

"Saltaire is one of three trial locations and we are in the process of linking that to the existing Virtual Bradford model via the Canal Road Greenway.”

Virtual Bradford could lead to other applications, such as providing a canvass for future art installations, allowing online retail outlets to open 3D shops, and by acting as a setting for online games.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Transport and Planning, said: “A lot of Virtual Bradford’s initial uses might be things like planning, air pollution and traffic modelling but we think it will grow organically, as people start to realise its potential.

“We’d love to see developers submit 3D planning applications. It will also allow people to see how proposed developments affect skylines and what buildings look like from different angles.

“Another potential use is to invite artists to submit projects, and we are already working on virtual historical tours that show what the city looked like in the past. There’s also potential for this to be used by film production companies who want to use the city as a backdrop.

“One of the most interesting ideas at the moment is to enable residents to access live air quality readings, so they can choose their preferred routes if they are on foot or cycling.”

Virtual Bradford is one of several projects that contributed to the University of Bradford winning one of this year's Queen's Anniversary Prizes - a presentation for which will take place at Buckingham Palace on February 17.