Property search portal MOGUL.sg has upgraded its 2D map of Singapore where the location and relative heights of over 160,000 completed buildings are now shown in 3D.
Working with French digital mapping company F4, which developed one of the leading property portals in France, MOGUL.sg’s 3D map lets prospective home buyers view the surroundings of their intended purchase. They can see what amenities are close by, check whether the property has a clear, unblocked view of the sea and even the exact direction of the sun at various times of the day.
The F4 group was originally a video games developer who used their game engine technology to build unique 3D maps that makes use of vector graphics instead of the typical raster graphics.
Vector graphics are scalable, which means data are presented in a more granular form instead of aggregated and the file sizes are small, enabling quick loading and smooth scrolling of the 3D map for users. For reference, Maps such as Google Maps which superimposes satellite images onto a 2D map is an example of raster, non-vector map.
Using the same technology, MOGUL.sg’s 3D map of Singapore makes it the first of its kind in Singapore and in the region.
“We are quite literally putting Singapore onto the world map for developing one of the most advanced 3D maps in the world for a property portal,” said Gerald Sim, CEO and Founder, MOGUL.sg.
Making Virtual Showrooms the New Normal
MOGUL.sg is also working with real estate developers to place building models of new projects onto the 3D map, letting homebuyers view realistic models of the construction-in-progress developments and their surroundings.
During this pandemic, real estate developers must manage viewing restrictions at the show flat in accordance with safe distancing measures. If home buyers want to visit a showroom, they need to book an appointment.
With the introduction of Mogul.sg 3D map, real estate developers can continue to reach out to the target local or foreign buyers while safe distancing measures are still in place and inbound, abiding by the rule of curtailed outbound travel.
At launch, there are already several private and public under-construction developments on the map, including Meyer Mansion, Clavon and Midtown Bay. MOGUL.sg has also added four blocks of upcoming HDB flats at Tengah Gardens.
“Revenue from property listings have been affected by the pandemic. This 3D map not only offers benefits to home buyers but also a new revenue stream for our company that makes a lot of sense especially during this period where travel is restricted and showroom capacity is limited,” added Mr. Sim.
Moving into the new norm post-pandemic, real estate agents would be adopting virtual showrooms to increase productivity via multiple virtual viewings per day.
Agents will now be able to showcase multiple projects via the virtual show flat in a single seating then move towards making the final decision at the physical show flat.