Modeling Buildings, Infrastructure and Geography

There's an interesting article by Neil Brooker about how different technologies including model-driven design, GIS, and 3D visualization developed in the gaming world in coalescing to create a more holistic view of the cities where more than 50% of the World's population now lives.   Neil's point is that althought the integration of building, infrastructure and geographic models won’t solve every global challenge we face today, "it could help create more appealing, practical and safer cities for the future. In short, the type of city we’d all like to live and work in rather than spend our time trying to escape from."