1. What does it take to develop an accurate and defensible
photo simulation of a project?
FEBRUARY, 2014
Seattle, WA

2. Edward Twiss, Operations Manager North America, TRUESCAPE
Introduction
Edward Twiss, Operations Manager
North America, TRUESCAPE
TRUESCAPE background
I been with Truescape for six years.
Truescape has been around for 16 years and our business is Stakeholder Engagement for Energy Infrastructure projects.

3. Why create accurate and defensible photo simulations?
Initial design and mitigation identification
Stakeholder engagement (internal/external)
Transparency
As a reply to the following scenario…
From the very beginning of a project any photo simulations need to be prepared with permitting in mind even if they are not intended to be used this way.
If not those simulations may be unusable as a project progresses and parameters change. Often when a client sees an accurate simulation in the early stages and during engineering they will make changes to the design as well as considering mitigation measures based on what they see.
When engaging stakeholders you also need to be prepared to be transparent about the data used an decisions made.

4. This is an example of a scenario that can happen to a developer and it is becoming increasingly common as opposition groups become more sophisticated.
The image on the left is clearly incorrect and is intended to be inflammatory as well as stir emotion.
Part of the defensibility of the simulation on the right is to remove the emotion from the situation and explain in a concise way what the project really looks like.
I will step through the RETA PDF and give some background and relate experience from the hearing if we have time.

5. Briefly step through the creation process itself.

6. Creation process continued.

7. What does an accurate photo simulation of a proposed hydro project look like?
It is hard to visualize the extent of the reservoir or shoreline without an accurate photo simulation.
This example is survey controlled and is designed to be defensible. The primary human field of view is used to show what a viewer would actually see instead of just what is seen through a camera.
The shading and reflection on the water need to be accurate to neither overstate nor understate visibility.

8. When talking about hydro and renewables in general we can’t forget about ancillaries either. Transmission and/or substations can also be of major visual concern.
This example demonstrates that it can sometimes be good show views where the impacts can be less major than an example such as the previous. This is still the access road to the site but it alleviates some of the concerns of local stakeholders over visual intrusion.

9. A statement of methodology is produced with a defensible simulation to explain the technology and standard used when producing accurate photo simulations.
This methodology has been through the permitting and hearing process in four different countries.

10. Part of the statement of methodology is to document the photo point locations so there is no confusion over which point is which.
This information can also be used by those interested to go to those locations and asses the view themselves.

11. Georgia Transmission video.
This is an example of integrating accurate photo simulations with video to show the view of a recreational user on a body of water.

12. Show Nortern Pass video.
Accurate photo and video simulations can be integrated into videos for wider public communication.
The photo simulations or animations used need to be as accurate as the metrics used in the message being presented.

13. NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS MANAGER edward.twiss@truescape.com
Questions?
Edward Twiss
NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS MANAGER
TRUESCAPE CONSULTING AND VISUAL FACILITATION
575 Lexington Ave, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10022
Cell: