CREATING SAFE URBAN ENVIRONMENTS THROUGH THREE-DIMENSIONAL DIGITAL MODELS OF CITIES: INSIGHTS FROM KAZAKHSTAN

Global urbanization and the rise in urban populations highlight the need for safe and comfortable urban environments, especially in large cities like Almaty city in Kazakhstan. These cities face challenges in urban planning due to rapid growth and complex dynamics, including issues related to the mismatch of pedestrian streets’ scale and functionality, lack of navigation aids, and inadequate organization of open spaces. Moreover, the threat of earthquakes and other disasters necessitates efficient evacuation strategies. This paper introduces a digital three-dimensional city model as an innovative solution for enhancing urban safety. The methodology employs the "protecting space", "eyes on the street", and "city for people" concepts to establish criteria for safety. Using comparative analysis, photography, and morphological mapping, it examines architectural and urban planning strategies for secure spaces at various levels, from individual buildings to districts. The proposed "smart" digital model aims to improve urban safety by facilitating identifying and resolving safety issues. This approach broadens the scope of urban planning techniques, fostering interdisciplinary research to enhance city life quality and advancing Kazakhstan's smart city initiative.