CASE STUDY
Bringing community consultation to life in regional Australia
For CNC Project Management, a consultancy supporting Australia's renewable energy infrastructure rollout, engaging remote communities on complex transmission line projects required more than traditional 2D maps and technical reports. Through Terria's Early Adopter Program, CNC transformed their stakeholder engagement approach by creating interactive 3D digital twins that made technical project impacts visual, accessible, and understandable to communities hundreds of kilometers away from project sites.
Navigating the complexity of remote engagement
As Australia accelerates its renewable energy rollout, projects like transmission line upgrades increasingly reach into regional and remote areas. For CNC Project Management, a consultancy supporting infrastructure projects through every phase, this raised a pressing question: How do you meaningfully engage communities on highly technical issues when your project is hundreds of kilometres away?
CNC had been relying on traditional tools like 2D maps and comprehensive reports to communicate with clients and stakeholders. But these methods struggled to convey complex ideas clearly, often requiring technical interpretation and on-site explanation, hindering engagement and effectiveness.
Bridging the communication gap
CNC recognised that effective consultation depends on more than facts and figures; it depends on clarity, trust, and shared understanding. For projects with significant visual and environmental impact, especially in rural and regional areas, the ability to show what the future might look like becomes critical.
But bringing projects to life in 3D wasn't straightforward:
3D data for remote Australia was limited and fragmented
Tools were expensive or overly complex
Hosting and sharing 3D models posed significant technical barriers
Without a better approach, CNC risked losing stakeholder engagement and project momentum.
Building a digital twin with Terria
CNC joined Terria’s Spatial Digital Twin Early Adopter Program (EAP) to explore whether they could transform traditional 2D data into rich, interactive 3D visualisations.
Working closely with Terria’s technical team, CNC developed a proof of concept for a visibility study of a new transmission line project. The goal? Determine how far they could go using a mix of:
2D project files
Federated open datasets
Digital elevation models and imagery
3D infrastructure models and extruded vectors
By collaborating iteratively, CNC and Terria created a shareable 3D digital twin that conveyed project scenarios visually, even without access to full 3D terrain data. The result was intuitive, immersive, and accessible to both professionals and community members, no GIS expertise required.
A new standard for engagement
The digital twin created by CNC and Terria changed the way engagement happens.
Community impact modelling became visual and tangible
Stakeholders could explore scenarios independently
Consultation became more inclusive and efficient
More than a visual aid, the digital twin became a bridge, helping CNC bring stakeholders of all backgrounds into the conversation and fostering trust through transparency.
CNC also recognised broader benefits:
A scalable framework for future 3D project work
Technical knowledge transfer that enhanced internal capability
Reduced need for CNC staff to consult with all community members in person therefore saving significant time and resources and people power that could be deployed for higher value activities
A trusted partner in Terria for ongoing innovation
“Visually showing how a project might impact the landscape makes the conversation real. It helps us connect with the community in a way that flat maps never could.”
Jonathan Gray, Senior GIS Consultant, CNC Project Management
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