Mini London 3D

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, which is why Mini Tokyo 3D cannot stop blushing right now.

In 2019, Mini Tokyo 3D revolutionized the world of real-time transit mapping. By simulating Tokyo’s massive public transit system using stylized, 3D colored blocks, it allowed users to watch the city pulse in real-time.

It is an aesthetic which has become much admired and replicated across the world. The latest real-time transit map to borrow the Mini Tokyo 3D transit style is miniLondon3d. miniLondon3d transforms the huge, sprawling network of the London Underground into a live 3D diorama. Built on the Mapbox GL JS mapping engine, miniLondon3d shows colored train markers moving in real-time along color-coded tube lines.

The map uses London Transport's real-time arrival prediction data to simulate the real-time movement of trains on the London Underground. The app fetches a list of "arrivals" for every station. For example, it sees: "Train A will arrive at Oxford Circus in 90 seconds." It then uses this time to predict where the train is between two stations. If the API says a train is 90 seconds away from its next stop, the script calculates a straight line (or a track path) and moves the 3D train marker along that line so that it reaches the station exactly in 90 seconds.

Also taking clear inspiration from the Mini Tokyo 3D aesthetic - particularly evident in its sleek 'dark mode' - is the Rennes Transit Map. Developed by Léo Nahelou, the map provides a live visualization of the STAR public transport network, tracking the GPS positions of buses and metro trains as they navigate the streets of Rennes.

The Mini Tokyo 3D aesthetic - of using brightly colored, three-dimensional blocks moving through a cityscape of 3D buildings - can also be seen in Moving Hamburg, a real-time visualization of the German city’s transit network. Here, subways, trains, and even ferries are seen moving around the city in real-time. 

In the Rennes Transit Map, small design touches - such as the inclusion of 3D trees and subtle environmental details - help the map to feel even more like a stylized miniature world. I wonder what other touches (perhaps like real-time weather effects)  can be added to these transit simulations to make them feel even more life-like?