Coordinator:

Knut Jetlund, Kartverket, Norway

Core team from EuroSDR:

Claire Ellul, University College London, Chair of EuroSDR Commission 3

André Streilein, Swisstopo, President of EuroSDR

Jantien Stoter, Kadaster, Delft University of Technology, Vice-President, EuroSDR

The growing strategic importance of 3D geoinformation across domains such as planning, energy, environment, and infrastructure demands a collaborative platform for knowledge exchange and innovation for National Mapping and Cadastral Agencies (NMCAs). NMCAs are investing in 3D models, tools, and services. At the same time, the research landscape is still rapidly evolving, with advanced acquisition and modelling techniques, new standards, open tooling, and increasing cross-domain integration.

In order to allow for a long term and collaborative approach to study 3D issues, EuroSDR has established a special interest group on 3D which focusses on defining common strategies based on best practices and up-to-date technology.  The group:

• facilitates networking and knowledge exchange
• monitors state-of-the-art 3D activity
• identifies open research questions and future requirements
• provides a unique forum for collaboration between industry, NMCAs, standards organisations and academics working in this field
• explores broader issues related to 3D such as geospatial data policy development or skills gaps.

We achieve this through international workshops (online and in person), reports and the publication of academic and other papers and articles.  In addition, longer term projects are carried out to collect best practices of 3D national mapping initiatives, to gain knowledge and better understanding of relevant themes.

Examples of events, activities and outputs include:

• EuroSDR workshop “the way forward for 3D mapping at national and regional mapping agencies”, 21/22 January 2026, London https://www.eurosdr.net/workshops/eurosdr-workshop-“-way-forward-3d-mapping-national-and-regional-mapping-agencies”
• EuroSDR workshop “state-of-the-art 3D mapping at national and regional mapping agencies”, 22/23 January 2025, Paris, https://www.eurosdr.net/workshops/eurosdr-workshop-state-art-3d-mapping-national-and-regional-mapping-agencies
• Project “Assessing the Economic Value of 3D Geo-Information”, https://www.eurosdr.net/sites/default/files/images/publications/pub68_economicvalue-3d-geo-information_final_v1_1.png
• GeoBIM approaches, EuroSDR GeoBIM Project a Study in Europe on how to use the Potentials of BIM and Geo Data in Practice. Francesca Noardo, Claire Ellul, Lars Harrie, Emmanuel Devys, Ken Arroyo Ohori, Perola Olsson and Jantien Stoter. 14th 3D GeoInfo Conference 2019, ISPRS - International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences XLII-4(W15), ISPRS, 2019, pp. 53–60. https://isprs-archives.copernicus.org/articles/XLII-4-W15/53/2019/
• The value of 3D data for national digital twins: Towards national connected digital twins: a geospatial perspective. Claire Ellul, Jantien Stoter, Benedicte Bucher, Per-Ola Olsson, Roland Billen and Bart DeLathouwer. ISPRS Annals of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences 10(4/W5-2024), 2024, pp. 147–154. 19th 3D GeoInfo Conference 2024 ; Conference date: 01-07-2024 Through 03-07-2024. https://isprs-annals.copernicus.org/articles/X-4-W5-2024/147/2024/

Current active participants of the EuroSDR 3D SIG are:

IGN France

ISOK, Poland

Kadaster, The Netherlands

Lantmateriet, Sweden

National Land Survey, Finland

Ordnance Survey GB

Agency for Climate, Denmark

Swisstopo

Kartverket, Norway

Estonian Land Board

BKG, Germany

Surveying and Mapping Authority of the Republic of Slovenia (GURS - Geodetska uprava Republike Slovenije)