EuroSDR Workshop “The way forward for 3D mapping at national and regional mapping agencies”

21 - 22 January 2026 (Geovation London, Sutton Yard, at 65 Goswell Road, London, EC1V 7EN)

This workshop has taken place. 

Presentations are linked in the Agenda below. 

Background

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 2025, the EuroSDR Workshop on “the State-of-the-Art of 3D Mapping at National and Regional Mapping Agencies” brought together nearly 70 participants from NMCAs, research institutions, and industry. Presentations highlighted a variety of topics, including data acquisition techniques, processing workflows, and practical applications of 3D data. An additional dedicated session featured updates on the latest developments from industry and academic research, offering valuable insights into cutting-edge innovations in 3D mapping.

The workshop emphasised the importance of sustained collaboration and knowledge exchange among NMCAs, research institutions, and industry partners to drive advancements in 3D mapping. Participants identified the need for continued engagement and committed to following up on the workshop's outcomes. 

The workshop presentations can be found here: https://www.eurosdr.net/workshops/eurosdr-workshop-state-art-3d-mapping-national-and-regional-mapping-agencies

Aim of the 2026 workshop

While the 2025 workshop served as an arena for informing about the state of the art in respective countries, the 2026 workshop aims to take a step further and discuss the way forward:

·         What goals and user needs should NMCA 3D data meet?

·         What gaps still exist - technical or non-technical that are (partly) preventing NMCAs from meeting these goals?

·         What is required to reach these goals and overcome the missing parts, and how do we collaborate to get there?

The overarching goal of the 2026 workshop is to establish a research agenda with a set of clusters for further development of NMCAs collection, modelling, maintenance and use of 3D data.

This research agenda will serve as a foundation for future collaboration in the EuroSDR 3D Special Interest Group

 Presenting: Please contact Knut Jetlund Knut (knut.jetlund@kartverket.no) or Jantien Stoter (Jantien.stoter@kadaster.nl)  if you are interested in giving a presentation. We especially invite the presenters from the 2025 workshop to contribute with their thoughts based on their status and the challenges they are facing.

Participating: The workshop is open to everyone who is interested in learning more about the 3D mapping challenges of NMCAs and contributing to the discussion to address them.

You are warmly invited to register below, if you:

·         think 3D has reached maturity, or

·         think 3D is always going to be a niche product used by some but not with widespread uptake or

·         don’t know anything about 3D and want to learn, or

·         know about 3D but are not yet clear about its benefits.

 

Schedule for the Event

 DAY 1 – 21st January 2026

Start Time

Activity

Speaker

12:30

13:30

Lunch

 

13:30

13:45

Welcome

Introducing EuroSDR’s 3D SIG

Stefano Cavazzi  (Ordnance Survey)

Knut Jetlund (Chair, EuroSDR 3D SIG)

13:45

14:00

NMCA Presentation 1 – Norway

Knut Jetlund

14:00

14:15

NMCA Presentation 2 – Sweden

Thomas Lithen

14:15

14:30

NMCA Presentation 3 – Netherlands

Rijk Vanhaaften

14:30

14:45

NMCA Presentation 4 – Finland

Heli Laaksonen

14:45

15:00

NMCA Presentation 5 – UK

David Holland

15:00

15:15

NMCA Presentation 6 – France

Bruno Vallet

15:15

15:45

Tea/Coffee

 

15:45

16:00

NMCA Presentation 7 – Denmark

 

16:00

16:15

NMCA Presentation 8 – Switzerland

Andre Streilein

16:15

16:30

NMCA Presentation 9 – Germany

Patrick Knöfel

16:30

16:45

NMCA Presentation 10 – Estonia

Hanno Kuus

16:45

16:55

Introducing Breakout 1 - What goals and user needs should NMCA 3D data meet?

Knut Jetlund

16:55

17:40

Breakout 1

All

17:40

18:00

Day 1 wrap up

Knut Jetlund

 

Evening: Dinner, venue to be confirmed, at own cost.

 

DAY 2 – 22nd January 2026

Start Time

Activity

Speaker

09:00

09:05

Welcome – Day 2

Knut Jetlund

09:05

09:20

Feedback from Breakout 1

Jantien, Jack, Andre, Claire, Knut, Stefano

09:20

09:30

Introduction to Breakout 2 - What gaps still exist - technical or non-technical that are (partly) preventing NMCAs from meeting the goals identified in Breakout 1?

Knut Jetlund

09:30

10:15

Breakout 2

 

10:15

10:30

Feedback from Breakout 2

Jantien, Jack, Andre, Claire, Knut, Stefano

10:30

11:00

Tea/Coffee

 

11:00

11:20

Nordic + Estonia Digital Twins – role of the NMCA and existing initiatives

Nordi Group Digital Twin Report

Heli Laaksonen

11:30

11:30

Update on NMCA Digital Twins

Jack Metcalfe

11:30

11:40

Introduction to Breakout 3 - What is required to reach these goals and overcome the missing parts, and how do we collaborate to get there?

Knut Jetlund

11:40

12:20

Breakout 3

 

12:20

12:35

Feedback from Breakout 3

Jantien, Jack, Andre, Claire, Knut, Stefano

12:35

13:00

Wrap up and next steps

Knut Jetlund

13:00

14:00

Lunch

 

 

 Suggested Hotels (variable price range)

 

Organisation committee

Knut Jetlund, Kartverket, Norway

André Streilein, Swisstopo, Switzerland

Jack Metcalfe, UCL, London

Claire Ellul, UCL, London

Stefano Cavazzi, Ordnance Survey UK

Jantien Stoter, Kadaster, The Netherlands

Related research

"Special Interest Group on 3D (3D SIG)", Jantien Stoter, Marc Post, Eric Bayers, Bénédicte Bucher, Piotr Woźniak, Josef Dorsch, Gunnar Lysell, Thomas Lithen, Risto Ilves, David Capstick, Rollo Home, Paul Kane, André Streilein and Tobias Kellenberger

Registration form