3D Modelling with National Coverage: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Practice

3D technologies are becoming mature and more and more organisations are investing in 3D models for their areas. For National Mapping and Cadastral Agencies (NMCAs), that have a long history in collating and maintaining countrywide 2D-datasets, the major challenge is how to best adopt a 2D base into 3D environment with an established process of continuous incremental update, and making best use of available resources. To identify best and common practices, as well as remaining research challenges, since 2013 ten NMCAs work together in the European Spatial Data Research (EuroSDR) 3D Special Interest Group. This paper reports about an inventory that has been made on the state-of-the art of 3D products and plans that these NMCAs have as well as the challenges they face. The 3D modelling of buildings is explored in more detail, since buildings are prominent features in 3D city and landscape models. In addition, together with road objects (traffic infrastructure), building objects change often and therefore these require efficient update processes.