CASE STUDY
SECTOR
National Mapping, Governance
Source: Geoportaal
national-3d-open-data-initiative-building-estonias-digital-twin-foundation
Source: Geoportaal
The Estonian Land and Spatial Planning Board has launched a pioneering initiative to make 3D geospatial data openly available to the public, enabling the country to transition from conventional 2D mapping to intuitive 3D applications. A nationwide 3D dataset of buildings has been created using LOD2 models. The building geometries were automatically reconstructed by combining aerial LiDAR point clouds with building footprints from the national topographic database. During post-processing, the geometries were refined and enriched with key attributes such as building height, type, and links to national registries, including the address register, cadastre, and building register. This comprehensive integration allows cross-referencing of 3D models with official datasets, ensuring accuracy and administrative value. A prototype 3D application has already demonstrated the benefits of this approach, particularly in urban planning, construction, and public sector decision-making to form a solid foundation for national digital twins in future.
Estonian Land and Spatial Planning Board
Geospatial Media and Communications Pvt. Ltd.