Towards a national 3D spatial data infrastructure : case of the Netherlands.

This paper presents a research project in The Netherlands in which a large number of stakeholders collaborated on a 3D test bed, use cases and a test area to push ahead 3D developments and applications in The Netherlands. The pilot has realised a proof of concept for a 3D Spatial Data Infrastructure that addresses issues ranging from 3D data acquisition, definition of a 3D standard, maintenance of 3D data and use of the 3D data in specific applications. An important result is the 3D standard NL, compatible with international (i.e. CityGML) and national standards on 2D and 3D geo-information. The major contribution of this research is that the main building blocks of a 3D SDI (needs, data, test bed and standards) are studied in coherence to ultimately realise a shared approach to 3D for a whole country.