OpenStreetMap Now in 3D
Users and programmers can now call up three-dimensional landscape models, map data and comprehensive metadata via the OpenStreetMap (OSM) project. The first phase is constructing an open standard-based 3D Geodata Infrastructure (GDI-3D) for entire Germany.
Under the leadership of the cartography research group in the Department of Geography at the University of Bonn, Germany, OSM 3D developers have collected a mass of data from sources such as the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) of the German space agency DLR and made them available through free Geographic Information Systems (GIS) gateways such as the Web 3D Service (OGC W3DS, available as PDF). The server provides the prepared files as 3D topographic maps over the Web to clients that convert them to digital elevation models.
As Professor Alexander Zipf relates to Linux Magazine, "The visualization of the OSM data in 3D occurs in a web viewer (XNavigator) specially made to display W3DS data and was developed in Java. Unlike the server side rendered views typically seen in WebMapServices, a fully interactive and free client side navigation is possible with the streamed data. Because all data is transfered to and rendered in the client, an adequate Internet connection and a current, powerful computer with a graphics card is required."
According to Zipf, the motivation behind the project is to promote user-generated geographical data, improve 3D services and, above all, boost availability of free geodata structures. The interoperable platform should allow 3D modeling of regions as well as cities. Zipf provides an example of five-meter topographic models rendered with textured buildings imported from CityGML with over 6 million buildings in Heidelberg, making it so far the largest 3D city model.
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
AUR Repository Still Under DDoS Attack
Arch User Repository continues to be under a DDoS attack that has been going on for two weeks.
-
RingReaper Malware Poses Danger to Linux Systems
A new kind of malware exploits modern Linux kernels for I/O operations.
-
Happy Birthday, Linux
On August 25, Linux officially turns 34.
-
VirtualBox 7.2 Has Arrived
With early support for Linux kernel 6.17 and other new additions, VirtualBox 7.2 is a must-update for users.
-
Linux Mint 22.2 Beta Available for Testing
Some interesting new additions and improvements are coming to Linux Mint. Check out the Linux Mint 22.2 Beta to give it a test run.
-
Debian 13.0 Officially Released
After two years of development, the latest iteration of Debian is now available with plenty of under-the-hood improvements.
-
Upcoming Changes for MXLinux
MXLinux 25 has plenty in store to please all types of users.
-
A New Linux AI Assistant in Town
Newelle, a Linux AI assistant, works with different LLMs and includes document parsing and profiles.
-
Linux Kernel 6.16 Released with Minor Fixes
The latest Linux kernel doesn't really include any big-ticket features, just a lot of lines of code.
-
EU Sovereign Tech Fund Gains Traction
OpenForum Europe recently released a report regarding a sovereign tech fund with backing from several significant entities.