The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) recently completed a SG$8m (AU$7.9m) government initiative to create the world’s first high-resolution 3D map of an entire country.

The project involved capturing large amounts of data, creating 2D/3D datasets in several data formats, and supporting the interoperability of the data and management of datasets in a single repository. The project incorporated oblique imagery, airborne laser scanning, mobile laser scanning, and terrestrial scanning, in a dataset consisting of over 50 terabytes of data in multiple formats.

Created using Bentley software, the 3D map will provide multi-user authoritative access to land anad building information to support activities including daily operational requirements, planning and risk management. The project encompassed all of Singapore, an area of more than 700 square kilometres.

The resulting map also meet SLA’s 2D and 3D cadastre management requirements, while simultaneously providing flexibility in terms of in-house development and a data agnostic environment. Also permitted was integration with other technologies, such as Oracle Spatial, to support wider objectives for hybrid data management and ongoing developments in both private and public initiatives taking place in Singapore.

“Bentley’s strength in 3D editing and its interoperability with the Oracle Spatial database was key in the implementation of a national 3D city model database,” said Dr. Victor Choo, deputy director of land survey division at the Singapore Land Authority.

Singapore Land Authority took out the international Be Inspired award for Innovation in Government at the The Year in Infrastructure 2015 Conference, held earlier this month in London.