Context and goals

A 3D city model is a volumic digital representation of a city or an urban fabric, using data derived from multiple sources. It encompasses a large number of spatial objects, eventually at different levels of detail, of different classes and different data models and structures. It is an important tool used in various fields such as urban planning and management, facility location, or car-navigation systems, as well as for research and 3D visual representation of the urban environment as textured images or fly-through. Because such models can be converging points and integration axis of various knowledges related to several urban or environmental issues, they are increasingly used for an intended wide range of applications.

Since its kick-off meeting in spring 2008, the European Cost action TU0801 (Semantic enrichment of 3D city models for sustainable urban development) aims to delineate and organize several issues related to this complex and composite research object. Thus, the first working group focused on some sort of state of the art, establishing a list of existing models and merging experts viewpoints on usage. The second working group identified and formalized semantic integration and interoperability key questions based on first group's outputs, whereas the third working group tried to elaborate a synthesis to aggregate and present them into decision making arena.

Nearly four years after its kick-off meeting, with more than 7 workshops dedicated to several issues related to 3D semantic cities, time has come to present some outcome. That is the reason why you are warmly invited to submit a contribution with one or more of the themes listed on the dedicated web page and then to attend the final conference of the European Cost action TU0801. This event will be held in Nantes graduate school of architecture (France) from 29th to 31st Oct. 2012.