The map of the planet's buildings that Google has not been able to find: an atlas that reveals what we had not seen before
A new 3D map of the world's buildings, the GlobalBuildingAtlas, offers an unprecedented level of detail, surpassing the capabilities of existing mapping services. Created by researchers at the Technical University of Munich, the atlas provides a comprehensive view of global architecture, offering a significant advancement in digital mapping technology. This new mapping initiative focuses on the physical distribution of humanity on a global scale. The GlobalBuildingAtlas includes 3D models of 2.75 billion buildings, generated from satellite imagery dating back to 2019. The map boasts a resolution approximately thirty times greater than previous datasets. This allows for detailed observation of building heights, volumes, densities, and spatial relationships, offering a comprehensive three-dimensional view of global urbanization. This new atlas has implications for urban planning, environmental studies, and disaster response, providing a detailed understanding of building distribution. By integrating regions previously excluded from global mapping, the atlas promises a more complete and accurate representation of the built environment. It represents a significant step forward in our ability to analyze and understand global urbanization patterns, with potential applications in various fields.
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