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TUM Releases Global 3D Atlas of 2.75 Billion Buildings as Open Data

Built from 2019 satellite imagery at a non-sensitive resolution, the dataset is freely available with code for immediate use.

Overview

  • The GlobalBuildingAtlas maps 2.75 billion structures at 3×3 meter resolution, roughly 30 times finer than previous global datasets.
  • About 97% of entries are Level of Detail 1 models that capture basic building shape and height for large-scale analyses.
  • The atlas draws on 2019 imagery and complies with German satellite data security rules due to its resolution above 2.5 meters.
  • Coverage extends across underrepresented regions, enabling new measures such as building volume per capita to assess disparities.
  • All data and code are available via GitHub and TUM’s mediaTUM, with the German Aerospace Center examining use for the International Charter: Space and Major Disasters.