Due to the ever increasing demand of 3D data, their manifold applications and demands on quality, considerations are being made as to how the third dimension can be integrated in cadastral surveying. The primary 3D objects to be considered would be buildings and cultural structures.
The third dimension is a well-known issue in surveying, especially relevant to all kinds of project planning, as well as in topographic maps and cadastral surveying plans in the form of contour lines. The classical forms of representation were contour lines and profiles. With the advance of computer-assisted design (CAD), the third dimension became more apparent in engineering and architecture. The development of more powerful computers made the interactive handling and realistic representations of digital 3D models possible.