Global Building Atlas: Explore Every Structure on Earth with a Click
From the towering skyscrapers of Shanghai to the historic homes of Edinburgh, the newly launched Global Building Atlas enables users to explore any building across the globe with just a click.
This ambitious project, developed by researchers at the Technical University of Munich TUM in Germany, features over 1 billion additional buildings compared to the previous largest database, offering a three-dimensional view of each structure with precision up to thirty times greater than similar databases.
* How Was It Created?
Researchers utilized approximately 800,000 satellite images from 2019 along with artificial intelligence algorithms to estimate missing buildings based on the heights of neighboring structures.
This integration of laser data, spatial surveys, and AI has resulted in a comprehensive 3D map of the entire planet.
* Significance of the Atlas
_ This atlas provides valuable insights into urban expansion, living conditions, and poverty levels.
_ It allows users to easily locate their homes or explore any location worldwide by entering an address in the search bar.
_ It supports social and economic research by measuring building sizes per capita, offering indicators of living standards.
* Notable Statistics
• The atlas contains 2.75 billion buildings globally.
• Asia leads with 1.22 billion buildings, followed by Africa with 540 million, and Europe with 403 million.
• North America and South America have 295 million and 264 million buildings, respectively, while Oceania has just 14 million.
• Finland ranks highest in Europe for construction volume per capita, with over 3,900 cubic meters, while Greece ranks lowest due to economic recession.
* Practical and Scientific Applications:
• Facilitate studies on urban development and city planning.
• Identify areas most vulnerable to disasters to enhance relief efforts.
• Assist governments in planning housing and public infrastructure in high-need areas.
Since its launch, the site has attracted over 280 thousand visits, indicating growing global interest, although loading times may occasionally be slow due to high traffic.
With the Global Building Atlas, exploring the world transforms from a simple map into an immersive three-dimensional experience of every building on Earth.
