At the Cartographic and Geological Institute of Catalonia, we are promoting a new urban geoinformation program that integrates and updates the main data layers needed to understand and manage the urban structure of the territory. The model combines three key products: the Local Topographic Reference, the Urban Orthoimage, and the 3D Digital Twin of streets, which together provide an accurate, coherent, and up-to-date view of cities.

Example of the Local Topographic Reference of the ICGC, which integrates detailed territorial information at an urban scale, such as buildings, vegetation, roads, and singular elements. ICGC

3D visualization combining panoramic photography and lidar point cloud, showing measurements on the urban scene. ICGC

The aim of this program is to provide local and metropolitan administrations with a set of tools that help improve decision-making in areas as diverse as mobility, urban planning, public space management, housing, the environment, or risk prevention and management. The integration of these data enables more rigorous analysis of how cities function and contributes to promoting more efficient, sustainable, and citizen‑focused urban policies.

The data model includes a four‑year update cycle that guarantees the validity and reliability of the information. The program is developed in collaboration with the Barcelona Metropolitan Area, provincial councils, and several municipalities, consolidating a stable cooperation framework that fosters shared and harmonized urban geoinformation at the national scale.

Useful links

• Topographic base of the Local Topographic Reference.
• Local Orthophoto.
• Capture program Catalunya Digital. 3D Streets.
• Press release from the Department of Territory, Sustainability and Ecological Transition.