Mapping 3D Settlement Development at Building Level

Kurzfassung

The research presented in this paper is based on a joint activity of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the World Bank with the objective to provide a novel 3D building dataset for the Global South. The related works started in October 2024 and are expected to be completed by mid-2025 with the release of a new open and free World Settlement Footprint 3D Next Generation (WSF3DNG) dataset. To produce the WSF3DNG, information from various state-of-the-art datasets on building footprints, building height, and spatial expansion of the built-up area are combined. The WSF3DNG will provide new and unique insights in the spatiotemporal evolution of the building stock worldwide. The WSF3DNG data and related analytics can be supposed to make an important contribution to empower informed decision-making and support an implementation of effective, evidence-based strategies towards the sustainable, resilient and inclusive development of human settlements.