Monday, September 15
3D Berlin: A special aircraft is laser scanning the city this week
Throughout this week, a survey plane will be flying at low altitudes over Berlin to scan the city with lasers and collect high-resolution geodata. The flights may cause some disturbance, as the small Cessna aircraft will pass overhead at between 800 and 1,500 metres.
The project is being carried out by the Federal Agency for Cartography and Geodesy, which is creating a “digital twin” of the entire country. Berlin is the latest city to be mapped.
During each flight, the aircraft systematically circles the city while the onboard scanner emits pulses of light. These are reflected by buildings, streets, woodland and waterways, producing a detailed three-dimensional model. Clear skies are essential for accurate results.
And what will the data be used for? Researchers say it will help predict how Berlin might respond to the effects of climate change, with further flights planned to monitor changes over time. Once this week’s scans are complete, the city is due to be surveyed again in 2027.
