Overview of AW3D^TM Global 3D Map Service

—“3D Maps That You Look at” Change to “3D Map That You Can Use”—

Abstract

AW3D^TM, the world’s most precise global 3D map service, became the world’s first five-meter-resolution 3D map covering all global land spaces in April 2016 by using Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS). In addition to five-meter-resolution global map, enhanced service offers a higher-resolution 3D map at half-meter or two-meter resolution, both of which are offered on an on-demand basis using commercial high-resolution satellite imagery. This paper introduces the project history, technical characteristics, service contents, use cases and future prospects of AW3D^TM.