Nearmap 3D & DSM content offers wide-scale, photo-realistic 3D models and elevation datasets for infrastructure projects across Australia and North America.
This page provides accuracy specifications and more for each 3D content type. The following information is covered here:
- Textured Mesh
- DSM (Digital Surface Model)
- Point Cloud
- True Ortho
- DEM/DTM (Digital Elevation Model/Digital Terrain Model)
- File Formats and Delivery Methods
- Horizontal Accuracy
- Vertical Accuracy
Coverage
Use our interactive coverage map to see if we currently cover your locations of interest.
https://www.nearmap.com/au/en/current-aerial-maps-coverage (this URL will resolve to your region's content).
Using 3D in MapBrowser
Textured Mesh
Resolution
| Textured Mesh | Notes |
|---|
3D Mesh Geometric | 6" or 15 cm
| Approximate distance between mesh vertices in high detail areas. |
| 3D Mesh Texture/Imagery Resolution | 2.2-3" or 5.6-7.6 cm | Range given since some parts are textured with oblique imagery. |
You can view textured mesh in Cesium 3D Tiles format in MapBrowser.
Export file contents
- SLPK
- Cesium 3D Tiles
- OSGB
- OBJ
- FBX
For more information, see Textured Mesh File Contents.
Viewing 3D Textured Mesh in Third-Party Applications
You can view Nearmap 3D Textured Mesh content in several third-party applications.
Product constraints
3D reconstruction is determined by the ability to reliably resolve objects from at least two different viewing angles. Objects hidden or occluded would not be reconstructed reliably, as well as:
- Ambiguous features, such as reflective surfaces, featureless surfaces, thin features, and complex features such as trees
- Objects that are less than 40cm in size
- Objects that are beneath another object, or semi-obstructed
DSM (Digital Surface Model)
GSD
6" or 15 cm
Export file contents
For more information, see DSM File Contents
Viewing DSM in Third-Party Applications
You can view Nearmap 3D DSM content in several third-party applications. For more information, see DSM in third-party applications
Product Constraints
3D reconstruction is determined by the ability to reliably resolve objects from at least two different viewing angles. Objects hidden or occluded would not be reconstructed reliably, as well as:
- Ambiguous features, such as reflective surfaces, featureless surfaces, thin features, and complex features such as trees
- Objects that are less than 40cm in size
- Objects that are beneath another object, or semi-obtruded
Point Cloud
GSD
6" or 15 cm
Export file contents
For more information, see Point Cloud File Contents.
Viewing 3D Point Cloud in Third-Party Applications
You can view Nearmap 3D Point Cloud content in several third-party applications. For more information, see Point Cloud in third-party applications
Product Constraints
3D reconstruction is determined by the ability to reliably resolve objects from at least two different viewing angles. Objects hidden or occluded would not be reconstructed reliably.
- Typical sensible point spacing would be around 15 cm (i.e. consistent with our 3D resolution), however larger or smaller spacing can be supported.
- The point cloud will not contain any extra information than the textured mesh; if we cannot resolve in the mesh, the point cloud will also be the same.
- Point cloud will likely be significantly larger in file size than the 3D mesh. Specialized software can optimize the storage of point cloud to make it perform better
- The point cloud is unclassified in the sense that points are not labelled as ground, tree, building, etc. as is often done for Lidar point clouds.
True Ortho
Export file contents
Viewing True Ortho in Third-Party Applications
You can view Nearmap 3D DSM content in several third-party applications.
Product Constraints
The Nearmap True Ortho product is derived from the Nearmap 3D reconstruction and could be considered a flattened textured mesh. Objects poorly reconstructed in 3D will also lack high resolution in the True Ortho product.
Although Nearmap's True Ortho is an image similar in appearance to the regular vertical (ortho) product, it has a 5cm pixel size and is lower in resolution than the standard product.
DEM/DTM (Digital Elevation Model/Digital Terrain Model)
Resolution
MapBrowser export options include 30 cm (1 ft) / 60 cm (2 ft)/ 90 cm (3 ft) based on a source 15cm GSD. Offline exports can be based on these resolutions or user-defined.
Export file contents
For more information, see DTM File Contents
Viewing DTM in third-party applications
This is a new content offering. Watch this space for guidance on consuming this content type in third-party applications.
File formats and delivery methods
| 3D Product | File Formats | Delivery Methods |
|---|
Textured Mesh | OBJ SLPK 3MX Cesium FBX | - Export from MapBrowser (if under 50 square kilometres)
- Secure Cloud transfer
|
| Point Cloud | LAS |
| DSM | GeoTIFF |
| True Ortho |
| DEM/DTM |
Horizontal Accuracy
| 3D Product | Absolute Horizontal Accuracy | Horizontal Datum/Projection |
|---|
Textured Mesh | 11" or 28 cm RMSEr | SLPK exports: WGS84/UTM
Cesium exports: ECEF in addition to the datum listed below |
| DSM | - WGS84/UTM
- GDA94/MGA - AU
- GDA2020/MGA- AU
- NAD83/UTM - US/CA
- NAD83/SPCS- US/CA
|
| Point Cloud |
| True Ortho |
| DEM/DTM |
Vertical Accuracy
3D Product | Absolute Vertical Accuracy | Vertical Datum/Projection |
|---|
Textured Mesh | 14.9" or 37.8 cm RMSEz | SLPK exports: WGS84/UTM Cesium exports: ECEF in addition to the ones listed below |
DSM | - AHD (AusGeoid09) - AU
- NAVD88 - US/CA
- EGM2008 - US/CA
- CGVD2013 - US/CA
|
Point Cloud |
True Ortho | N/A |
DEM/DTM | 14.9" or 37.8 cm RMSEz (Valid for bare Earth areas) | As listed above |
