With “Saarland 3D”, the Ministry for the Environment and the State Office for Surveying, Geoinformation and Land Development (LVGL) have unveiled the first digital twin of the Saarland. The new application provides a realistic, interactive representation of the state and opens up a wide range of potential uses for public authorities, businesses and the general public.

A federal state with a digital twin

How can planning be accelerated, complex interrelationships better visualised, and future scenarios simulated in a realistic manner? A new project from the Saarland, presented by Environment Minister Petra Berg in collaboration with the State Office for Surveying, Geoinformation and Land Development (LVGL), provides an answer to this question.

‘Saarland 3D’ is a digital twin of the Saarland – in other words, a virtual representation of the real world. The application depicts urban and rural areas of the federal state in a realistic and interactive manner and makes extensive geodata accessible to the public.

“You can think of digital twins as a kind of modular system,” explains Minister Berg. “They offer enormous potential to significantly speed up and simplify planning, simulate scenarios and visualise information in a clear and understandable way.”

The project was funded, among other sources, by the Saarland Digitalisation Fund.

Extensive geodata as a foundation

“Saarland 3D” is based on geodata from the LVGL. This includes, amongst other things, digital terrain models, aerial photographs, 3D building and structure models, and traditional maps. Particularly noteworthy is an innovation in which the Saarland is playing a pioneering role nationwide: it is the first federal state in Germany to make a classified laser scan point cloud publicly available.

For this dataset, the entire surface of the Saarland was surveyed from the air using a laser measurement system. The data obtained from this enables a particularly detailed and precise representation of the landscape and its structures.

A wide range of applications for climate action, disaster management and the energy transition

The application offers potential for numerous specialist fields. In climate action, for example, the data can assist in the planning and evaluation of measures to reduce CO₂ emissions. These include, for instance, the promotion of green spaces or the optimisation of traffic flows.

‘Saarland 3D’ also opens up new possibilities in the areas of climate adaptation and disaster management. For instance, flood scenarios can be simulated and protective measures planned in a targeted manner. Emergency services can also use the realistic models for situation assessment and operational planning.

Furthermore, members of the public also benefit from this digital service. For example, they can check whether their own building is suitable for the installation of a photovoltaic system and receives sufficient sunlight.

Looking ahead, “Saarland 3D” is set to be continuously expanded to provide additional applications for local authorities, businesses and private individuals.

Further information on “Saarland 3D” is available at: www.shop.lvgl.saarland.de.