The global demand for GIS is rapidly increasing across domains such as urban planning, disaster management, infrastructure monitoring, and climate adaptation. In response, many governments and cities have begun developing 3D city models as the next generation of geospatial infrastructure.

However, the global landscape of 3D urban data development is far from uniform. Some countries have already established advanced ecosystems where large-scale 3D city models are systematically developed and openly published. In contrast, many other regions are still at an earlier stage where the immediate need is simply to visualize and share geospatial data through GIS platforms. As a result, a clear gradient of adoption exists—from basic GIS visualization to sophisticated 3D urban digital infrastructure.

Japan represents one of the countries where 3D urban data initiatives have advanced significantly. Led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Project PLATEAU has developed and openly published 3D city models across numerous municipalities. After several years of rapid expansion, the project is now entering a more mature phase. This stage presents new opportunities: learning from international approaches while also sharing Japan’s experiences and lessons with the global geospatial community.

In this context, Eukarya Inc., a company involved in Project PLATEAU and developer of an open Web GIS data platform, has been working with the Japanese government and international development agencies to explore how similar initiatives can be introduced in other countries.

This talk presents how these projects are being implemented abroad through practical case studies, focusing particularly on situations where the demand for full-scale 3D city models does not yet exist. Instead of starting with complex infrastructure, these initiatives often begin with small, practical GIS visualization projects that address immediate local needs. Through iterative development and stakeholder collaboration, such projects can gradually evolve into more advanced geospatial ecosystems.

A key example discussed in this session is Peru, where GIS data platforms are being introduced to support disaster risk management and resilience planning. The case illustrates how governments, international organizations, and technology providers collaborate to establish accessible geospatial tools that can scale over time.

By sharing these experiences, this talk highlights practical strategies for initiating geospatial initiatives in emerging contexts and discusses how open standards, open data, and open-source technologies can support sustainable growth toward 3D city models.

The session is intended for a wide audience involved in the geospatial ecosystem, including government agencies, technology providers, researchers, municipalities, and community members who ultimately benefit from open geospatial data. It aims to foster discussion on how the global FOSS4G community can collaborate to make advanced geospatial technologies more accessible and impactful worldwide.