A conceptual framework for unified 3D digital management of urban land and property information

Abstract

Over recent years, unprecedented urbanization has fostered the rapid development of multi-storey buildings and infrastructure facilities, resulting in spatial and functional complexities in cities. Land and property information plays a vital role in a wide range of applications in land administration in rapidly growing cities. However, the current fragmented practice relying on 2D representation does not provide a reliable and accurate legal description of underground and aboveground properties as a foundation for evidence-based decisions in support of economic prosperity, human activities and public safety in urban areas. We propose a conceptual framework for 3D digital management of urban land and property information. The framework provides a foundation to federate various 3D models, validate their integrity, and analyse them for land administration. Using a case study of a multi-owned building located in the state of Victoria, Australia, this paper explores the practicality of the framework to support decision-making in building subdivision.