Wiesbaden Launches Aerial LiDAR Survey for Digital Twin City Project

Wiesbaden is set to undergo a detailed aerial survey of its entire urban area. The project, led by the city's Civil Engineering and Surveying Office, will use advanced aircraft and LiDAR technology to collect precise data. The initiative aims to improve planning, environmental management, and public access to information through a digital twin of the city.

The survey will involve high-resolution aerial photography from both vertical and angled perspectives. Flights for these images will take place during the day at an altitude of roughly 1,600 metres. Meanwhile, LiDAR scanning will occur at night between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. to gather millions of data points for three-dimensional models.

Residents may notice some aircraft noise during the process. However, the effort will produce accurate elevation and surface models, supporting urban development, land registry updates, and environmental decisions. The collected data will eventually feed into Wiesbaden's digital twin, which remains in its early stages as of January 2026.

The surveys are scheduled to continue until April 2026, depending on weather and ground conditions. Snow- and ice-free periods will determine when flights can proceed. Once complete, the results will be available to the public in an interactive format, making city data more accessible.

The project will enhance Wiesbaden's ability to plan infrastructure and manage resources. The digital twin, still under development, will incorporate new datasets over time. Residents and officials alike will benefit from clearer, more detailed information about the city's landscape.