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P.J.M. van Oosterom

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Districts face dual pressures: reducing carbon emissions while managing surging electricity demand from electrification and urban growth. Traditional grid expansion cannot match the speed and complexity required for modern energy transitions. District energy transitions require connecting different scales, from individual buildings to grid networks, and different timeframes, from daily operations to long-term planning. Despite growing interest in Digital Twin (DT) for energy management, their application to integrated district-level energy transitions remains poorly understood. This review investigates how DTs can enable district energy transitions by examining their applications in built environment and energy infrastructure at district level, analyzing implementations across Positive Energy Districts (PEDs), microgrids (MGs), and related district energy paradigms. DT components (physical models, core capabilities, data infrastructure, and functional evolution) are investigated to assess their integrative potential. The analysis reveals three disconnects: building and grid systems are modeled separately despite inherent interdependencies; operational insights rarely inform infrastructure planning; and intervention strategies overlook sequential dependencies. To address these gaps, we propose an integrated framework advancing DTs toward district energy planning. The framework bridges semantic, temporal, and sequential planning through: knowledge graph architectures enabling cross-domain data integration, coupled simulation pipelines capturing building-grid interactions, and reinforcement learning optimizing intervention sequences. Unlike optimization that fixes strategies upfront, sequential planning accommodates technology emergence and regulatory shifts inherent to multi-decade transitions. This integrated approach transforms DTs from domain-specific monitoring tools into strategic planning platforms where coordinated building improvements and distributed energy resources defer costly grid expansions while accelerating district decarbonization. ...
Incremental urban and community expansion in rural heritage landscapes often produces cumulative visual impacts, yet planning rarely specifies a clear endpoint for acceptable change. This paper proposes an integrated Visual Impact Assessment (VIA) framework, aligned with SDG 11, to determine “when to stop” using stage-comparable evidence across past, present, and future conditions. The framework is organized in three modules. First, a point cloud-enhanced GIS module quantifies visibility and spatial change across development stages. Second, an enhanced Key Observation Point (KOP) module derives matched eye-level evidence from multi-temporal street-level panoramas and scenario visualizations, for example using Street View Imagery (SVI) time series and 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) rendering. Third, a decision layer integrates structured public acceptability from a questionnaire covering different respondent groups with in-depth expert interviews and synthesis, with virtual reality (VR) eye- and head-tracking used as supportive behavioral evidence. Applied to the Middenbeemster expansion in the Beemster Polder, the Netherlands, the framework yields a case-calibrated reference package for decision support: KOP-based construction intensity serves as the primary reference line for review, perception indicators serve as supporting guardrails, spatial character metrics act as case-specific reference checks to protect the polder framework, and visibility diagnostics remain a necessary screening layer. More broadly, the framework provides a transparent and replicable procedure that can be transferred and locally recalibrated for heritage-sensitive rural-urban fringes where change is incremental and cumulative, supporting a stage-comparable VIA approach. ...

A UML-based information model linking HBIM, smart point clouds, and 3D Gaussian splatting

Journal article (2026) - Yingwen Yu, P.J.M. van Oosterom, E. Verbree, Zhuoyue Wang, U. Pottgiesser, Abeer Abu Raed, Y. Peng
This paper presents the Architectural Heritage Information Infrastructure (AHII), a standards-operational framework for maintaining identity, semantics, and traceability across three complementary representations used in heritage workflows: Smart Point Clouds (SPC), HBIM/IFC, and Smart 3D Gaussian Splatting (S3DGS). AHII is centered on a compact UML information model and governed code lists, and it operationalizes cross-representation continuity through a shared alignment transform and an explicit identifier crosswalk. This design supports task-driven switching between evidence-grade inspection (SPC), standards-based querying and exchange (IFC), and lightweight photorealistic dissemination (S3DGS), while maintaining auditable correspondence across iterative updates. We validate AHII on two Dutch case studies using a reproducible protocol with fixed evaluation splits and independent checkpoints, complemented by an online, task-anchored user study (N = 200). Results provide evidence of cross-representation interoperability, together with task-appropriate technical performance: intrinsic SPC segmentation reaches macro-mIoU ≈ 0.88, cross-representation co-location achieves 3D RMSE on the order of 1–3 cm, and IFC4 round-trip checks preserve GUIDs with near-lossless property-set retention. Together, these findings show that AHII can be implemented in practice as a traceable information infrastructure linking documentation, modeling, standards-based data and semantic exchange, and dissemination across heterogeneous representations. ...
This special issue on the Land Administration Domain Model (LADM) and 3D Land Administration (3D LA) containsthe eight best, updated papers from the FIG’s (International Federation of Surveyors) 12th International Workshop onLADM & 3D LA. The 3DLA2024 Workshop is one of the activities of the LADM & 3D LA Working Group (WG), a joint initiat-ive of FIG Commission 3 (Spatial Information Management) and Commission 7 (Cadastre and Land Management). [...] ...
The need for 3D Land Administration Systems (LAS) is growing. In this respect, research is carried out in the field of 3D LAS with respect to data sources, registration of 3D Rights, Restrictions and Responsibilities and dissemination services. Within this context, BIM/IFC models are considered promising sources for 3D LAS, even though the reuse of such models from practice has not yet been examined adequately. Evaluating BIM/IFC-models from practice is crucial, since they are created for different purposes, fulfilling various design criteria. This paper investigates the technical challenges encountered when using real-world BIM/IFC-models for apartment rights’ registration in a 3D LAS. It addresses the validation of five Dutch real-world BIM/IFC-models against four technical criteria, namely: existence of IfcSpace; geometric validity; no overlap and georeferencing. The results of the validation show that the collected BIM/IFC-models lack georeference, IfcSpace and a reference to attributes related to the respective legal units in the Dutch 3D LAS. After validation the models are stored in a 3D LAS Database management system (DBMS), in which the legal spaces are enriched with information of the Rights, Restrictions and Responsibilities (RRR’s) in line with the Land Administration Domain Model (LADM - ISO 19152:2012). The contents of the 3D LAS DBMS are visualised in a web viewer. Additionally, the design for a webservice is introduced, aiming to automate the process of validation, conversion and visualisation. The paper concludes with recommendations and guidelines for creators of BIM/IFC-models based on the outcome of the validation, as well as challenges and recommendations for implementing a validation webservice. ...

A workflow evaluation of 3D Gaussian splatting and LiDAR point cloud for modern architectural heritage

Journal article (2025) - Yingwen Yu, Edward Verbree, Peter van Oosterom, Uta Pottgiesser, Yuyang Peng, Florent Poux
This paper investigates the role of 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) within point cloud–dominated workflows for modern architectural heritage digitization. While 3DGS enables real-time, photorealistic visualization, its integration into LiDAR-based documentation pipelines remains underexplored. Using Bouwpub, a modern heritage building in the Netherlands, as a case study, the paper compares 3DGS and LiDAR across data acquisition and preservation, visualization, semantic segmentation, and dissemination. Results show that 3DGS offers superior visual expressiveness and user responsiveness, whereas LiDAR provides greater structural accuracy and segmentation reliability. Based on these findings, two integration strategies are proposed: a Blender-based multi-angle rendering workflow and a Level of Detail 3DGS (LOD3DGS) pipeline. Moving from isolated assessment to applied integration, the study positions 3DGS as a complementary visualization and dissemination module rather than a replacement. This hybrid approach supports immersive, scalable, and semantically enriched digital heritage systems, offering new directions for enhancing both expert documentation and public engagement. ...
Journal article (2025) - J. Schembri, A. Rafiee, P.J.M. van Oosterom
Estimating the losses in the immediate aftermath of an earthquake is a key component of seismic response. Seismic rapid-loss estimates provide first responders with a prediction of where and what to prepare for. Improving the precision of quick loss estimates requires an estimate of how a buildings in the affected zone may have reacted to an event. Structural response prediction models are a novel approach to estimating building response from the observed displacement of instrumented buildings. Current SRPMs are built on relatively small databases but offer potential for expansion. There exists no robust building-specific database which could facilitate the construction of these models. As a reaction to this gap, this study applies, abstractly and concretely, the OGC SensorThings data model to building seismograph records. The harmonized records form part of a proposed abstract and concrete Structural Response Prediction Model to make estimates of building-response on other un-instrumented buildings. The utility of a abstracted observation data-model and pipeline is shown, with the potential for unifying existing data-sources. The work shall show that the OGC SensorThings integrates generally well, with some limitations, with the requirements of seismic observation record keeping. ...
Journal article (2025) - A. Gholami, Pawel Boguslawski, M. Meijers, P. van Oosterom
Efficient vario-scale representation is important in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and cartographic generalization, particularly when transitioning 2D features into 1D or 0D representations. Traditional approaches often introduce topological inconsistencies and abrupt transitions between scales. This paper presents a novel method for vario-scale representation by integrating the Straight Skeleton Network (SSN), Dual Half-Edge (DHE) structure, and Space-Scale Cube (SSC). The straight skeleton enables hierarchical polygon decomposition, ensuring smooth feature transitions across scales. The DHE structure maintains topological consistency, supports dynamic updates, and allows structured connectivity between spatial features. The SSC framework organizes these transformations within a volumetric model, ensuring seamless scale transitions. The proposed approach is tested on various polygonal configurations, demonstrating its effectiveness in preserving spatial coherence, feature continuity, and structural integrity. This research contributes to multi-scale GIS modeling, automated map generalization, and spatial data structuring. ...
Journal article (2025) - Haicheng Liu, Zhiwei Li, Peter van Oosterom, Martijn Meijers, Chuqi Zhang
Point cloud data contains abundant information besides XYZ, such as Level of Importance (LoI) and intensity. These non-spatial dimensions are also frequently used and queried. Therefore, developing an efficient nD solution for managing and querying point clouds is imperative. Previous researchers have developed PlainSFC that maps both nD points and queries into a one-dimensional Space Filling Curve (SFC) space and uses B+-tree for indexing. However, when computing SFC ranges for selection, PlainSFC subdivides the nD space mechanically to approach the query window without considering the point distribution. Then, excessive ranges are generated in vacant areas, and ranges generated in dense point areas are coarse. Consequently, a large number of false positives are selected, slowing down the whole querying process. This paper develops a new solution called HistSFC to resolve the issue. HistSFC builds an nD-histogram which records point data distribution, and uses it to compute ranges for selecting data. Also, this paper discovers a novel statistical metric, Cumulative Hypercubic Coverage (CHC), to measure the uniformity of the point cloud data. Theory is established and it indicates that the nD-histogram is more beneficial when CHC is smaller. Thus, CHC can be used to guide the building of HistSFC. In addition, the paper conducts simulations and benchmark tests to examine the improvement on PlainSFC. It turns out that using the nD-histogram can decrease the false positive rate by orders of magnitude. HistSFC is also evaluated against state-of-the-art solutions. The result shows that HistSFC leads the performance in nearly all the tests. ...
Journal article (2025) - Mengying Chen, Abdullah Kara, Peter van Oosterom, Regina Orvañanos Murguía, John Gitau, Christiaan Lemmen
Over the past fifteen years, LGAF, GLII, and SDGs frameworks have jointly shaped a complementary global land governance monitoring system. However, challenges remain in data fragmentation and standardised indicator computation. This study explores how ISO 19152 LADM provides a unified technical foundation to model and monitor global land indicators. It develops a standardised conceptual model with UML-based implementation and proposes a modular indicator computation architecture based on interface classes and reusable logic components. The proposed approach supports scalable reporting, enhances indicator operationalisation, and bridges the gap between global policy frameworks and practical land administration systems at the national level. ...
This systematic literature review critically examines the application of digital technologies in architectural heritage risk management from 2014 to 2024, focusing exclusively on English-language publications. As the significance of architectural heritage continues to be recognized globally, there is an increasing shift towards integrating digital solutions to ensure its preservation and management. This paper explores the evolution and application of digital technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and advanced imaging techniques within the field. It highlights how these technologies have facilitated the non-destructive evaluation of heritage sites and enhanced accessibility and interaction through virtual and augmented reality applications. By synthesizing data from various case studies and scholarly articles, the review identifies current trends and the expanding scope of digital interventions in heritage conservation. It discusses the interplay between traditional conservation approaches and modern technological solutions, providing insights into their complementary roles. The analysis also addresses the challenges and limitations encountered in the digital preservation of architectural heritage, such as data integration, the compatibility of different technologies, and the need for more comprehensive frameworks to guide the implementation of digital tools in heritage conservation practices. Ultimately, this review underscores the transformative impact of digital technology in managing architectural heritage risks, suggesting directions for future research and the potential for innovative applications in the field. ...
Journal article (2025) - Maria Luisa Tarozzo Kawasaki, Laura Thomas, Ulf Hackauf, Rob van der Krogt, Wilfred Visser, Peter van Oosterom
In 2022, the Netherlands introduced ‘water and soil’ as a guiding principle for spatial planning, aiding the country's goal for climate resilience by 2050. Applying it requires integrating subsurface data, spatial planning, and climate adaptation. Despite existing subsurface models, no cohesive approach links them to spatial planning. This paper assesses current models and identifies data requirements. Key barriers include data accessibility and standardization. To address this, plan information was standardized using a proposed Land Administration Domain Model (LADM) Part 5 climate adaptation profile. Additionally, a digital tool, CLIMACAT, was developed to make relevant subsurface data accessible for climate adaptation design. ...
Conference paper (2025) - Y. Yu, E. Verbree, P.J.M. van Oosterom, U. Pottgiesser
3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) is an advanced 3D representation method that enhances point clouds by incorporating spectral image content, enabling high-fidelity heritage documentation. A 3DGS visualization presents these enriched Gaussians, ensuring high geometric accuracy, detailed texture representation, and efficient spatial reconstruction, thereby enhancing both precision and efficiency in digital heritage preservation. This paper applies 3DGS to modern architectural heritage, combining UAV-based data acquisition with advanced rendering techniques. Using the Delft University of Technology Aula and Library buildings as case study, the research establishes a workflow for efficient heritage documentation and visualization. ...
Journal article (2025) - Ainn Zamzuri, Alias Abdul Rahman, Muhammad Imzan Hassan, Peter van Oosterom
This paper enhances the Sarawak LADM Country Profile by proposing a structured workflow for mapping IFC elements (e.g. IfcSpace, IfcWall, IfcSlab) to LADM classes to improve the representation of legal space boundaries. The methodology focuses on extracting legal space information from IFC models, mapping it to LADM using Enterprise Architect, and structuring the data for future integration with PostgreSQL. The mapping framework supports strata title management and 3D cadastral in Sarawak. Additionally, this study outlines a conceptual workflow for visualising legal space boundaries using CesiumJS. The proposed approach enhances data interoperability between BIM and land administration, advancing BIM-driven cadastral systems. ...

Integrating Floor Plans and Nationwide Airborne LiDAR (AHN)

As urban environments become increasingly vertical, Land Administration Systems (LAS) must support complex 3D spatial representations. While Building Information Models (BIM) offer such capabilities, they are not always available. This paper investigates an alternative approach using point clouds for 3D LAS, focusing on the integration of scanned cadastral floor plans and airborne LiDAR from the Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (AHN). We present a semi-automated pipeline that extracts floorplan geometries, segments and enhances AHN data, and synthesizes room-level point clouds. Results from a case study in Rotterdam demonstrate the potential of this approach in the absence of BIM, supporting legal space definition and public visualization. However, challenges such as misalignment due to occlusion in AHN data and inconsistent quality in older floor plan drawings affect the accuracy and automation of the process. The synthetic point clouds include room-level attributes, enabling a seamless integration with AHN, offering a representation of real-world features such as building facades, walls, and fences, which often delineate cadastral boundaries. ...
Journal article (2025) - Simay Batum, Eftychia Kalogianni, Marjan Broekhuizen, Christopher Raitviir, Kermo Mägi, Peter Van Oosterom
This research explores the automation of compliance checks in the early stages ofspatial planning by integrating Industry Foundation Classes (ISO 16739) withthe Land Administration Domain Model (LADM) Part 5: Spatial Plan Information (ISO 19152-5). Traditional planning processes rely on manual assessments,making them time-consuming, prone to errors, and inefficient. While recentresearch has focused primarily on automating the permitting phase, this studyaddresses an earlier step: verifying spatial plans against regulatoryframeworks. By introducing a standardized approach, the research aims toenhance data management, improve interoperability, and ensure adherence tointernational standards. Automating early compliance checks – such as verifyingbuilding height restrictions or required distances between structures – helpsstreamline the planning process, ensuring that only plans meeting regulatoryrequirements advance to the design approval phase. Estonia is selected as acase study due to its highly developed digital infrastructure and commitment toimproving e-government services. ...

Unveiling insights for sustainable development through change detection in the built environment

Conference paper (2024) - V. Diaz Mercado, P.J.M. van Oosterom, B.M. Meijers, E. Verbree, Nauman Ahmed, Thijs van Lankveld
Change detection in the built environment is essential for sustainable development practices including Urban Planning and Development, Environmental Monitoring, and Conservation. Change detection provides valuable insights into dynamic processes, facilitates informed decision making, and supports sustainable development initiatives. Point clouds serve as foundational data sources for change detection in built environments, enabling analysts to detect, quantify, and interpret spatial changes with unparalleled accuracy and granularity. By leveraging the inherent characteristics of point clouds, researchers and practitioners can gain valuable insights into dynamic processes, inform decision making, and foster sustainable development in an ever-evolving built environment. We present the preliminary results of cloud-to-cloud (c2c) distance calculations for further change detection analysis of the entire Netherlands. This study utilises point cloud data from AHN2, 3, and 4 (Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland1, The Netherlands). A method based on a 3D space-filling curve (SFC) was developed to calculate the c2c distances between AHN2, 3, and 4. This SFC method will allow change detection analysis to be carried out for the entire Netherlands. The change detection analysis outcomes can be accessed for future analysis in Potree2, a web-based point cloud rendered for large point clouds. The final implementation will allow the visualisation of AHN point clouds and their attributes, among which is the change in detection-related information. This research contributes to sustainable development practices by offering enhanced spatial insights and informed decision-making tools for further analysis and monitoring of the (built) environment in the Netherlands. [...] ...
Conference paper (2024) - Ainn Zamzuri, Alias Abdul Rahman, Muhammad Imzan Hassan, Peter van Oosterom
This paper expands the Land Administration Domain Model (LADM) Sarawak Country Profile by incorporating legal space details from Building Information Modelling (BIM). Sarawak, located on Borneo Island, practices a distinct land administration system compared to Peninsular Malaysia. While Peninsular Malaysia follows the National Land Code of 1965, Sarawak adheres to the Sarawak Land Code 1958, which includes provisions for indigenous customary land rights. The Malaysia country profile has been developed based on the LADM standard, considering the 3D situation. Since both regions (Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak) are under different legal frameworks, this study attempts to further develop the Sarawak country profile based on its current land administration system, including adopting some classes and attributes from the existing Malaysia country profile. The study investigates the potential of incorporating legal space details from the BIM/Industry Foundation Class (IFC) model into the Sarawak country profile. The conceptual model details the fundamental LADM components (Party, Administrative, and Spatial Unit), along with details on the legal space sourced from BIM/IFC. This mapping process requires BIM/IFC data to contain sufficient information for distinguishing property spaces and their boundaries. ...
Journal article (2024) - Abdullah Kara, Christiaan Lemmen, Peter van Oosterom, Eftychia Kalogianni, Abdullah Alattas, Agung Indrajit
The decision to refine the existing content and to extend the scope of Edition I of the ISO 19152:2012 Land Administration Domain Model (LADM) is a response to requests from the international Land Administration (LA) community. This response has to be formally organised in accordance with ISO guidelines. This begins with gathering feedback from ISO/TC 211 Member States on the need for updated and enhanced capabilities of the LADM. In addition, several proposals have been made to extend the scope of the LADM Edition I. After analysing the feedback received, it was proposed to develop the LADM Edition II as a multi-part standard: Part 1 — Generic conceptual model, Part 2 — Land registration, Part 3 — Marine georegulation, Part 4 — Valuation information, Part 5 — Spatial plan information and Part 6 — Implementation aspects. In other words, Edition I focuses on land tenure, while the design and development of Edition II is based on the inclusion of rights, restrictions and responsibilities (RRRs) concerning marine georegulation, valuation information, spatial plan information as well as LADM implementation. 3D representations are relevant for all parts.This paper focuses on the design of the new structure of the second edition of the LADM and on the (operational) capabilities of this new edition in relation to the LA issues in Parts (standards addressing a specific part of the scope) and Packages (groups of conceptually close classes), with a particular attention to the requirements and design related decisions taken in the revision process. The parts 1, 2, 4 and 5 are the parts in which the authors are currently involved. Part 1 will be a high-level umbrella standard; Part 2 is largely based on LADM Edition I and focuses on land registration, with an enhanced support on the surveying functionality, including new subclasses of spatial unit, and extended 3D spatial profiles. Part 3 harmonises the description of RRRs and aligns land concepts with marine aspects from the marine domain based on the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) S121 Maritime Limits and Boundaries Product Specification. Part 4 deals with valuation information used and produced in the context of land administration, while Part 5 deals with spatial planning information and includes the planned use of the land (zoning), resulting in RRRs. Lastly, Part 6 is planned to be about implementation of the LADM and will be developed in close collaboration with the Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC). ...
Conference paper (2024) - Ping Mao, Peter van Oosterom, Azarakhsh Rafiee
As urban architectural environments become increasingly complex and densely populated, the demand for precise registration of legal statuses, encompassing both private and public interests, has become more urgent. Traditional 2D cadastral registration systems are increasingly inadequate for addressing the multifaceted and vertical nature of modern urban landscapes. These systems are limited in scope and unable to fully capture the intricacies of multi-level property rights, overlapping parcels, and underground constructions.

This study uses a BIM/IFC model for the building's physical representation. The party and Rights, Restrictions, and Responsibilities (RRRs) data are stored in a DBMS following ISO 19152-2 (Land Administration Domain Model, LADM) All data and the building location are fictitious and represent the most important categories of Land Administration cases. Visualization and interaction is achieved in 3D over the web using Cesium JS, an extensible globe viewer.
Unlike earlier 3D cadastral systems, this research has developed a new 3D Land Administration prototype based on the complete scope of LADM and not just focusing on the 3D spatial information. The objective is to explore improved methods for analyzing and visualizing RRRs in complex buildings. Novel techniques include presenting UML instance-level LADM diagrams for selected parties and/or apartments, showing RRRs and BAUnits linking them to the spatial units. The study further introduces a new method for displaying surrounding buildings at varying Level of Detail (LoD), with closer buildings rendered in higher detail and more distant buildings shown in less detail. This selective detailing enhances both performance and clarity in visualizations.

A key feature of this digital twin system is its real-time update capability. The prototype developed in this study supports the updating of party and rights information in the backend database, accurately reflecting these updates in the public front-end version. This ensures the maintenance and visualization of the most current property rights data. The system also integrates sunlight simulation, which is crucial for urban planning, architectural design, and aiding buyer decision-making. The prototype is (still) online available and via a usability study evaluated. ...