Dr. Gunnar Graefe
3D Mapping Solutions GmbH
Owner and Managing Director

Digital road data is the basis for virtual testing and Simulation. Artificially designed digital roads may help case by case, but for various applications the precise digitalization and digital as-built representation of real-world roads is needed. The typical requirement is, that the roads used for virtual testing and Simulation are regarded as digital twin of the real-world roads, which is prerequisite for comparable testing in reality and in the virtual environment.

The technical solution for digitizing test tracks, race tracks and public roads with sufficient accuracy and resolution is high-end mobile surveying using high-resolution scanners and multiple cameras. 3D Map-ping has invented the necessary technology since more than 20 years and today deploys a number of van-based survey systems worldwide.

The technology is used for example to generate high-resolution digital road surface models in OpenCRG format or to produce precise high definition reference maps in OpenDrive format, which are either used for virtual Simulation and testing or as reference Map in the car for autonomous driving development.

3D Mapping is member of the OpenDrive core team and has been intensively working on standardization and updates of the formats OpenDrive and OpenCRG since several years and will be fully engaged in future format standardizations. Future developments will possibly lead to new versions of OpenDrive and OpenCRG extended by driving scenario and driving Simulation environment standards.