The new Digital Model of the Italian Territory is launched.
A strategic project for national LiDAR and aerogravimetric mapping, aimed at creating homogeneous and updated digital models of the Italian territory to support spatial planning, hydrogeological risk prevention, and climate resilience.
Project Purpose
To provide high-precision geospatial data for the enhanced understanding and protection of the national territory.
Output
National DTM; National DSM; National Gravimetric Database; New National Geoid Model.
302.073 km²
Full national airborne LiDAR & aerogravimetric coverage
>10 points/m²
Target average for airborne LiDAR
FUNDING FRAMEWORK – PNRR
NRRP – Mission 2, Component 4, Investment 1.1
A new geospatial infrastructure for Italy
CGR, in partnership with e-GEOS and I.R.S., plays a leading role in one of the most significant remote sensing initiatives planned in Southern Europe over the last decades. This project of national importance aims to bridge Italy’s technological gap in geoinformation and align the country with the rest of Europe.
By providing standardized and up-to-date morphological and gravimetric data, CGR delivers the technical and scientific tools essential for urban planning, civil protection, and addressing climate and sustainability challenges.
TECHNOLOGIES
From Acquisition to High-Value Geospatial Data
The cutting-edge technologies employed to define the new DTM and DSM for the entire Italian territory, along with the national geoid model, ensure qualitatively homogeneous and synchronous data.
Within the framework of the 3D Model of Italy project, CGR provides a significant contribution by leveraging high-level STEM expertise and extensive operational capacity. This includes the acquisition and processing of airborne LiDAR and aerogravimetric data using “strapdown” technology. The mapping covers the entire national territory, including major and minor islands, for a total area of approximately 302,073 km².
Airborne LiDAR Survey
Airborne LiDAR (Airborne Laser Scanning) is one of the two core data acquisition activities forming the backbone of this project. The quality of the sensors, combined with the extensive expertise of CGR’s technical teams, enables the seamless processing of the point clouds required to produce National Digital Terrain Models (DTM) and Digital Surface Models (DSM).
Through these models, CGR delivers high-value-added tools that represent the territory’s morphology with extreme precision, providing effective support for a wide range of operational applications.
Airborne Gravimetric Survey
CGR’s cutting-edge technologies include the latest generation of “strapdown” gravimetric sensors—the iCORUS model by iMAR—installed across the corporate fleet and utilized for airborne gravimetric surveys.
The collected data enable the production of digital models for fundamental quantities describing the gravitational field, as well as a digital gravimetric geoid model. These are indispensable tools for representing the gravity field with consistent quality standards nationwide. Furthermore, these outputs allow for the establishment of the new National Gravimetric Database and the definition of an updated National Geoid Model, providing a scientific and operational contribution of strategic importance.
Homogeneous Data, Synchronous Acquisition, Decision-Support Outputs
The combination of LiDAR surveys and airborne gravimetric acquisition enables the generation of qualitatively homogeneous and synchronous data. This integration is essential for defining the new DTM and DSM for the entire Italian territory, as well as the national geoid model and an enhanced understanding of the Earth’s gravity field.
Airborne LiDAR Survey
One of the project’s two core activities, featuring an average density exceeding 10 points/m².
Data Quality
Point cloud processing and spatial consistency of all derived products.
Strapdown Aerogravimetry
Surveys conducted using iMAR / iCORUS sensors installed across the CGR aircraft fleet.
National Geoid
A new model to describe the gravity field with homogeneous characteristics nationwide..
A National Database for Better Decisions
The availability of standardized, up-to-date national data strengthens the decision-making capacity of institutions by effectively supporting a wide range of operational applications.
Hydrogeological Risk
Support for hazard area zoning and prevention strategies.
Climate and Sustainability
Essential tools for climate resilience, emergency management, and environmental monitoring.
Hydraulic Modeling
Enhanced morphological analysis for simulations and intervention scenarios.
Civil Protection
A geospatial foundation to support analysis, early warning, and emergency response activities.
Infrastructure
Reliable data for scheduled maintenance and modernization.
National Modernization
A new information infrastructure aligned with European standards.
A national strategic project
The project ‘Creation of the national digital terrain model from aerial LiDAR surveys, the gravimetric database, and the national gravity field model’ is funded under the NRRP (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) with 500 million euros. It is one of the measures designed and implemented by the Department for Sustainable Development (DiSS) of the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE).
The initiative is part of Mission 2 ‘Green Revolution and Ecological Transition’, Component 4 ‘Protection of the Territory and Water Resources’, Measure 1 ‘Strengthening the predictive capacity of climate change effects’, Investment 1.1 ‘Implementation of an advanced and integrated monitoring and forecasting system (SIM)’.
