European Defence Agency Launches 3D Modelling Project for Military Situational Awareness

The European Defence Agency (EDA) has launched a new project to advance automatic 3D modelling for military situational awareness, threat detection, and effector allocation.

The "3D Terrain and City Models for Situational Awareness, Decision Making, and Effector Coordination (3D-4LAND I)" project is a joint effort between Luxembourg and the Netherlands. It aims to enhance battlefield awareness by leveraging automated analysis and real-time 3D model generation to help military personnel assess their environment, identify threats, and coordinate operations.

Recent advancements in 3D scanning technology enable precise surface mapping and the automatic creation of 3D models using sensors integrated into land platforms. These models can be generated as military vehicles move through mission areas, improving operational planning and decision-making.

EDA’s CapTech Ground Systems and CapTech Simulation Technologies are coordinating the effort. The project is led by the Netherlands' RE-liON, with participation from TNO (Netherlands), FIRIS SA (Luxembourg), the University of Luxembourg, and the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST).

With a €4.9 million budget over 36 months, 3D-4LAND I will establish the conceptual framework, including technical specifications, evaluation criteria, and system architecture. The project will also outline a roadmap for a future physical demonstrator under the 3D-4LAND II initiative.