When the first 3D RealityMaps was released on DVD in summer 2006 it was the very first product with this level of quality. Since then the technology is consequently advanced and is now also available on the Internet.

Reason for this success are two protected innovations: 

• Calculation of very high resolution digital elevation models from stereo aerial photographs
• Efficient compression and streaming based on the newest 3D computer graphics technology

3D RealityMaps performs photo flights with high resolution digital cameras in the Alps region. Thereby also special cameras from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) are used to obtain highly precise 3D elevation models and "true" ortho photos.

The technology derived from space research and was developed for mapping the planet Mars. A method to 3D process this data was developed at the DLR center for robotics and mechatronics in Oberpfaffenhofen/Berlin (stero-matching) with which very high resolution digital elevation models can be calculated.  As an industry partner of the DLR 3D RealityMaps GmbH was decisively involved in developing this technology.

The 3D RealityMaps software is based on an efficient graphics engine which was developed at the University of Bonn, Informatik II.