The City of Helsinki, Finland, is currently involved in a conversion and upgrade project to supplement its digital 2D basemaps with a new, accurate 3D model. Leading this migration from 2D to 3D is the Helsinki City Survey Division, which employs 142 people, 40 of whom work in its GIS center.

The City Survey Division is responsible for all city mapping functions, including maintaining a geodetic network, basemap and utility map 1:500, legal maps for city planning, topographic maps, and tourist maps.

Additionally, it is responsible for maintaining the legal parcel cadastre and surveys, parcel IDs, building IDs, aerial photography, parcel addresses and updates, and the city’s Web GIS services and GIS coordination. Although some 3D work had begun as early as 1986 for city planning and construction projects, most of the work began in earnest in 1997 in response to increased demand from other city organizations. The maps and database are used by City Planning, Public Works, Helsinki Energy, Gas, and Water departments, as well as Helsinki Harbour and the Public Transportation Authority.