Ground3D
Data for Communities, By Communities
Introduction
Ground3D builds community-owned spatial data infrastructure, giving communities the tools to capture, govern, and use 3D street-level data to fight displacement, preserve cultural heritage, and advocate for climate resilience. Inspired by our hometown, New York City, where we plan to pilot, Ground3D addresses the growing gap in who collects, owns, and profits from urban data. While Big Tech and real estate firms capitalize on spatial data, the people most affected by climate risk and development rarely control it. We fill this gap by setting up data ownership systems and leading hands-on workshops, ensuring residents can document their neighborhoods, challenge harmful policies, and shape their futures—on their own terms.
Problem
We see a fundamental problem in who gets to decide what data is collected, where, and who profits from it. Right now, big tech and private firms control vast amounts of urban and spatial data, shaping decisions about zoning, infrastructure, and climate resilience, often without input from the communities most impacted.
We believe the built environment is a living archive, holding critical information about past planning decisions, like where highways were placed, as well as future risks, such as which areas are most vulnerable to flooding. However, high-quality, street-level 3D imagery is largely inaccessible. While the spatial data industry is worth billions, communities are excluded from both the decision-making process and the wealth it generates.
That’s why our idea starts with giving communities the tools and knowledge to create their own data. By building the method and model for community ownership, we’re ensuring that the people who live in these spaces -- and not external companies -- control how their environments are documented, used, and valued.
Opportunity
Ground3D empowers communities to document their environments, control their data, and profit from its value. We will begin with Phase 1 and scale to build a sustainable data ecosystem.
Phase 1: Community-Driven Data Collection
Our first focus is training residents to capture 3D spatial data using accessible tools like smartphones and drones. Through our partnership with Tuskegee University, we’ll also leverage high-end tools like the Leica BLK to ensure precision. This hybrid approach empowers communities to document streetscapes, landmarks, and risks with accuracy.
Phase 2: Data Ownership & Equity
Once datasets are built, our cooperative data trust model will ensure contributors control and profit from their data through royalties.
Phase 3: AI & Civic Tech Innovation
We will train AI models using this data to improve climate risk assessments, displacement prevention, and planning — ensuring insights reflect real urban conditions.