Micware has presented research findings at the IEEE Intelligent Vehicles Symposium 2026, highlighting its work on technologies designed to improve the safety and intelligence of autonomous and advanced driver-assistance systems.
Dashcam Data Powers 3D Urban Mapping
The research focuses on a method that can automatically create 3D models of buildings using footage and GPS information collected from ordinary dashboard cameras. The resulting models can then be added to open geospatial platforms, potentially reducing the need for expensive equipment such as LiDAR systems or aerial surveys.
Field trials across Kobe, Utsunomiya, Yokohama and Shinagawa generated 2,580 building models, demonstrating the technology’s ability to work across different urban and suburban environments.
Research Supports Smarter Mobility and Digital Cities
The project was carried out jointly with the Institute of Science Tokyo and was presented at IEEE IV 2026, a major international gathering focused on intelligent and connected vehicle technologies.
The research could have applications beyond vehicle navigation. Continuously updated 3D urban data may support digital mapping, autonomous mobility systems, city planning and location-based digital services. The technology is also being used in DynaPlanet, a platform designed to represent urban spaces in three dimensions by combining geographic information with digital content.
From Academic Research to Practical Technology
The paper, titled “Dashcam-Based 3D Building Generation and Augmentation to Open Geospatial Platform,” was led by Masahiko Murakami and accepted through an independent peer-review process before being published in IEEE Xplore.
The work builds on several Japanese patents related to 3D model generation and geospatial information processing. By turning widely available dashcam footage into usable 3D mapping data, the research points toward a potentially more scalable and cost-efficient way of keeping digital representations of cities updated as urban environments continue to change.
