【正文】 as the creation of added value and more convenient data updating, and thereby assure the sustainability and quality of 3d data resources. In many cases the acquisition of 3d geoinformation has been projectbased (especially in projects that were focused on 3d visualization only), which means that database storage, further data processing, reuse and data updating are not assured. Mostly, a onetime investment is done without considering longterm and sustainable reuse possibilities. Therefore, in the context of sustainability the question arises, if in the different application fields the focus is rather on 3d presentation, realism and aesthetics or on 3d GIS and analyses. . Improvement of work flow and efficiency The sustainable use of distributed 3d spatial data resources induces synergy effects by avoiding repeated work due to redundant data storage and analyses. Thus it brings facilitation of work and improvement of efficiency. This includes the shortening of internal processes by providing fast data access (. improved use of geoinformation in municipal administrations), improved visualization of urban planning projects, more transparent and curtated planning procedures, improved citizen participation processes or simplification and automation of work flows, which allow a higher accuracy and the balanced load of process ponents. . Chances of refinancing Interoperable 3d geoinformation systems show market, economisation and refinancing potentials. In the long run, only such applications running on a spatial data infrastructure can be successful, which reveal real market potentials, . there is a strong demand on the market by users, or a specific need and longlasting sale possibilities based on the applications’direct and indirect economisation and refinancing possibilities. . Public Private Partnership The plex technical, socioeconomical and administrative conditions concerning the sustainable realization of the spatial data infrastructure in NRW require the participation of economy,administration and academia (Public Private Partnerships). Only by collaboration and 5 concerted decision making the existing deficiencies and limitations can be overe. . Special chances of 3D visualization 3d visualization reveals chances and advantages in the following respect: （ 1） .It provides graphical presentations of and insights into states, procedures and processes. （ 2） .It supports analysis, decision making, management and planning and thereby improves work flows and efficiency in different application fields. Most technological issues concerning 3d visualization are clear. There already exist various solutions for 3d visualization. Whereas most of them are proprietary applications, their technological basic concepts can be transferred when developing standards for the visualization, access and retrieval of distributed 3d data resources. . Application fields for 3d geovisualization In the following the chances and advantages of distributed 3d data and visualization systems will be highlighted for the different application fields. The analytical and management support of 3d visualizations in the government and business sector takes an i mportant role. 3d applications in the customer sector, like . location based services on mobile phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs), are presently only of marginal importance. Generally, multipleshift usage as well as economization potentials of 3d data and applications also depend on the way the underlying data is stored (. locally in files versus databases or 3d geoinformation systems). In the sector of site and city marketing, tourism and business development, 3d visualization enables the presentation of business locations, municipalities, touristic sites and industrial presentations serve . for captive marketing activities, municipal advertisement of recreation and tourism locations, evaluation of aesthetical aspects of city planning as well as for the marketing of trade areas and industrial buildings. Marketing for sporting events as well as recreation infrastructures like bicycle paths, museums and exhibitions are counted among the tourism sector. Aim of the business marketing is the acquisition of investors for . trade and industry, panies, fairs, architects, hotels, restaurants, public transport, real estate providing panies. Especially in the sector of event and building management, 3d visualization supports the management aspect, . concerning the facility management of industrial buildings, event 6 locations and public establishments. Site models are used for calculations of area and volumeoriented services like mercial cleaning, seating, assurance value determination or fire fighting activities as well as for security surveillance concerning electricity and gas systems, partially in conjunction with external location based services. In the sector of city, traffic and regional planning, the 3d vizualisation of distributed 3d data resources facilitates the improvement of plan visualization as well as the support of decision making, analyses and planning activities. It prises . the visualization of building structures, civil engineering, and visibility applications concerning urban landuse planning and building permission procedures as well as monument protection and greenspace planning (tree and greenspace register). 3d visualization contributes in this sector especially to the improvement of work flows and efficiency, first of all in the context of municipal administrations, . by process simplification, higher degrees of citizen participation in planning procedures, more transparent decision making in planning processes, more realitylike presentations of planning alternatives (analysis of impacts), early rejection of nonrealistic alternatives or wellfounded support of council dec