Amazonia 3D: Revealing the Invisible Amazon

The Amazonia 3D project is an ambitious initiative to map the entire Brazilian Amazon—over 4 million km²—using high-resolution LiDAR technology. By generating an unprecedented three-dimensional view of the forest, the project aims to unlock critical insights for climate action, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable land management.

The initiative begins with a pilot covering 6.4 million hectares in the state of Amazonas, one of the largest LiDAR mapping efforts ever conducted in tropical forests. This dataset will reveal features hidden beneath the forest canopy, including micro-topography, watercourses, archaeological sites, and forest structure. These insights are essential for accurately delineating protected areas such as riparian zones (APPs), estimating carbon stocks with greater precision, identifying ecosystem types, and supporting scientific discovery.

Amazonia 3D is designed as open digital infrastructure. All raw and processed data—including Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) and Digital Elevation Models (DEMs)—will be publicly available, enabling governments, researchers, communities, and the private sector to use the information for decision-making and innovation. The project builds on the collaborative model of MapBiomas, engaging a network of scientific institutions, NGOs, and technology partners to ensure both technical excellence and broad societal impact.