An open api for 3d-georeferenced historical pictures

Abstract. In this article we describe the possibilities and opportunities of the utilization of 3D georeferenced historical images in different contexts. In the frame of an ongoing research project that aims at establishing a national infrastructure for georeferenced pictures, we have created an open API that allows researchers and developers to access and interact with an existing database containing 200’000 3D-georeferenced images. In this database images have been georeferenced by volunteers in 3D using monoplotting. The new API allows for instance to extract the 3D geolocation of images and their footprints as well as to upload new images. It is as far as possible based on existing standards in the fields of archive management, 3D image standards and web-services. This work is of interest for researchers who want to utilize and analyze 3D georeferenced historical imagery and for people who want to establish open API’s to give access to data that is relevant for research.