What is the Urban Data Platform (UDP_HH)?
The most important facts about the Urban Data Platform Hamburg at a glance
Hamburg on the way to becoming a digital city
The Urban Data Platform Hamburg (UDP_HH) is a digital infrastructure. It is mainly used to process public data technically, network it and make it available on the Internet - usually as open data! Manufacturer-independent formats and standards play a central role here: They allow long-term stable and open access. This means that UDP_HH serves a wide range of different applications within the city, but also outside it. You can search for datasets, applications and other digital resources in our data catalogues. You will also find the specialist contact points in it.
You will find urban data from different specialist disciplines on UDP_HH: Official statistics, environmental measurements, traffic information (partly in real time), buildings and roads, construction plans, aerial or satellite images - and much more! You can explore this data in the form of interactive maps on Geoportal Hamburg, a central application of UDP_HH. Direct downloads (e.g. CSV files) and APIs (programming interfaces) are also available. Whether citizens, academia, business or administration: everyone is warmly invited to use all this, without the need to register!
Geodata is a cross-disciplinary focal point. The exact location and the actual geometry of properties play a fundamental role in the urban context. Our official geodata is available as a reliable foundation for all possible applications and tasks. If you would like to find out more, there is a good introduction to the topics of ALKIS, ATKIS and AFIS here. But don’t worry: You do not need any specialised knowledge. All you need is interest and a taste for data. Everything else can be found on our homepage.
The networking of urban data using the example of street trees
The street tree register is a popular data set on the UDP_HH. It is provided by the environment and energy agency (BUKEA) through UDP_HH as open data. Besides locations, it also contains information on tree types, the year of planting and sizes. You can find the corresponding map view in the Hamburg geoportal. Here you can see a typical section around the Inner Alster.
All this data is also provided on the information website for the catalogue of street trees . They are shown there on aerial photos or the map of the city in the application “street trees online”. The same open source software is used here as for the Hamburg geoportal (more information on this here). An additional filtering tool allows you to search for certain tree characteristics.
It gets really exciting when urban data is used outside the municipal administration. For example, on Mundraub.org. This is where the community can add the places they have found fruit trees that are accessible for all citizens, free and legally. In 2017, the platform integrated all the relevant street trees in Hamburg onto the platform to fill previous data gaps.
More possibilities on UDP_HH
No matter what topic you are passionate about - UDP_HH offers you a lot of starting points! Maybe we will meet one day at a hackathon? These events allow you to work on your own ideas with like-minded people. Besides an affinity for data and technology, all kinds of knowledge and experience that can contribute to a topic are required. For example, the street trees played a prominent role at the ITS Hackathon 2017. One winning team came up with the idea of determining trees near the train tracks that were at risk of falling. Where are there a lot of trees with shallow roots that are a particular risk in storms? More and more cities and municipalities are driving their open data initiatives forward systematically – so that the analysis can be expanded throughout Germany and e.g. embedded in Deutsche Bahn applications. The latest hackathons focussed on the topics of cycling and accessibility. Look out for further announcements on our website!
Urban data is also indispensable for citizen participation. It not only serve as a basis for information, but also as digital reference points for your comments – whether concerning individual street trees, green areas, city bike stations or many other topics. This enables all-round digitised evaluation of your contributions. Maybe there is a participation process going on in your neighbourhood that might interest you. Take a look at our DIPAS navigator (DIPAS = digital participation system).
Open urban data and open software projects (such as DIPAS or the master portal) go hand in hand in Hamburg. For more information go to: Are you already familiar with our applications?
Origin and organisation
The Hamburg Senate adopted a new version of Digital Strategy for Hamburg in 2025. The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg is using the opportunities offered by digitalisation to improve the quality of life and economic attractiveness of the city on this basis. In this strategy, the Urban Data Platform is named as the central data hub and the Urban Data Hub is termed the city's internal consulting, networking and development unit. Management of the Urban Data Hub was transferred permanently to the Agency for Geoinformation and Surveying (LGV).