The BD TOPO® from IGN is a 3D vector description (structured as objects) of territorial elements and infrastructure, with metric precision, usable at scales ranging from 1:2,000 to 1:50,000.

It provides consistent coverage of all geographic and administrative entities across the national territory.

BD TOPO® supports visualization, positioning, and simulation to facilitate analysis and operational management of the territory. The 3D representation of geographic objects enables realistic spatial analyses, aiding decision-making processes for a variety of studies.

Since 2019, a new (updated) edition has been published every quarter.

The objects in BD TOPO® are organized into themes guided by the INSPIRE modeling framework:

-- Administrative (administrative boundaries and units);

-- Buildings (structures and constructions);

-- Hydrography (water-related elements);

-- Named places (places or localities with a toponym, describing a natural area or inhabited site);

-- Land use (vegetation, tidal flats, hedgerows);

-- Services and activities (public services, energy storage and transport, industrial sites);

-- Transport (road, rail, and air network infrastructure, routes);

-- Regulated zones (most areas subject to specific regulations).