When Virtual City Systems was founded 20 years ago in Chemnitz, digital 3D city models were still in their infancy. Today, the Urban Digital Twin has become a cornerstone of modern urban planning — and VCS is among the leading providers in this field.

“From early on, we wanted to try something new — the idea of thinking about cities in three dimensions was still visionary back in 2005. But we were convinced that this was where the future lay.”

— Günter Müller, Family Entrepreneur

Our journey has been shaped by growth and change, by technological depth, entrepreneurial courage, and close collaboration with practitioners. From the first BuildingReconstruction (BRec) algorithm for automated building reconstruction to the Berlin Economic Atlas and the launch of the modular VC Suite — every milestone tells part of our story.

“Back then, our demo ran on a Windows XP laptop. But it worked — and it blew people away.”

— Catherine Gall, Product Manager BuildingReconstruction

By 2025, Virtual City Systems has long outgrown its Berlin headquarters: more than 26 employees work from locations across Germany — connected, flexible, and in close exchange. Our solutions are used from Hamburg to Vienna, from Helsinki to Singapore. Over 10,000 users worldwide rely on VC Map — to plan urban development projects, simulate new ideas, or simply better understand what’s happening right outside their door.

“We want to make a virtual representation of the city usable — one that reflects real semantics, complexity, and constant change — for departments, decision-makers, and citizens alike.”

— Dr. Claus Nagel, Managing Director

What started as an idea has become digital reality. In our interactive anniversary story, we look back on two decades: with milestones, people, fun facts, and moments that have shaped VCS. Experience our story — and see why it’s far from over.