One of the key-features of intensive urban land use is the use of the third dimension. When space is scarce, cities tend to grow vertically. At present this third dimension is not normally present in urban studies. We propose a new indicator for measuring urban morphology in all its dimensions: urban volume, based on a combination of land use maps and detailed elevation data. The Netherlands are fortunate enough to have high density information on terrain heights. Since natural elevation differences in the western part of the country are almost non-existent, height-data can provide us with information on building heights. The objective of this study is to explore the analytical possibilities for urban studies of this new elevation dataset with (3D-)GIS functionality. As a case study the changes in the urban landscape of Amsterdam in the past 50 years are studied
