Method and system for generating anonymized 3D data

A computer-implemented method for generating anonymized 3D data of a surrounding, the surrounding comprising a multitude of 3D features of a plurality of feature categories, the plurality of feature categories including at least a first feature category, 3D features of which being designated for anonymization, the method comprising providing 3D data of the surrounding, the 3D data comprising information about a mesh or a point cloud comprising 3D patterns of a plurality of pattern types, the 3D patterns corresponding to the 3D features in the surrounding, wherein a first pattern type corresponds to the first feature category, comprising:

• identifying at least a first portion of the mesh or point cloud that comprises at least a first 3D pattern of the first pattern type, the first portion of the mesh or point cloud corresponding to a first data portion of the 3D data;
• obtaining at least one alternative 3D pattern for the first pattern type, each alternative 3D pattern comprising pre-defined or generated 3D data;
• and
• replacing, using an anonymization algorithm, the first data portion with alternative 3D data comprising at least one alternative 3D pattern for the first pattern type to generate anonymized 3D data,
• wherein:
• identifying at least the first portion of the mesh or point cloud comprises detecting, in the 3D data, at least one shadow on a surface in the surrounding, which shadow results from a 3D feature that is positioned between the surface and a reality capture device capturing the 3D data, the 3D feature belonging to the first feature category;
• and
• replacing the 3D data comprises replacing the detected shadow with alternative 3D data corresponding to the alternative 3D pattern of the first pattern type used for replacing the 3D feature that is positioned between the surface and a reality capture device.