This paper reviews 3D GIS' s characters and related software development

discusses its some basic problems such as data acquisition

3D data storage and handling

3D spatial analysis

etc. and points out that on one hand currently 3D GIS' s development is restricted by inefficient 3D data model and data structure

difficulties of 3D data acquisition

large amount 3D data procession and storage

and 3D spatial analysis

on the other hand

3D GIS can be facilitated by mature Visualization of Scientific Computation

Database

Digital Image Procession technique and 2D GIS' s theories and experience. At last

four important points about 3D GIS software\ndevelopment are presented in this paper:①At present 2D data model and structure is still one basis of GIS software

and 3D data structure is only one secondary part;②Boundary Representation must be used as one primary method in 3D modeling

Raster structure and integrated or hybrid Vectorraster structure can only be auxiliary method;③Some special data structure and spatial algorithm need to be researched to support efficient 3D spatial analysis;④3D city modeling is becoming one more and more important aspect of 3D GIS research and development.