Massive multicolor digital surveys in the near infrared provide new op
portunities for statistical analyses of the properties of groups and c
lusters. These galaxy systems provide a natural laboratory for studyin
g dynamical processes and galaxy evolution, and serve as powerful cosm
ological diagnostics. The immediate scientific returns to be expected
from near-infrared surveys such as DENIS and 2MASS are presented, and
illustrated with simulated images of a Coma-like rich cluster.