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Google Earth Adds 3-D Trees

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the still-waiting-for-4d dept.

terrancem writes "Google has populated several major cities with more than 80 million virtual trees based on an automated process that identifies trees in satellite images. The realistic 3D representations are based on actual tree species found in urban areas. But Google has also extended realistic tree coverage to rainforests in Africa, Mexico, and the Amazon."

6 of 95 comments (clear)

  1. Carbon dioxide by PatPending · · Score: 2, Interesting

    How much carbon dioxide was produced making these 80 million virtual trees?

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    What one fool can do, another can. (Ancient Simian Proverb)
  2. Re:Yippie. by TheLazySci-FiAuthor · · Score: 2, Interesting

    It is somewhat useful, depending upon one's use of google earth.

    I use google earth to look at things.

    I like looking at trees.

    I think it's useful :) ...a first person shooter layer would be pretty cool too though!

    --
    Read my Very Short "Stories"
  3. Re:Yippie. by eamonman · · Score: 2, Interesting

    If it was an automated algorithm that ID'd trees, I'd say no, this could be useful in other id'ing applications (maybe rocks, maybe separating natural from artificial objects or vice versa, etc).

    If it was 1000 poor interns/schoolkids paid to click on 80000 trees each, then ok, you win, this was a bad idea.

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    0- Eamonman Proud member of DNRC
  4. Shade map? by MiddleHitter · · Score: 3, Interesting

    As a grad student at the University of Arizona (in Tucson) who works on campus in the summers...I'd really like to see a shade map that is indexed to the time of day and inclination of the sun to calculate the most-shaded paths around campus. That might not sound so useful, but when it's 105F out, every bit of shade makes all the difference on a 10-15 minute walk across campus.

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    I don't fear computers, I fear the lack of them. -I. Asimov
  5. Maybe boring for you guys, but not for everybody by wulfhere · · Score: 2, Interesting

    As the network admin for a wireless ISP, we use Google Earth as a sort of 'first approximation' (along with RadioMobile) to do preliminary site-surveys, estimating whether its even worth our time to roll a truck for an attempted install. This looks like a great addition to an invaluable tool to me!

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    -- Sent from a computer.
  6. How about planting a few trees? by HockeyPuck · · Score: 3, Interesting

    With the thousands (millions?) of servers that google has, how about planting a few trees...