New Modeling Algorithms Bring More Detail to Google Earth's 3-D World

An anonymous reader writes "Google Earth has featured (some) textured 3D buildings and 3D terrain since 2006. New image-based modeling algorithms that process 45-degree Aerial Images automatically, however, will allow Google Earth to display entire 3D cities with fully texture-mapped, accurately modeled 3 dimensional buildings, roads, trees and landscaping/terrain. This YouTube video released by Google shows how effective the technique is at capturing urban areas in 3D. The resulting 3D cities look almost like a high-altitude view of a fully modeled 3D city in games like Grand Theft Auto."

Comments

Re:Integrate into a map?

[MojoRilla]

I think that's the plan. Google Maps now has a new mode called MapsGL which uses hardware accelerated 3d. Why add 3d to the browser if you didn't plan to use it.

Sketchup supplanted

[Attila the Bun]

...which explains why Google recently disposed of its 3D drawing tool, Sketchup. With the rise of algorithms like Photosynth it was inevitable that hand-drawn features would be superseded by automatic analysis. I just hope that Sketchup or tools like it remain available for drawing features which don't exist (yet). Of course there are plenty of 3D CAD programs available, but for those of us who aren't professional draughtsmen, few approach the ease-of-use that Sketchup has.

Re:Sketchup supplanted

[Tough Love]

FreeCAD isn't that bad. It's a pain in the ass to use, but it's a free software 3D CAD program that mostly works.

Beat me to it. It's based on OpenCascade, a mature BREP library with impressive capabilities. Their plan is apparently to get the back end working well first, then pretty up the interface.

Nice

[Arancaytar]

Maybe I'll care once they start using imagery under ten years old over my city. It'd be nice if the buildings that have been torn down and replaced in the meantime were photographed before the new buildings are torn down too.

Re:Simulator

[mwvdlee]

Not really.

But GTA has stealing cars and killing people in it, I guess that would be more fun in real life.

Just like Nokia?

[AC-x]

So, just like Nokia's 3D maps? Or are Nokia's maps hand modelled?

Re:Just like Nokia?

[Smurf]

Nokia's maps are by C3 - a company that's been acquired by Nokia http://mynokiablog.com/2011/10/31/now-apple-owns-c3-the-folks-behind-nokia-maps-3d-what-happens-now/

And of course you meant to say that C3 has been acquired by Apple , not Nokia.

Imagine what the military have!

[G3ckoG33k]

If this is the consumer grade version, imagine what the military have, and must have had for years.

This is impressive technology, even if it has been done before!

Re:Imagine what the military have!

[advocate_one]

they haven't got it, because if they had, then I would be writing software for it right now... This is way ahead of what we currently have for battle training systems. Currently, the models have to be hand generated.

Re:Bing had that for years.

[NoZart]

for selected citys, Bing hast 3d textured models for a long time. Using the same tech, 45 degree aerial photography using airplane mounted hires cams.

Re:Bing had that for years.

[NoZart]

i mean, they used the aerial photography to model the terrain and texture them.

somehow i cannot find the setting anymore for reference....

Re:Bing had that for years.

[NoZart]

http://www.bing.com/maps/Help/VE3DInstall/

Google panicing about apple?

[goombah99]

C3 already was doing this a couple years ago. Apple bought C3, and we've heard nothing more. But there is a rumor Apple is going to debut the 3D maps next week on iphones. Google annoiuncing progress on their developments in this area sounds like a pre-emptive publicity strike from google to blunt the Apple first.

Sketchup didn't have ads.

[Animats]

Sketchup didn't fit Google's business model. No ads. No user tracking.