I've always thought the GIS-style stuff on the Internet is one of the most impressive uses of technology... like, if I were to show my grandma, or an alien, what technology were capable of, Google Earth would probably be the first thing I'd go for. Visually and conceptually stunning, and useful into the bargain.
I remember being amazed by Google Maps, then shortly after spending literally half a day exploring Keyhole (which then became Google Earth), and more recently Google Street View, then Live Maps' Birds-Eye view (well worth checking out), and now this.
Admittedly coverage of 3D buildings is a little thin on the ground right now, but the well done ones are incredibly impressive. Now for the question:
I understand how some of them are done in SketchUp, using basic textures and clever modelling, but I'm really interested in how the actual photo-realistic ones are captured. As an example, search for "Marshalls Mill, Leeds, UK".
The buildings are captured in amazingly high resolution (to the point where you can read the To Let sign on the side), and it's obviously not just a repeated texture. How do they capture these photos? My best guess is a lot of photos from ground level, later stitched and perspective corrected, but I'd be fascinated to hear from someone who knows more.
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My Casio EX-Z750 does live RGB histogram, and very useful it is too. Fantastic camera :)
I've always thought the GIS-style stuff on the Internet is one of the most impressive uses of technology... like, if I were to show my grandma, or an alien, what technology were capable of, Google Earth would probably be the first thing I'd go for. Visually and conceptually stunning, and useful into the bargain.
I remember being amazed by Google Maps, then shortly after spending literally half a day exploring Keyhole (which then became Google Earth), and more recently Google Street View, then Live Maps' Birds-Eye view (well worth checking out), and now this.
Admittedly coverage of 3D buildings is a little thin on the ground right now, but the well done ones are incredibly impressive. Now for the question:
I understand how some of them are done in SketchUp, using basic textures and clever modelling, but I'm really interested in how the actual photo-realistic ones are captured. As an example, search for "Marshalls Mill, Leeds, UK".
The buildings are captured in amazingly high resolution (to the point where you can read the To Let sign on the side), and it's obviously not just a repeated texture. How do they capture these photos? My best guess is a lot of photos from ground level, later stitched and perspective corrected, but I'd be fascinated to hear from someone who knows more.
Most impressive anyway. I love Google Earth.