Google has just announced a new “Simple 3D modelling tool” called “Google Building Maker” that can be used to create 3D buildings on Google Earth.
Basically Google Building Maker allows anyone who has access to the Internet to select a city from anywhere around the world and add their own creative touch to it.
All you have to do is select your city and using aerial photos and various shapes provided by Google, make a building.
You can construct your very own building by dragging and dropping your chosen shapes them into place.
Once you’ve created your 3D building you can edit it using Google SketchUp, another free Google tool.
Then when you are happy with your creation you can save it. When it has been reviewed and approved by Google millions of other people will also be able to view the building or buildings you created on Google Earth.
Oh and you also need to sign into your Google account so you can get credit for what you create. Yep, you even get recognition for your efforts.
Ok so first you have to get the software which may involve downloading a plugin for your browser from the Google Building Maker site.
Once you have that you will be able to view a zoom-able map where you can pinpoint the location where you want to start building. If you can’t make up your mind then Google Building Maker will provide suggestions for you.
Using aerial view perspectives, you can home in on your particular location and view it from eight different angles, which of course will allow you to line up your building shapes more accurately.
Now why would anyone want to spend their time making phoney buildings for Google Earth?
I really don’t know but somehow I can just see a load of geeks getting right into this. It sounds like fun; it’s definitely creative, and it just so happens to be an ingenious idea.
What’s really happening with Google Building Maker is that people from all over the world will be creating a kind of virtual earth bit by bit, building by building.
It will be kinda cool to see how the collective effort evolves and I reckon it could also become quite addictive once you get going.
Google say they like to think of Building Maker as “cross between Google Maps and gigantic bin of building blocks”. Like Lego then!
Cool!
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