416
Chapter 14 See the World in 3D
With these types of 3D modeling and design techniques, all manner of 3D
features can be created and utilized with other geospatial data. For instance,
it’s one thing to look at a flat map of a university campus, but it’s another
thing entirely to have it laid out in a realistic 3D environment that you can
interact with. Prospective students are likely to get a better sense of place by
viewing a 3D representation of their dorms and where they are in relation to
the surrounding urban areas of the campus. The same idea holds true for designing any area in interactive 3D (see Hands-on Application 14.3: 3D Hawaii
for an example of this).
Future planning efforts can be better implemented with the ability to
see the visual impact of numerous types of building plans in relation to their
nearby areas (with respect to height, texture, and landscaping). With 3D
geospatial data, the locations of items and structures can be seen in relation
to one another or to the surrounding terrain. For example, in Google Earth,
The Google 3D Warehouse is full of all sorts of
3D models from around the world. To start digging through the 3D Warehouse, open your Web
browser and go to http://sketchup.google.
com/3dwarehouse. Take a look at several of the categories—including the “Popular Models,” “ Featured
Collections,” and “3D Building Collections.” Each one
contains several subcategories (such as Cathedrals
and Churches of the World or Sculptures and Monuments of the World), which contain numerous 3D
models that have been uploaded to the Warehouse.
Take a look at some of them, select their particular Warehouse page, and then download the model
(you’ll see the option for it on its page) into Google
Earth to interact with it.
As long as you’re looking around the Warehouse, also check out the option for Google
Building Maker, a utility that will help you design
buildings based on photos and upload them into
the Warehouse.
Hands-on Application 14.2
Digging into Google’s 3D Warehouse
For an interactive example of 3D with Google Earth,
open your Web browser and go to http://3dhawaii.
com. Note that you’ll first need to load the Google
Earth plug-in (see also Hands-on Application 1.5:
The Google Earth Plug-In) in order to work with this
Website. (You can download and install the plugin from http://www.google.com/earth/explore/
products/plugin.html.) From the available options,
you can select an island (Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island,
Kauai, Molokai, or Lanai) and view many of their
building features and landscaping in interactive 3D.
The main window will let you pan and zoom around
the islands like you would in Google Earth. Check
out the variety of features available in interactive
3D—select the option for 3D tour to see animated
tours around various areas.
Hands-on Application 14.3
3D Hawaii
Chapter 14 See the World in 3D
With these types of 3D modeling and design techniques, all manner of 3D
features can be created and utilized with other geospatial data. For instance,
it’s one thing to look at a flat map of a university campus, but it’s another
thing entirely to have it laid out in a realistic 3D environment that you can
interact with. Prospective students are likely to get a better sense of place by
viewing a 3D representation of their dorms and where they are in relation to
the surrounding urban areas of the campus. The same idea holds true for designing any area in interactive 3D (see Hands-on Application 14.3: 3D Hawaii
for an example of this).
Future planning efforts can be better implemented with the ability to
see the visual impact of numerous types of building plans in relation to their
nearby areas (with respect to height, texture, and landscaping). With 3D
geospatial data, the locations of items and structures can be seen in relation
to one another or to the surrounding terrain. For example, in Google Earth,
The Google 3D Warehouse is full of all sorts of
3D models from around the world. To start digging through the 3D Warehouse, open your Web
browser and go to http://sketchup.google.
com/3dwarehouse. Take a look at several of the categories—including the “Popular Models,” “ Featured
Collections,” and “3D Building Collections.” Each one
contains several subcategories (such as Cathedrals
and Churches of the World or Sculptures and Monuments of the World), which contain numerous 3D
models that have been uploaded to the Warehouse.
Take a look at some of them, select their particular Warehouse page, and then download the model
(you’ll see the option for it on its page) into Google
Earth to interact with it.
As long as you’re looking around the Warehouse, also check out the option for Google
Building Maker, a utility that will help you design
buildings based on photos and upload them into
the Warehouse.
Hands-on Application 14.2
Digging into Google’s 3D Warehouse
For an interactive example of 3D with Google Earth,
open your Web browser and go to http://3dhawaii.
com. Note that you’ll first need to load the Google
Earth plug-in (see also Hands-on Application 1.5:
The Google Earth Plug-In) in order to work with this
Website. (You can download and install the plugin from http://www.google.com/earth/explore/
products/plugin.html.) From the available options,
you can select an island (Oahu, Maui, Hawaii Island,
Kauai, Molokai, or Lanai) and view many of their
building features and landscaping in interactive 3D.
The main window will let you pan and zoom around
the islands like you would in Google Earth. Check
out the variety of features available in interactive
3D—select the option for 3D tour to see animated
tours around various areas.
Hands-on Application 14.3
3D Hawaii