418
Chapter 14 See the World in 3D
Chapter Wrapup
The goal of this chapter was to provide an introduction to some of the basic concepts of 3D visualization and how they can be incorporated into geospatial technology. Geospatial Lab Application 14.1 will get your hands dirty
with working with 3D design and visualization using Google SketchUp and
Google Earth. However, 3D modeling goes well beyond Google SketchUp—
designing, programming, and working with 3D modeling and visualization
is a whole industry of its own—video games, movies, television and Web
animation, and simulators regularly serve up extremely impressive and evermore-realistic 3D designs. There’s no way to cover all the possible applications, software, companies, and changes going on in this rapidly developing
field in just one short chapter.
3D visualization is very cool and just one of the quickly growing aspects
of geospatial technology, but there are many new developments (and some
other cool data visualizations) yet to come as technology advances. Chapter 15 delves into some of these new and upcoming frontiers in geospatial
technology.
Important note: The references for this chapter are part of the online companion for this book and can be found at http://www.whfreeman.com/
shellito1e.
Figures 14.11 and 14.12 are both images of 3D
buildings within Google Earth, but they’re far from
the only places that have been built and placed in
Google Earth. For this application, start up Google
Earth and zoom to Boston, Massachusetts, looking
at the area around Boston Common and the downtown. From the available options in the Layers Box
(if necessary, see Chapter 1 for more information
about Google Earth’s layout), select the option for
3D Buildings, and place a checkmark in it. Tilt your
view down so you’re looking at Boston from a perspective view and you’ll see various buildings and
structures start to appear in 3D. Fly around the city
and see how Boston was put together in 3D.
When you’re done, try looking at the 3D design
of some other urban areas and their 3D buildings,
such as New York City, Washington, D.C., or Las
Vegas, Nevada. Check some other cities as well to
see if their buildings have been designed in 3D for
Google Earth.
Hands-on Application 14.4
3D Buildings in Google Earth
Chapter 14 See the World in 3D
Chapter Wrapup
The goal of this chapter was to provide an introduction to some of the basic concepts of 3D visualization and how they can be incorporated into geospatial technology. Geospatial Lab Application 14.1 will get your hands dirty
with working with 3D design and visualization using Google SketchUp and
Google Earth. However, 3D modeling goes well beyond Google SketchUp—
designing, programming, and working with 3D modeling and visualization
is a whole industry of its own—video games, movies, television and Web
animation, and simulators regularly serve up extremely impressive and evermore-realistic 3D designs. There’s no way to cover all the possible applications, software, companies, and changes going on in this rapidly developing
field in just one short chapter.
3D visualization is very cool and just one of the quickly growing aspects
of geospatial technology, but there are many new developments (and some
other cool data visualizations) yet to come as technology advances. Chapter 15 delves into some of these new and upcoming frontiers in geospatial
technology.
Important note: The references for this chapter are part of the online companion for this book and can be found at http://www.whfreeman.com/
shellito1e.
Figures 14.11 and 14.12 are both images of 3D
buildings within Google Earth, but they’re far from
the only places that have been built and placed in
Google Earth. For this application, start up Google
Earth and zoom to Boston, Massachusetts, looking
at the area around Boston Common and the downtown. From the available options in the Layers Box
(if necessary, see Chapter 1 for more information
about Google Earth’s layout), select the option for
3D Buildings, and place a checkmark in it. Tilt your
view down so you’re looking at Boston from a perspective view and you’ll see various buildings and
structures start to appear in 3D. Fly around the city
and see how Boston was put together in 3D.
When you’re done, try looking at the 3D design
of some other urban areas and their 3D buildings,
such as New York City, Washington, D.C., or Las
Vegas, Nevada. Check some other cities as well to
see if their buildings have been designed in 3D for
Google Earth.
Hands-on Application 14.4
3D Buildings in Google Earth