Google Earth in the browser… is it really useful?
17 07 2008By Christian Laforte
It’s been a over month since Google launched the browser plug-in for Google Earth, combining the best of Google Maps (fast, easy, in the browser, extendable through javascript) with the capability to navigate in a 3D terrain.
So does the 3D capability really add a lot over the regular Google Maps? It’s still too early to tell, but a few examples show the potential applications in education, entertainment and planning.
The most visually compelling example I’ve seen so far comes from Bjorn Sandvik’s ThematicMapping blog:
In a glance, you can see in which countries infant mortality is a critical problem. A color legend alone doesn’t fire the imagination the same way.
Another example, the Google Monster Milktruck, is kind of fun:
This mini-game allows you to drive the milk truck around. Unfortunately, many limitations of the Google Earth engine become apparent, especially the lack of collision detections with walls.
A third example, from GolfNation’s blog, allows you to see a golf course in 3D:
This example demonstrates the main problem with Google Earth right now: for the 3D capability to be worthwhile, we need more 3D content. Trees, cars and buildings look like they are painted on the ground, because we don’t have a 3D representation. We’re basically just looking at 2D data (satellite imagery) from a different perspective.
Google and Microsoft are apparently working hard on this problem of reconstructing buildings and landmarks. Feeling Software is also investing in 3D reconstruction from images… but we’re taking a different strategy, that hopefully will put us one step ahead of these giants, in one promising niche. Incidentally, our Feeling 3D Engine also supports KML and KMZ, along with geo-referencing and geographic measurements.
Incidentally, there are other 3D GIS (geographic information systems) that work on the web. One interesting example comes from Korea, according to this informative ZDNet article:
If you know of other compelling examples of 3D use in GIS, by all means, reply to this post!
Check this: http://www.hitta.se/3d/3d_splash.aspx
Mark checkbox, press ‘Till 3D kartan’ then navigate to, say, Stockholm. All 3D models have been automatically generated from satellite imagery. They maybe look not so fine, but no need for manual modeling is a huge benefit, I believe.
Bersi, that was a great link, thanks! I took a closer look, and it looks like it was done using aerial photography from specially calibrated cameras, not satellite photos. This makes sense, since they have the facades of most of the buildings textured, and this would not really be possible to do automatically using only top-down images.
Still, a very impressive site, and the fact that they’re doing it in the browser is even more exciting.
I only wish my Swedish was better…
You’re surely right, these are aerial photos. A little bit more about the technology being used can be read on the developer’s site: http://www.c3technologies.com/tech_en.php
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[...] are useful tools for travelers and deliver services companies. In few months ago, Google starts to launch the browser plug-in for Google Earth, combining the best of Google Maps. It means the Google Maps become 3D and can show the different highness and shape to visitors. [...]