14 DAY TRIAL // The popular mapping tool is now requiring users' help because the parent company Google wants to improve the 3D abilities of the application. Google has done incredible efforts to push the Earth program into the 3D mapping market but obviously, it needs the users' help because they are the only ones able to design their cities, streets and buildings into 3D view. Today, the Mountain View company makes another step forward in this attempt, creating a special category on the Warehouse website, codenamed "Help Model a City". The Google Warehouse is the separated page that hosts all the designs created by the Google Earth fans using the famous SketchUp application.
"Help wanted! Would you like to be a part of a modeling project that encompasses an entire city? If so, the cities in this collection would like your help in creating 3D textured models for Google Earth. These collections contain 3D building footprints, and, in some cases building photos. 3D building enthusiasts - do your thing!" it is mentioned on the official page of the new function.
Obviously, the feature is available for free for all the Google Earth enthusiasts and accessible using this link.
"Recently, we introduced a new model category in the Google 3D Warehouse called "Help Model a City." This was in response to cities like San Jose, California, that don't have the resources to model a city on their own and who are hoping to enlist the help of 3D modeling ethusiasts. So far a few cities have published 3D "massing models" along with digital photos, making it easy for 3D modelers anywhere in the world to create visually accurate 3D textured buildings," Bruce Polderman, Business Product Manager, described the 3D evolution.
Since the Mountain View company debuted Google SketchUp 6, the Google Earth fans were able to design 3D drawings of their cities, buildings and streets and include them into the mapping tool. Obviously, a lot of users were lured by the interoperability and uploaded their creations on the page especially built for this update.