Aug 25, 2011 13:21 GMT  ·  By

A couple of months back, Google launched the Your World in 3D website. The site is a showcase of great models created for Google Earth, and made available for the world to see, but it also serves as an educational tool, to help budding modelers get started and pick up new skills.

That said, the site was only available in English, making it less useful to the number of people wanting to get started around the world.

Since recreating the world in 3D is very much a global effort, one sustained by local modelers working on their city or surrounding ones, Google is now releasing the website in 15 more languages, well 14 if you don't count UK English as a different language.

"Earlier this summer, we unveiled a new website called Your World in 3D to help introduce users to the concept of geo-modeling -- the term given to creating 3D buildings for Google Earth and Google Maps. Today, we're releasing the Your World in 3D website in 15 additional languages," Google announced.

The site houses a Gallery, with topical tours showcasing great models around the world, but is geared more towards giving users all the information they need to get started on their own models.

For starters, there's the Google Building Maker, a basic web tool which should be enough for your first models, if speed is what you're looking for.

Of course, if you want more detailed models, Google also offers SketchUp a 3D modeling tool for more advanced users.

"Besides being fun, building your town in 3D is a great way to show civic pride, encourage tourism for your town, and promote your business," Google explained the motivation behind creating your own models.

"3D modeling has also been used in crisis response situations as we saw in the grassroots modeling effort that happened after the earthquake in L’Aquila, Italy," it added.

With the new languages added today, the website is available in: Czech, German, English (UK), Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Brazilian Porteguese, Russian, Turkish, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese, along with US English.