Google maps Manhattan in 3D

Author: Gareth Halfacree
Published: 19th December 2008
Comments (12) Stumble
Google maps Manhattan in 3D

The skyline presented by a tilt-viewed Google Earth centred on Manhattan is nothing short of breathtaking.

Google has come one step closer to being able to simulate every aspect of our daily lives with a major update to the 3D Buildings functionality of Google Earth.

Revealed on the unofficial Google Earth Blog on Wednesday, the update adds a photo-realistic 3D model for almost every building located on Manhattan Island in New York – and it looks blindingly impressive.

While the “3D Buildings” layer has long been an option when viewing a location in Google Earth – a feature which takes advantage of the ability to tilt the image away from the default top-down view – very few places have more than a handful of buildings modelled in this way. This latest update creates an almost photo-realistic skyline, with a ridiculous number of buildings plonked on top of their satellite-imaged plans.

While volunteers and third-parties have been slowly submitting building meshes to be integrated into the overlay for the past few years, the process has occurred in a very piecemeal fashion. With Google clearly having either done some major work itself or bought building plans in from somewhere, the transformation from the sparse layout of old is nothing short of amazing.

While it is still only a relatively small island, the project does show what Google Earth is capable of in a fairly short time. I shouldn't think it'd be beyond the realms of possibility to see all buildings in urban areas worldwide mapped in full 3D in the near future.

Impressed with the work Google has done in Manhattan, or is it all rather creepy? Share your thoughts over in the forums.
Quote p3n 19th December 2008, 09:50
Looks neat, if someone hadn't already build a perfect terrorism simulator google just perfected it!
Quote Major 19th December 2008, 09:55
Quote:
Originally Posted by p3n
Looks neat, if someone hadn't already build a perfect terrorism simulator google just perfected it!

Quote mclean007 19th December 2008, 10:09
Quote:
Originally Posted by p3n
Looks neat, if someone hadn't already build a perfect terrorism simulator google just perfected it!
What is that supposed to mean? How does this benefit terrorists?
Quote StephenK 19th December 2008, 10:34
Tad silly comment, but meant in jest im sure :)

What gets me is that for a sec I thought the image was a photo not the 3d map. Excellent :)
Quote perplekks45 19th December 2008, 11:41
Yep, like it. But then again... what use would I have for a 3D view of each and every urban area? I mean there is no way this replaces a real trip there. And unlike some people I don't really 'feel' it... in a picture. If I want to see it, I go there.
Quote Bauul 19th December 2008, 11:49
Quote:
Originally Posted by mclean007
Quote:
Originally Posted by p3n
Looks neat, if someone hadn't already build a perfect terrorism simulator google just perfected it!
What is that supposed to mean? How does this benefit terrorists?

Because obviously terrorists can't plan their attacks without evil corporations providing them plans to do it first. It's true! The London bombers were lost without tfl.org, and 9/11 could never have happened if the hijackers hadn't practiced on Microsoft Flight Sim 1998. Obviously this will enable terrorists to carry out henious crimes where before they just turned up at New York, went "ahh, it's too big and we're lost, if only we had a pretty 3D model of the city!" and ran away. Damn you Google!
Quote StephenK 19th December 2008, 11:59
Hahahahahah! Awesome Bauul!
Quote stephen2002 19th December 2008, 12:01
Microsoft's map product has had 3D models of major cities for a long time. Fly to NY and the very detailed 3D buildings, which from the looks of it are auto-generated by the birds-eye photos, stretch to the horizon. They even have clouds (based off of the current weather) in most areas. Some areas even have foliage.
Quote hitman012 19th December 2008, 12:07
Quote:
Originally Posted by stephen2002
Microsoft's map product has had 3D models of major cities for a long time. Fly to NY and the very detailed 3D buildings, which from the looks of it are auto-generated by the birds-eye photos, stretch to the horizon. They even have clouds (based off of the current weather) in most areas. Some areas even have foliage.
They have some 3D UK cities as well (e.g. Bristol), which I've not seen from Google yet. I haven't checked Earth for a while though.
Quote Javerh 19th December 2008, 14:26
Quote:
Originally Posted by aon`aTv.gsus666
Yep, like it. But then again... what use would I have for a 3D view of each and every urban area? I mean there is no way this replaces a real trip there. And unlike some people I don't really 'feel' it... in a picture. If I want to see it, I go there.

Instead of just looking up a location on a map before going there, you can check what the buildings over there look like. For me that would be a huge benefit. Seeing the landmarks beforehand makes it easy to recognize them in real life. For instance, when going to a job interview, instead of relying on a vague Randomstreetname 123, you can see where the main entrance is and head straight there. ;)
Quote cpemma 20th December 2008, 15:37
Quote:
Originally Posted by stephen2002
Microsoft's map product has had 3D models of major cities for a long time.
The MS/Multimap "Bird's Eye" view seems to have pretty good UK coverage and comes within a couple of miles of my home over some very rural country. It looks very sharp, almost Toy-Town, and it does make it much easier to recognise buildings. Only pity is I can't fill more of the screen as with Google Earth. :(
Quote perplekks45 20th December 2008, 16:32
Quote:
Originally Posted by Javerh
Instead of just looking up a location on a map before going there, you can check what the buildings over there look like. For me that would be a huge benefit. Seeing the landmarks beforehand makes it easy to recognize them in real life. For instance, when going to a job interview, instead of relying on a vague Randomstreetname 123, you can see where the main entrance is and head straight there. ;)

I still don't see it, sorry. I find it quite easy to find any given address. I just plan in 10 or 15 minutes more and I'm fine in 99% of all cases.

Anyways, what was the official purpose for Google Earth and MS' WhateverIt'sCalled? Clearly not free sight-seeing tours for everyone?
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