Google are making me eat my words about them not being innovative on an almost-daily basis. And i couldn’t be happier!! Have you seen the new Google Maps?
They say…
Since 2006, we’ve had textured 3D buildings in Google Earth, and we’re excited to announce that we’ll begin adding 3D models to entire metropolitan areas to Google Earth on mobile devices in the near future.
Thanks to new imagery rendering techniques and computer vision, we’re able to create 3D cityscapes, complete with buildings, terrain and even landscaping, from 45-degree aerial imagery.
By the end of the year, we aim to have 3D coverage for metropolitan areas with a combined population of 300 million people.
Finally, they are putting all of their processing power, their image scrutineering abilities, their collossal bank of geographical, geolocational data to good use and auto-generating (to some degree) 3D cities.
Test Drive: Really Unlimited anyone?
Self-designing 3D cities? So that’s why Google got rid of Sketch Up!!