Adding a Third Dimension to the Geoweb

Introduction

As the Geoweb becomes an integral part of the way that we interact with geospatial information, consumers are expecting richer, more immersive experiences. When it comes to navigation, visualization, virtual tourism, and any number of other applications, there’s no substitute for being able to explore your world in the round; if a picture’s worth a thousand words, a 3D model is certainly worth a thousand pictures.

The Workshop

This workshop will introduce participants to the current state of the art in user-generated 3D content. It will also seek to help answer the following questions:

• Why is 3D data important to the development of the GeoWeb?
• What types of data really need to be 3D?
• Who’s going to create all of this 3D content? Who’s going to use the content once it exists?
• Why is a 3D model a more objective form of information than a photograph, and why does this matter?
• What’s the best way to display existing 3D content on the Web?

Rather than relying on slides to convey information, participants will be encouraged to follow along on their laptops. Any learning that takes place will happen organically; we’ll use the following free apps and resources:

• Google Earth
• Google SketchUp (cross-platform 3D modeling software)
• Google Building Maker (web-based 3D modeling app)
• Google 3D Warehouse (online repository of 3D user-generated content)

After the workshop, participants should be able to build an accurate, photo-textured, geo-located 3D model and see it in a GeoBrowser. They should understand the need for 3D visualization as it relates to place-based information, and be able to articulate that need to others. Lastly, they should be aware of the technologies that allow people to publish 3D content where others can see it.