Google to Map San Francisco in 3D

mtz206 writes "SiliconValleyWatcher reports that "Google plans to use trucks equipped with lasers and digital photographic equipment to create a realistic 3D online version of San Francisco, and eventually other major US cities. The move would trump Amazon's A9 service, which offers two-dimensional photos of buildings on US city streets.""

A strange sight

[LaundroMat]

Let's just hope they'll warn the authorities and tell them of their good intentions, because I can imagine not everyone will consider the driving around in trucks 'equipped with lasers and photographic equipment' as a non-threatening activity.

Why?

[onion2k]

What's the point? Ok, it'll be pretty to look at, but highly accurate maps are actually less useful in pretty much all applications than simplified thematic representations.

Re:What is the practical application for this?

[metlin]

Yes, you are.

It makes navigation a lot easier, settings of a city a lot familiar and an advancement in technology.

I mean, you wouldn't expect us to still be playing 2d games, do you? We perceive things in 3d and can relate a lot more easily to real-world landmarks than abstract notions - a realistic 3d map of a city would mean that it is more life-like.

At the very least, it is cool technology and it is progress.

Here's what I would like to see one day

[ChrisF79]

Ever map out where you're going, only to find that its nearly impossible to see any address numbers on buildings, making it harder than it should be to find your destination? I'd like to see streaming video that shows you the drive to wherever you're going. Of course, you could speed it up for the long parts, but show the turns so you know what to look out for. It seems like they could equip some delivery trucks (from other companies) with cameras, maybe strike a deal with UPS or Fedex, and then sort out the video later. Of course, it would take a lot of work, but it could start with smaller cities and work its way up. Now that's what I'd like to see...

Re:What is the practical application for this?

[csteinle]

Don't know about San Francisco, but it would certainly be useful here in Edinburgh. It's possible to get lost in 3 dimensions here. If you don't know the city you can easily be standing exactly where you want to be according to the map, but be looking up thinking "how the hell do I get up there?"

Re:There is already a virtual London project at UC

[Fulkkari]

There was a project to create a 3D model of Helsinki about 10 years ago in VRML. I think it was a part of some bigger project they called Arenanet, which included map services etc.

The version I tried on the Net was basically quite ready in that sense that it had most if not all the buildings. The project however disappeared silently some years ago. There is still this site [virtualhelsinki.net] left with some panorama photos. The original site, arenanet.fi, does not exist any more. Some remnant may still be found at http://arenanet.fi/ [archive.org]">the Internet Archive.

Somebody know more about this project?

Re:... Profit

[hhawk]

Profit Yes, but given the many HILLS and Valleys that make up SF, it might also be a great test case for what ever technology they are using.

Some would consider this good risk management; start w/ some very hard cases and see if you can handle it.

Re:Imagine..

[Anonymous Coward]

A couple of my colleagues drove to a conference in Miami a few weeks ago. The driver for the last stretch realized partway through the city that he knew where he was, and where he was going (despite having never been to Miami before).

After a few minutes, he realized that Vice City was actually modeled on Miami. He could point to buildings and say "There should be a strip club there!" and "I kicked the shit out of some gangsters over there!"

Re:Why?

[Analogy Man]

The extra detail can be very useful. Consider this use case: Friday (tomorrow) I am driving from Michigan to Sheboygan Wisconsin, picking up my sister at the Airport in Milwaukee. There is a park on Lake Michigan a few minutes away from the airport I will use to entertain my kids in the event that I get through Chicago ruch hour traffic with time to spare.

So with respect to the park, from the satellite image I was able to determine there is a beach, it is not apparent that access is controlled (i.e. state or county pass required at some sort of gate house), I can see which entrance serves the beach and picnic area and which is for the golf course, I have a visual idea of the lay of the land so I can drive right in like I have been there before.

Sometimes you just have to marvel at how damn useful this stuff can be.