I’m such a nerd that when I’m bored I simply surf around the world using Google mapping software.  Maps, earth, satellite images, their new voyeur software…I love it all.

I came across a thread on a Skyscraper Page the other day regarding 3-D images being uploaded into Google Earth.  It seems that the local planner/developer community here (at least the online planner/developer community) is really excited about the chance to put their own work on Google Earth. 

Here is how the thread starts with a note from a guy that goes by the handel priller:

“I noticed that Google Earth has almost no models for buildings in Austin, not even the plain placeholder boxes they have for most big cities. I’ve been wanting to play with Google’s SketchUp program, too, so I decided to start building some models with it that I could upload to Google Earth.

Please keep in mind I have no experience doing this kind of modeling. So I’ve started on a few more simple buildings, getting some experience, before tackling the more complex ones. And then eventually I hope to try to model some of the new highrises.

Here’s the models I did for 100 Congress and One Congress Plaza. The capitol building was done by Google:”

And here are his buildings (the Capital is in the background of the first image):

Once these images were uploaded, the entire forum (about two dozen daily visitors) exploded with excitement.  People have been cheering on prillar who has gone onto build out another ten or so towers using Google ScetchUp.  Others in the forum have joined in and are adding to the skyline.  Given the traffic on this forum thread, I would imagine that most of downtown Austin will be created by Average Joe’s before end of year.

What did Google provide?  Everything.  The maps, the sketchup software, and even the chance for people to upload their sketches to Google Earth so they could share their work with others.  All of their services are easy to use - see my previous post on Flow Theory - and allows for organic creativity among the most obscure groups including a bunch of planning/developing junkies in Austin.

From past threads you may have noted that I’m opposed to the Walled Garden effect most companies insist on using when considering co-creation.  Google shows us how to do it right.

Now if we can just get Google to understand the power of WOM.  Downtown Austin was built by chance, but Google can learn from this and stimulate similar collaborative efforts among similar audiences in cities across the world.  If I were working in their marketing department, I would be scouring the globe for groups like this one on Skyscraper Page.  I may even build competitions into the mix to stimulate more modeling faster. 

Regardless, as long as they keep their software open for additions, I don’t see an end to turning the 2D into the 3D.