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January 7, 2007
Google Releases New 3D Buildings Layer for Google Earth
[UPDATE: See YouTube video demo of these new 3D Buildings.]
Google has released a new layer (viewable with Google Earth 4 beta), which lets you view higher quality 3D Buildings - many of which are photo-textured. I highly recommend you download the new official Google Earth 4 because it loads these models much faster than the previous betas (actually, I just realized the new layer isn't available unless you download the official version). You can now turn on a "Best of 3D Warehouse" layer under "3D Buildings" and it will automatically load high quality buildings for the area you are viewing. The layer is a network link which automatically loads 3D buildings for the city you are viewing. Only cities which have the buildings available will load. But, many major cities around the world have at least a few buildings. Above is a screenshot of New York City. You can also turn on the "Other Buildings" layer and still see the old gray 3D buildings Google Earth has always had. Although, there is no longer a conflict between the cruder gray buildings and the new higher quality buildings. They've removed the cruder buildings wherever a higher quality building from the new layer exists.
You can also still download the 3D Warehouse network link 
to find even more 3D models and select the placemark to load them up.
This new building layer is Google's answer to Microsoft's recent release of the Virtual Earth 3D beta with several cities worth of 3D textured buildings. Microsoft has several complete cities with textured 3D buildings. Which is pretty cool. With Google's implementation, any one can create and add 3D buildings to the 3D Warehouse - and they may get selected to be a part of the new layer. I'm looking forward to seeing both approaches evolve over the next year.
Read about other new layers added today as well.
Posted by FrankTaylor at January 7, 2007 8:35 AM
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Comments
Posted by: Michael at January 7, 2007 10:36 AM
wow, these are really cool! It looks like most of Downtown Denver is 3D now.
Posted by: Jimmy at January 7, 2007 11:56 AM
W-O-W that's pretty cool. There are hundreds of Buildings around the world
Posted by: paul89 at January 7, 2007 12:16 PM
the german reichstag in berlin and it's flags look like straight out of legoland;-)
Posted by: smokeonit at January 8, 2007 12:36 PM
there is new 3D data created for alexandria (egypt) for google earth users, u can make a post about it if u want to, provided at
www. infopot .tk
Posted by: andr at January 9, 2007 7:10 AM
this is great!!!!!wow wow wow
Posted by: John at January 9, 2007 1:35 PM
First, I'm a big fan, keep up the good work.
Second, I recently posted on my blog comparing this feature in Google Earth and Virtual Earth here - with some screenshot comparisons:
http://blogthis.ringthis.com/2007/01/photo-texture-this.html
I'm sticking by Virtual Earth being ahead of Google Earth on this, but maybe with the recent Sketchup 6 release there'll be more user-generated content. But I'm not convinced yet.
Gotta love competition.
Posted by: Chris Ring at January 10, 2007 11:59 AM
I's really cool! But a have some questions. First of all how do I put my models to this layer? Anyone know how?
Posted by: BULLdozer at January 16, 2007 5:01 AM
wow, these are really cool! It looks like most of Downtown Denver is 3D now.
Posted by: ellis at January 17, 2007 9:50 PM
wow, these are really cool! It looks like most of Downtown Denver is 3D now.
Posted by: ellis at January 17, 2007 9:50 PM
I would like a 3D biulding google Earth please for my Family
Posted by: kiante at January 25, 2007 1:43 AM
This software is purely imaginative and par expressionless its a great achivement by google therefore i congratulate this invention by GOOGLE "EAST OR WEST GOOGLE IS THE BEST"
Posted by: Anshul jain at January 25, 2007 7:32 AM
This is awesome I can see the Grand canyon from this thing and Niagra Falls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Nicole at February 4, 2007 12:48 AM
wow, these are really cool! It looks like most of Downtown Denver is 3D now.
Posted by: naji at May 26, 2008 4:13 PM
Please show me 3D building of GOOGLE HQ and how can i see the 3D preview of others
thanks
regards
RAVI VERMA
Posted by: RAVI VERMA at December 24, 2008 3:53 PM
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Very nice models but the navigation should be improved. I want to walk between the skyscrapers of Manhattan!