If you fly to Chicago right now in Google Earth with the 3D Buildings layer turned on, you will find that there are two John Hancock buildings in the layer. And, one of them isn’t even in the right spot (the one with the white antennas). Not sure how the second one slipped in, but this wouldn’t be the first time 3D model errors slipped in. You have to give Google credit – with millions of 3D models being added to the 3D Warehouse, it’s hard to make sure only the correct data gets into the layer. See for example the giant building (actually a model conversion bug) found last year – but, was fixed shortly thereafter.
About Frank Taylor
Frank Taylor started the Google Earth Blog in July, 2005 shortly after Google Earth was first released. He has worked with 3D computer graphics and VR for many years and was very impressed with this exciting product. Frank completed a 5.5 year circumnavigation of the earth by sailboat in June 2015 which you can read about at Tahina Expedition, and is a licensed pilot, backpacker, diver, and photographer.
I know you’re interested in GE oddities… Did you ever check the altitude of the Dead Sea? According to GE, it’s 0, but actually it’s -1200 ft (below “sea level”) The country immediately around the shoreline is quite bizarre – as it’s actually steep cliffs, but appears as a flat plain.
Odd eh?
Your right, and this morning, the building is flying.
Picture here :
http://www.imagup.com/imgs/1213440480.html
Perhaps Google removes errors like this by having the building blast off into space. 🙂 (It’s gone now.)
On a related note, I really need a faster net connection…
The City Gate Tower in Ramat Gan, Israel, also appears twice, only once in the correct spot (the right one in the image):
http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/6766/doublecitygate3dvj6.jpg
in Buenos Aires is there a duplicated building too.. “Bouchard Tower”
Is there an article anywhere describing the photographic technique and subsequent merging into the computer database, these amazing 360° photographs? I am a photographer getting back on my feet after being paralyzed a quadriplegic from a beach accident. Through this amazing program, I am vicariously traveling around the world through Google World. My frustration at being paralyzed melts when I spontaneously roam the world.
I would love to know the story of how the hundreds of photographers outfit rental cars with the equipment and how the process is digitally saved and transferred to Google command center.
It is a terrific story. Has it been written?
Michael Kanouff
fromtheedge.net
Maui Hawaii