Back in 2009, Google released a neat tool called building maker. It allowed you to easily contribute to the quantity of 3D models in Google Earth with some simple point-and-click tools.
Building Maker was a very innovative tool, and was used to create thousands of 3D models that can be found in Google Earth today. However, with the shift to 3D imagery in the latest versions of Google Earth, it seemed that tools like Building Maker were probably on their way out. Last week Google made it official.
Along with Building Maker, Google is closing a handful of other products including Google Reader and a variety of smaller products.
Building Maker is scheduled to be shut down on June 30, 2013. You can read more about it in this official blog post from Google.
About Mickey Mellen
Mickey has been using Google Earth since it was released in 2005, and has created a variety of geo-related sites including Google Earth Hacks. He runs a web design firm in Marietta, GA, where he lives with his wife and two kids.
I spent hours and hours with BuildingMaker in the first year or two, but must admit I haven’t used it for over a year now. So retirement feels okay.
I wonder if there’s any chance of getting the code published so others can learn from it? Getting calibrated imagery to do a DIY BuildingMaker would be tough.
So what sort tools are their for building modelers who are working purely with external photographs?
The shutdown of BuildingMaker is sad. Hope they dont stop and take away the “old” building layer, because non automatic 3d generated city had no chance of 3d models.
@Andrew: You can Trimble Sketchup to generate models with external photographs.
Breaking News: http://techcrunch.com/2013/03/18/google-maps-gets-more-exploratory-with-street-view-access-to-everest-kilimanjaro-mount-elbrus-and-more/
🙂
does anyone know of another program that has taken the place of the other google building maker, which can make buildings as easily as the building maker does for one’s own purposes?