As we mentioned in our month-end post, over the last couple of months, Google has stepped up the rate at which they are releasing 3D imagery.
Most notably in the last week Google has added areas in three new countries: South Africa, Kosovo and Montenegro. The imagery in the three new countries appears to have been captured in the second half of 2014.
As usual, you can see the extent of Goolge’s 3D coverage with our KML file
and let us know about new areas in the comments of this post. Keep in mind that it can take us several days to add new finds to the KML. As always, a big thank you to Anton Rudolfsson for tracing the areas for the KML, and to all the GEB readers who find new areas.
Although Google has removed its 3D Imagery map from the Google Maps Gallery, the map still exists and Google has updated it with the latest additions. You can use this KML file to view it in Google Earth.
Google pays special attention to bridge models, such as this interesting design in Podgorica, Montenegro.
Some unusually colourful buildings at a sewage plant in Gottingen, Germany.
For the above locations, and a couple of other places of interest in the new imagery, download this KML file.
About Timothy Whitehead
Timothy has been using Google Earth since 2004 when it was still called Keyhole before it was renamed Google Earth in 2005 and has been a huge fan ever since. He is a programmer working for Red Wing Aerobatx and lives in Cape Town, South Africa.
Maybe they want to keep people happy by giving them some new toys to play with, now that they’ve turned off “classic” Google Maps for good (because scores of people were still preferring that over the “new” Maps, and Google hasn’t exactly been known to give people what they want…).
Finally someone who understand’s Google’s changed philosophy. You’re on the right path with that.
Many thanks for this post. Google are either lazy, seriously weird, or even perverse, as when you open the now broken link to the 3D coverage map previously in the Gallery this appears “The requested URL was not found on this server. That’s all we know.” which is clearly nonsense as a Google search quickly found that the map still exists, as you point out.
I reckon they’re lining up 3D Imagery up for a mention at the Google I/O15.
Now on every populated continent – North & South America, Europe, Australia, Asia (Japan), Africa. Just not Antartica.
Or maybe some % of population covered?
Many thanks for this post.
Fairbanks Alaska is in 3D.
Los Palacios y Villafranca (Sevilla, Spain)
Toyota, Mito and Maebashi (Japan)
Thank you for letting us know. Please use the comments of this post:
http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2014/09/google-earth-automatically-generated-3d-mesh.html
for new finds. Sorry if it wasn’t clear in my post above.
They still haven’t done the 3D imagery for my town yet! If they produce 3D imagery from Street View, then could their algorithm generate 3D imagery anywhere where street view is available?
The current 3D imagery is generated from aerial imagery. This requires various licences and sometimes political agreement. Some parts of the world will likely not get 3D imagery in the near future for political reasons – just as Street View has been objected to in some locations.
This is likely their dying breath before they pull the plug completely on GE in order to go with *phones* pleasing the lowest common denominator.
Since 2010 Google has completely changed philosophy and not for the better.
That KML file is very helpful! I am just wondering: Dublin, Ireland *used* to be in “real” 3D but since about a month ago it isn’t real 3D anymore. What happened? 🙂
When will you do Belgrade and other cities in Serbia in 3D?