Chapter Wrapup

The goal of this chapter was to provide an introduction to some of the basic concepts of 3D visualization, and how they can be incorporated into geospatial technology. Geospatial Lab Application 14.1 will get your hands dirty working with 3D design and visualization, using SketchUp and Google Earth. However, 3D modeling goes well beyond SketchUp—designing, programming, and working with 3D modeling and visualization comprise a whole industry on its own: video games, movies, television and Web animation, and rapidly developing simulators of many kinds are constantly serving up extremely impressive and ever-more-realistic 3D designs. There’s no way to cover all the possible applications, software, companies, and changes going on in this rapidly developing field in just one short chapter. Check out the Apps, Blogs, and Social Media box for the Google Earth app you can currently use to look at 3D models on your mobile device, as well as blogs, Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, and YouTube videos dealing with geospatial technology and 3D visualization.

3D visualization is a very appealing and quickly evolving area of geospatial technology, but there are many new developments yet to come as technology advances. Chapter 15 explores some of these new frontiers in geospatial technology.

Important note: The references for this chapter are part of the online companion for this book and can be found at http://www.whfreeman.com/shellito2e.

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Apps, Blogs, and Social Media

Here is a sampling of available apps for your mobile device (note that some apps are for Android, some are for Apple iOS, and some may be available for both), as well as some blogs and social media outlets related to this chapter’s concepts.

A representative app for use on your phone or tablet:

  • Google Earth: An app that allows you to use Google Earth on your mobile device (and view 3D cities in the Google Earth environment)

For further up-to-date info, read up on these blogs:

  • ArcGIS Resources – 3D GIS Category (blog posts concerning topics related to working with 3D GIS and 3D visualization): http://blogs.esri.com/esri/arcgis/category/subject-3d-gis
  • SketchUpdate (the official blog for SketchUp): http://sketchupdate.blogspot.com

On Facebook, check out the following:

  • CityEngine: http://www.facebook.com/CityEngine
  • SketchUp: http://www.facebook.com/sketchup?rf=107614912594554

Become a follower on Twitter of:

  • CityEngine: @CityEngine
  • PLW Modelworks: @plwmodelworks3D
  • SketchUp: @SketchUp

On YouTube, watch these videos:

  • Esri CityEngine Trailer (a demo of CityEngine’s capabilities): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFRqSJFp-I0
  • New 3D imagery for Google Earth for mobile (a Google video showing new 3D city imagery available in Google Earth): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6Douyfa7l8
  • PLW Modelworks (PLW Modelworks YouTube channel which features numerous videos showcasing their realistic 3D city models): http://www.youtube.com/user/plwmodelworks
  • The SketchUp Channel (a YouTube channel featuring videos about a variety of SketchUp applications and tutorials): http://www.youtube.com/user/SketchUpVideo