Categories: Technology

Google Maps’ next dimension revealed with fully automated 3D cityscapes

Google has somewhat taken us to the next dimension at its special Google Maps event in San Francisco today as it unveiled its improved version of 3D maps.

Admittingly, Google Maps already has some elements of 3D incorporated into its service in the form of vector-based 3D renderings of buildings in urbanised areas and 45° aerial imagery of a large selection of cities across the globe (like the images of Dublin published last week).

Today’s announcement appears to use a mixture of the two. Similar to Google’s current 45° aerial imagery, planes are required to fly over cities in strict grid structures capturing 45° stereoscopic imagery from all four compass points.

These images are then used to help build detailed vector frameworks of building exteriors and various ground objects, and a clay model-like structure is created. From this, millions of points are calculated to which images are algorithmically aligned. The entire process is fully automated.

Google’s improved 3D maps will cover “several” cities soon, and possibly in the coming weeks, with a “very large number” expected by year’s end.

The screenshots we’ve seen so far look good but haven’t blown us away just yet. Perhaps we just need to get hands-on to really appreciate this new feature. Here’s hoping that Apple doesn’t disappoint with its own 3D announcement next week.

Via SlashGear

Albizu Garcia

Albizu Garcia is the Co-Founder and CEO of Gain -- a marketing technology company that automates the social media and content publishing workflow for agencies and social media managers, their clients and anyone working in teams.

View Comments

  • Looks so nice.Am also using google map to find any place and exactly know the location.This 3D version will surely helps me like always.Thanks for making this attractive.

Recent Posts

UN pushes great reset agenda to reshape economy & society, eat fake meat: report

Every pathway is about manipulating human behavior to accept unelected globalist policies: perspective The United…

3 days ago

NovaWave Capital expands investment platform with new partners and Arizona AI Venture Studio

NovaWave Capital is accelerating its ambition to build and scale AI-first companies across the US,…

4 days ago

The Sociable Presents: 50 ESG Leaders to Watch in 2026

Over two decades ago, New York hummed with ambition as CEOs, investors, and activists gathered…

6 days ago

DARPA P5 program wants to know if intl payment systems can guarantee financial privacy, efficiency at high volumes

What advantages would the military have in giving commercial banks & fintechs the ability to…

2 weeks ago

Prezent partners with Tom McCarthy to bring powerful AI-communication coaching avatars to market 

For startups the world over, the ability to master the art of a good pitch…

3 weeks ago

The mind-body metrics revolution: building smarter health plans for longer lives

As the global population ages, the burden of degenerative disease rises, including a higher prevalence…

3 weeks ago