The City of Greenville announced today that it is one of the first cities to join Google’s Cities in 3D Program. The program enables local governments to share 3D data with Internet users by adding models of their cities to Google Earthâ„¢. To participate, the City of Greenville provided geospatial data such as high-resolution aerial imagery (orthophotography), terrain data and 3D building data, which was then included in the “3D Buildings” layer in Google Earth.
“We are pleased to see Greenville has decided to contribute 3D data as part of the Cities in 3D Partner Program,†said J.L. Needham, Manager of Public Sector Content Partnership at Google. “The Cities in 3D Program represents a continuation of our efforts to engage with content providers, including government agencies, and provide them with tools for making the information they produce more accessible to Internet users.â€
The City of Greenville’s 3D model, which covers approximately 2.3 square miles of the downtown area, was originally developed to support the City’s Downtown Master Plan and is currently being used as part of the review process for downtown projects. By allowing developers to create a model of their proposed construction and view it in the context of existing downtown buildings, the City and the general public are able to gain a better understanding of how the new building may fit into the surrounding area.
According to Mark DePenning, the City’s GIS Administrator, the release of the 3D model to the public complements a variety of web-based images of Greenville that are already available to the public on the Internet, including updated satellite, bird’s eye and even street-level views, and offers countless long-term benefits. “The model is a tool that can be used to support economic development, promote tourism and even enhance public safety,†said DePenning. “Being able to provide millions of Google users with access to our model through the Cities in 3D Program is like icing on the cake, and partnering with Google further promotes our positive image as an innovative city.â€
The City’s 3D model is constantly undergoing additions and improvements, and updates will be provided through Google as they become available. The City’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Division is continuing to explore further innovations such as providing textured 3D models with realistic photos of building facades and providing new aerial images of downtown Greenville.
via: City of Greenville
