[IntotheWest]

It's been a few months since I've been able to work on the Calgary models for Google Earth - and I actually stopped because it was becoming a daunting task to get them ALL done (plus all the podium and texture updates I wanted to do).

But, when I went to download the new Google Earth 4, I noticed that Calgary is represented in the picture on the main "Google Earth Free" link - which are all my models (here - http://earth.google.com/earth.html). As well, Calgary is represented in the "fly-by" showing off the "texture buildings" (here - http://earth.google.com/earth4.html...click on the Coliseum).

I was asked by the Sketchup team to start a "Collection" for Calgary models...so I did, and it can be found here:

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/cldetails?clid=28d71714a3364f6b7734886d7812f6bf

There is also a GoogleGroup associated with this (however, you have to register as a member...hence, the reason I created this thread):

http://groups.google.com/group/CalgaryDowntown

From here, I'll list the the pending and completed modifications, as well as new building requests. My first goal is to complete the downtown core - and I'll limit it to just buildings completed or U/C...no time for all the proposed buildings (as it took hours to complete PLT, and that may not go ahead).

I'd like to keep Calgary at the forefront of Google Earth modelled cities, but I am now asking for some help. The biggest challenge is getting photos that I can use for textures - and angles for buildings to show different details, angles, etc.

Anyone that may be interested in either building models (it really is fairly easy), or taking photos, it will be greatly appreciated - and we'll see if we can keep this going!

For anyone wanting to model buildings, a good source of "Best Practices" can be found here (hey, they reference SSP as well on the last page):

http://contest.sketchup.com/modelyourcampus.pdf

Of course, I'd be more than willing to help answer questions as well.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/intothewest4222/downtownshot.jpg

[Wooster]

For photos. If you have a particular building you want to work on, just request it on here and I'm sure lots of people will send you their stuff.

These are just amazing so far. Keep up the great work. This is a skyscraper fan's dream come true!

[Kevin_foster]

Intothewest - I'd help you on this project if I could. I have extensive experience in max, cad, maya and of course, sketchup (which is preferable in this situation)

If you ever want a hand, pm me :) Although I'd rather do Edmonton buildings :P

EDIT: Good job by the way!

[IntotheWest]

Thanks again Josh. It was easy (relatively) getting the first 40 done, since I had 7 weeks off back in the Fall...though my wife was getting worried because I was working on it all the time :-) Since then it's been tough - especially since there's still SO much to do (and all the new buildings aren't helping).

I've been using Emporis list to go from tallest to shortest, and I'm at the Watermark Tower. I need some better pictures of this building from 7th Ave, and also from 8th...straight on, and different angles so I can transform it to 3D.

I also want to correct the SW corner of Bankers Hall (and make sure the Royal Bank is correct), and the Canada Trust podium from all angles...so pics of those would be helpful.

The other piece I'd like to get done sooner rather than later is Stephen Ave - I would need straight on pics (for textures), and different angles to get set-back and heights...the back-lanes would also make this more accurate and complete.

Unfortunately, I live way, way, way south, so getting downtown all the time to take pics isn't realistic for me - so pictures are at least half the work!

[JBinCalgary]

that is terrific! keep up the good work

[freeweed]

Dude, having your work showcased on Google like that is seriously cool!

Congrats, if you into that sort of attention! :tup:

[Surrealplaces]

Great work! There's a real likeness in all of the buildings.

[IntotheWest]

Dude, having your work showcased on Google like that is seriously cool!

Congrats, if you into that sort of attention! :tup:

Well, not really into that sort of attention, but it did highlight to me that I've got Calgary "on the map" (ha ha) it terms of being ahead of the rest...

But, I realised a few months ago that I couldn't get the rest of downtown done on my own...hence this thread. It's not to necessarily get congrats as much as trying to get the word out for anyone willing to help.

There's a few guys that seem to make weekly trips to all the current sites downtown for pictures, and I thought if I can get a few of the older buildings that I need, I may continue working on getting this done. Building the models is time-consuming enough, I just don't have time for photographing as well.

At the same time, if anyone is interested in contributing a model here or there, it will go a long way (there's a lot of simple box buildings for anyone interested in trying it out).

[IntotheWest]

Looking for pictures of the James Short +15, the back of TCPL, and the front of TCPL...After 2 hours of fiddling, I'm nearly complete, but I didn't take all the pics I needed.

Anyone that can help, please post pics on this thread!

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/intothewest4222/tcpl5.jpg
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/intothewest4222/tcpl5-2.jpg

[Blue_Cypress]

I may try my hand at it in a while here. Right now the home computer is running linux though, which isn't a supported os for sketchup.

[IntotheWest]

I may try my hand at it in a while here. Right now the home computer is running linux though, which isn't a supported os for sketchup.

That would be great! Let me know what you'd be interested to build - there's still a lot left!

[Beazley66]

blow me away! fantastic stuff. I might be able to help you out around FCC.

[IntotheWest]

blow me away! fantastic stuff. I might be able to help you out around FCC.

FCC or FCC2? I've already completed FCC...unless you see things that need fixing. It was actually kind of a beast to do.

I'm actually on to the buildings under 100 meters...the boring stuff I guess.

However, all the new buildings in the Beltline would be great! Like Chocolate, Arriva, Vetro, Sasso, etc. Also, I never did do the Courts building yet.

All of the new buildings (except for the Courts) have DPs with great elevations and footprints that make building them waaay easier (instead of "guesstimating").

[Beazley66]

FCC or FCC2? I've already completed FCC...unless you see things that need fixing. It was actually kind of a beast to do.

I'm actually on to the buildings under 100 meters...the boring stuff I guess.

However, all the new buildings in the Beltline would be great! Like Chocolate, Arriva, Vetro, Sasso, etc. Also, I never did do the Courts building yet.

All of the new buildings (except for the Courts) have DPs with great elevations and footprints that make building them waaay easier (instead of "guesstimating").

I guess i was thinking something of the contextual stuff. FCC looks pretty damned good to me.

[Shodan]

Very very cool! Reminds me of the scenery used in the latest Microsoft Flight Simulator. :tup:

[IntotheWest]

Couple new additions coming soon (will upload in the next couple day):

Calgary Courts Centre

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/intothewest4222/courtsv1sepic.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/intothewest4222/courtsv1nepic.jpg

And the best-looking building in Calgary, Mount Royal House...don't know what took me so long to do this one:

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/intothewest4222/mountroyalsepic.jpg

[IntotheWest]

Very very cool! Reminds me of the scenery used in the latest Microsoft Flight Simulator. :tup:


Thanks, some of the cities in the new Flightsim do look better, but the few buildings in Calgary are way off.

Also, though I have to keep these models "lightweight" - in other words, don't overdo the detail - they are still far more detailed than FlightSim...for the new buildings (Courts Centre, Centrium, Centennial, etc) I actually build the models right from the DPs.

[Boris2k7]

Nice work ItW... the courts model is nice! I'm afraid that I don't have quite enough experience in Sketchup nor am I able to draw the amount of info from the DP's necessary to get any sort of accurate models...

I will, of course, lend you any images that you need to make more models if I possess them...

Maybe you should do the Palliser and Gulf Canada next? :)

[IntotheWest]

Nice work ItW... the courts model is nice! I'm afraid that I don't have quite enough experience in Sketchup nor am I able to draw the amount of info from the DP's necessary to get any sort of accurate models...

I will, of course, lend you any images that you need to make more models if I possess them...

Maybe you should do the Palliser and Gulf Canada next? :)

I'm going to finish up TCPL, Watermark - along with fixing up the podiums of Bow Valley Sq, Sunlife, and TD...I am typically going down the list from tallest.

However, if you can provide me as many angle shots (and straight on) for Palliser and Gulf, I can get them done - especially Gulf. :-)

[IntotheWest]

Watermark will be added in the next couple days...the block will be complete with the City TV and Sears building - hopefully by mid-week:

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/intothewest4222/watermarknw.jpg

Unfortunately, the Google Earth team hasn't yet fixed the crazy elevation changes in that area (TD is sinking!)...

[IntotheWest]

There's a new option in the latest version of Google Earth 4 that will automatically show most of the Calgary building models...instead of having to download each one.

Under the "Layers" window on the left, there's an option for "3D Buildings". Open that, and there's another for "3D Warehouse", and again for "Best of 3D Warehouse".

Most of the existing buildings I've created will show up (with the exception of "Nexen"). I personally don't have control over the models that get in there yet, but that should be coming soon (as the Sketchup team is trying to QA all the models at this point).


Anyway - anyone that might have had performance issues with all the buildings on screen at once, should try again. The latest version has made some good improvements to performance.

[angevine001]

The buildings look fantastic IntotheWest, are there any buildings downtown you need photos of?

[freeweed]

Anyway - anyone that might have had performance issues with all the buildings on screen at once, should try again. The latest version has made some good improvements to performance.

I really hate people like you. I spend years weaning myself away from PC gaming so as to avoid paying hundreds each year for high-end 3D video cards...

Then someone comes along with some INCREDIBLE models in Google Earth, and I watch my laptop just about choke on rendering as I move around the city.

Hate Hate Hate!!!!! :jester:

On a serious note, damn fine work. Wish I had a decent enough system (and spare time) to help with some of the Sketchup work.

[angevine001]

Nice work on the IBM building. When will your Watermark Tower Model be up?

[IntotheWest]

Yes...IBM is done. I've passed along a request to "flatten" Calgary's core area a little - since it's too bumpy, and IBM is sunken as well :-)

After I put IBM there, I realized how much more I have to go...a long ways. The Beltline just looks sooo empty.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/intothewest4222/ibminGE.jpg

Watermark is just about ready. I have some work on the 8th ave entrance side (I'll likely leave out the rounded "Watermark" sign though)...and I'd like to release it with Sears and CHUM done as well - likely mid-week.

[towerguy3]

From which satellite services does Google get those satellite images from? How dated are they? For example how dated would the Vancouver photos be?

Another thing I'm curious about is the Sea To Sky Highway images. I'm interested in following construction progress on the highway. The images up to Britannia Beach are clear, but north of that the images appear off colour and blurry. Is that because of a lack of updated images?

[mersar]

Most of the images are from Terrametrics or DigitalGlobe. Average age is usually 2-3 years old, most of the imagery for Calgary is from 2005. Its not updated that often (areas around Calgary are in a few cases still using 2002 or 2003 images), so it wouldn't work well for what your wanting. The blurriness is due to them not having a higher res image loaded, they are slowly increasing the resolution, but the planet is a huge area to manage imagery of.

[towerguy3]

The Earth's area is 196 million square miles of which 71 % is water. 29 % of 196 million is 56.84 million square miles of land area; a lot of area to image!

So let's get going on it!

[IntotheWest]

I've added Watermark tower...I'll finish up the block, and then work on the podium levels for all the other buildings.

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/intothewest4222/watermarkwest.jpg

[IntotheWest]

Some more Calgary Google Earth updates:

New and improved TransCanada:

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/intothewest4222/improvedtcpl.jpg

Gulf Canada Square:

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/intothewest4222/gulfsquareshoteast.jpg

And, I've been busy detailing the north side Stephen Ave, which includes Sears, Holt, Eaton's Centre, and the new and improved Canada Trust:

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/intothewest4222/sears.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/intothewest4222/plus15.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c126/intothewest4222/a-channel.jpg

[Boris2k7]

Fantastic work! I noticed the City TV when I was last in GE... :tup:

[jeffwhit]

fucking sick man. (in the good way.)

[IntotheWest]

Thanks guys...I realize it's still a pain to download all of these models - and especially since I'm working on the "old stuff" to build Calgary's "Google Form", it's just not as sexy. I have the DPs for most of the new buildings (thanks to Boris' lists! Emporis has become a terrible source for info), so they are coming as well.

I've also been told from the Google Sketchup team that the future direction will allow to download entire collections (I and Google have a "Calgary" collection, that should become one soon) at once..this will be especially useful since I'm continually updating existing models.

Next up: Palliser, Livingston, and updates to TD Square and Scotia (continuing the Stephen Ave north side). I'll post pictures when all of these are done.

[nasdaq]

unfreaking believable. Excellent job IntotheWest

[Wooster]

Holy crap that is cool. I remember dreaming of seeing something like this as a kid. A 3D calgary - now it is coming true! That shot of stephen ave is something else.

[mersar]

Yep. And there will be another significant group of buildings coming into Calgary this summer, I'm leading a team thats competing in Google's 'Sketchup Your Campus' contest, so the entire U of C campus will be there. Most of the buildings have the rough massings done so far. I may post a few shots of how its coming in the future, however it won't be in the 3d warehouse until the contest is over as per the rules.

(BTW, if any U of C students on here want to help, feel free to contact me. So far its just 2 of us working on this and its a huge number of buildings we're trying to do).

[SteveP]

Awesome work! Absolutely great.

[freeweed]

Did I mention how much I hate you now that I definitely need a newer video card thanks to these highly-detailed 3D renderings? :haha:

Just kidding dude, keep up the great work. That Sears looks awesome! :tup:

[IntotheWest]

^Freeweed, I'm really focusing on making these models as "lightweight" as possible...part of that will involve going back and "hiding" all the visible connection lines, this will help performance. As well, if you haven't already, download the latest Google Earth 4, as it has some better performance as well.

Josh - That was my dream as well (don't know how I ended up doing what I do now to be honest)...some 30 years later, I finally get to develop it. Despite spending an incredible amount of time on these (fixing TransCanada took about 8 hours alone), it's worth it when they're done...and great to share with others that appreciate this stuff ;-)

[Bokimon]

Outstanding work INtothewest!!
I absolutely love the whole 3d downtown of our city.
Especially that Ugly ass Mount Royal House, quite accurate if you askk me:D

Keep up the good work and I will continue to check back every so often.
Only a matter of time before all these models crash my computer.

[CtrlAltDel]

Excellent job IntotheWest! The hard work is definitely appreciated.

[freeweed]

^Freeweed, I'm really focusing on making these models as "lightweight" as possible...part of that will involve going back and "hiding" all the visible connection lines, this will help performance. As well, if you haven't already, download the latest Google Earth 4, as it has some better performance as well.

Oh, ignore me. Don't sacrifice detail for those of us out there trying to limp along with dinosaur hardware. :D

[mersar]

And a taste of what is also coming for the NW:
http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/5092/uofccampushr8.jpg

[IntotheWest]

Mersar - that will look good. The toughest part I've found are the textures though (or, most time-consuming anyways)...lots of photos, lots of photoshopping. But the structures look good (Olympic Oval will take some time, eh?).

Once this is done - and the competition - I'll make sure to add it to the Calgary collection.

Good Luck!

[skrish]

Wow, great job on the university Mersar

[mersar]

Yep, textures are fun. The oval won't be too bad, its just a lot of surfaces to work out. Fortunately a number of the buildings are quite plain, but I'm anticipating spending a few days just taking photo's for textures and just making sure everything is reasonable. And thats not all the buildings either, I also have most of rez plus the CDC and Petro Canada building also done now.

[freeweed]

IntotheWest:

So after months of fighting various bugs, I finally got 3D working again on my main horsepower box (I love Linux :hell: ). I gotta say, these look even nicer and run smooth as silk. I can really appreciate the detail now that I can actually load them fully and rotate around, etc. Kinda fun to notice just how bad Google's elevation data is for downtown; it looks like there are huge hills all over the place. :haha:

Teeny tiny request, if you ever get bored, see if you can put a big glowing yellow Shell symbol on their building. I notice you have it on Husky's digs, and the nice TD logo on their building - it really adds to the realism and makes it feel as close to the real thing as I've ever seen. :tup:

Oh, and if you can somehow imbue me with your talent, and a LOT of spare time to work on this, hey, that'd be great. :haha:

[IntotheWest]

^ I am going back and fixing all of my first buildings to a) "hide" solid lines for performance, b) re-align to the new Google satellite images (from November), and c) correct all podium levels for better detail/textures.

The hills are annoying, and the Sketchup guys in Boulder have tried helping by passing on requests to the GE folks in Cali...however, as they point out (nicely), the world is big, and Calgary won't necessarily be their focus.

Too bad, because I'm currently fixing Scotia/Bay (hopefully done by mid-March...the Bay's roof is a pain), and TD Square which are nearly completely "sunk" by the hill on the north side.

I'll check the Shell building for the logo - if it is there, I'm surprised I missed it. If you have a recent picture, that could help. I'll be due to make another photo trip in the next week or two otherwise.

[freeweed]

I'll check the Shell building for the logo - if it is there, I'm surprised I missed it. If you have a recent picture, that could help. I'll be due to make another photo trip in the next week or two otherwise.

It just got put on last fall, but it's like the Bat Signal at night. :haha:

I have to admit, Google has been pretty darn nice to Calgary in Earth - we have some of the best-stitched data, and some of the most current, of any Canadian city. I guess we can live with some elevation discrepancies. ;)