Vancouver skyline as seen in Google Earth

[DKaz]

Not quite photography but wow someone's been busy!



Source: Google Earth

Closeup

Source: Google Earth

[Cypherus]

That's amazing. Far too long was Vancouver without photo realistic 3D buildings that was previously available for Toronto and Calgary. Thanks for the update Dkaz.

PS: I grew up in Mission.

[Locked In]

Great skyline shot! The realism is pretty impressive. Here are two photos I took last summer from the top of the 'Spot' on Seymour Street, and the corresponding view in Google Earth. I have the elevation exaggeration set to 1.5, so the mountains appear a bit taller in Google Earth than they are in reality:









Edit: Same view with elevation exaggeration set to 1.0. Now the mountains are right where they should be.

[Lighthouse]

wow! the last time i checked.. only gm place and a couple of other buildings were rendered! impressive work!

[Yume-sama]

Google themselves did Vancouver in 3D, over 1400 buildings. Very few cities in the World are ALL 3D, most just have select landmarks that were done by members.

I really don't know how they did it, I'm thinking they somehow had a computer do it. Because if you look at the Shangri-la model for example, it still looks "Under construction", and even the streetscape is photorealistic.

Definitely one upping Microsoft's "birds eye view".

[Yume-sama]

By the way, it's quite amazing how good the terrain looks if you totally crank the settings (Warning: will kill your computer). Look at the mountains!

Default settings:


Cranked up 100%:


I wish Flight Simulator X was like this!

[giallo]

How can I see these buildings? When I load up Google Earth I get about 10 rendered buildings for Vancouver.

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by giallo

How can I see these buildings? When I load up Google Earth I get about 10 rendered buildings for Vancouver.

Hmm, give it time, I guess. Make sure "3D Buildings" is selected, and consider upgrading to Google Earth 5 which was just released.
http://earth.google.com/

[giallo]

I updated to Google Earth 5 and now when I click on the 3D buildings box nothing shows up...not even the 10 models from before. Argh!

Thanks for the heads up about Google 5, Yume. Despite this problem, it runs wonderfully.

[Cypherus]

Originally Posted by giallo

I updated to Google Earth 5 and now when I click on the 3D buildings box nothing shows up...not even the 10 models from before. Argh!

Thanks for the heads up about Google 5, Yume. Despite this problem, it runs wonderfully.

Under the 3D buildings bullet, extend it and check mark "Photorealistic" buildings. Leave "Gray" unchecked.

[g35]

Originally Posted by Cypherus

Under the 3D buildings bullet, extend it and check mark "Photorealistic" buildings. Leave "Gray" unchecked.

If this doesn't work, then do what I had to and change your cache size (in the options menu) to the max. My computer only let me go from 60 --> 256 but it allowed the 3D bulidings to be rendered.

[Phil McAvity]

Originally Posted by Locked In

I have the elevation exaggeration set to 1.5, so the mountains appear a bit taller in Google Earth than they are in reality:

It's not that the mountains are too tall, it's that the buildings are too short.