Google Building Maker

An online modeling tool for Earth compatible with Sketchup. Customers can add buildings on the map with their signature. An example with the Forbidden City on the right. Which is being restored thanks to 3D printers, the past and technology coming together!

To fill the gaps of Earth, Google ask users to contribute and provides a modeling tool that enables them to add missing buildings on the map...

Update: Building Maker will be retired on 1 June 2013.

Earth provides pictures of buildings that are recorded by satellite. To go further, the user points to a location on the map where it would add a building that will be actually visible in 3D, so from all angles of view.
The online software provides pictures of the building taken from different angles and a set of intuitive tool. It also displays a 3D cube. Remain to the user, with the tools provided, to model the building based on pictures.

All cities do not yet offer this option, but their numbers will grow over time.

The user can add his signature to his achievement.

Introductory video:

Building Maker and Sketchup

Sketchup is a software for 3D modeling, formerly a Google tool. It is compatible with Building Maker, so it is possible to load and improve in Sketchup objects started from Earth, then reintroduce them into the map again.

The site of Building Maker is a subdirectory in the Sketchup site.