GOOGLE EARTH²

For all the not-being-evil Google Earth achieves, one aspect of the (yes, free) program is that even where it includes the terrain of a certain location, it just paints two-dimensional satellite images onto the three-dimensional relief. For one good example, hop over to Christ the Redeemer:


Instead of looming majestically over Rio de Janeiro, here the Lamb of God looks as if he might slide down the hillside right into the Lagoa.

There is a limited solution, found via the (unofficial) Google Earth Blog — a kmz plugin which will add buildings to a few select places. Rio isn't available yet, but better still, there's Hong Kong:


Cool. Not perfect, but nevertheless fun. And just above the twin spires of I.M. Pei's Bank of China Tower is the New World Centre — the Watergate of Tsim Tsa Tsui — where I spent most of 1985. Though it's not among the buildings to get a detailed exterior, it's frankly not that far off. For a more detailed picture, see here.

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posted by WWB at 11:55 AM |