Anthony Townsend experiments with two powerful tools from Google that make it possible to visualize the view impacts of a new 26-story building in New York.
Using the two free tools offered by the Palo Alto-based Google, Townsend constructed a virtual model to see if a controversial new building in his neighborhood would block the view from his apartment. In a matter of 15 mintues, he designed a rough model that illustrated the proposed building's impacts.
"This could change the rules of urban planning forever, as people can instantly build models and visualize the impact of proposed development - something that used to take artists or expensive CAD systems," says Townsend. "Bye bye experts, the power is now in the people's hands."
Thanks to Anthony Townsend
FULL STORY: Fun With Google Earth and Sketchup
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