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crinzema

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I thought it's about time to create G.R. virtually in Google Earth, so I decided to make this today. Currently it's in queue for review, so you won't be able to see it in Google Earth just yet. I'm not used to Google's sketch up, but I did my best. Look for more buildings in the future.

3225952931_3687ba45eb_b.jpg

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If anyone would like to help me model the buildings in Grand Rapids, I've set up a Google group to collaborate between each other. I've also created a collection named "Grand Rapids Michigan" where all of the final 3d models are dumped. I can only do about 1-2 buildings a day so any help would be great. Google's "SketchUp" program is very, very easy to understand compared to Architecture Desktop, and even Revit. It has less features than Microsoft Paint about.

Grand Rapids Google Group.

http://groups.google.com/group/grand-rapids-michigan?hl=en

Grand Rapids building collection

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/cld...amp;prevstart=0

In the meantime, if you want to view the buildings in Google Earth, go to the grand rapids building collection page and click view in Google Earth. Then in Google Earth, click the building icons and click View in Google Earth.

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Just to set the record straight, I did not create the Grand Rapids City Hall building with the Calder. I might have to buy SketchUp Pro to do that sort of thing.

i don't think you need sketchup pro to do that (i think the only thing sketchup pro does is add some layout and import / export tools)...you WILL, however, need some free time :blink:

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I was thinking I'd try a downtown church--probably LaGrave--first, but haven't gotten the chance to install the app yet (I've been digging myself out from a pile of homework on GVSU lab computers all week). In case you're wondering, I'm the Nurfle55 that joined the google group.

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To help in the review process, that can take as long as 30 days, I would highly appreciated it if you rated the buildings 5/5 stars at http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/cld...amp;prevstart=0 Also, I would suspect that the foggy imagery of Grand Rapids would disappear if there were many buildings modeled for Grand Rapids. This would put Grand Rapids back on their proverbial radar screen. Just a guess though.

I attempted the Devos Place over this past weekend. I think I'll be following Veloise's advise from now on. This will start coming together much faster once the weather makes it more pleasant to walk around downtown to take pictures of every building from every angle.

Lastly, in my manual drafting class at CC, I'm thinking about talking to the teacher about this to see if i could get the class to help me with this project. The 2nd part of this semester we will be learning Google's Sketchup program anyway, why not put that to good use? If this happens, all of Grand Rapids will get modeled in 1-2 weeks.

Edit: Oh, before I forget, does anyone have a good way to quickly find the building heights. I want to make things as accurate as possible and I don't have any surveying equipment.

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To help in the review process, that can take as long as 30 days, I would highly appreciated it if you rated the buildings 5/5 stars at http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/cld...amp;prevstart=0 Also, I would suspect that the foggy imagery of Grand Rapids would disappear if there were many buildings modeled for Grand Rapids. This would put Grand Rapids back on their proverbial radar screen. Just a guess though.

I attempted the Devos Place over this past weekend. I think I'll be following Veloise's advise from now on. This will start coming together much faster once the weather makes it more pleasant to walk around downtown to take pictures of every building from every angle.

Lastly, in my manual drafting class at CC, I'm thinking about talking to the teacher about this to see if i could get the class to help me with this project. The 2nd part of this semester we will be learning Google's Sketchup program anyway, why not put that to good use? If this happens, all of Grand Rapids will get modeled in 1-2 weeks.

Edit: Oh, before I forget, does anyone have a good way to quickly find the building heights. I want to make things as accurate as possible and I don't have any surveying equipment.

Use the birds eye view in Live Maps:

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&...1&encType=1

You can spin the images around to see all 4 sides of each building.

Also, if you go to www.emporis.com, they have the heights of most of the buildings downtown (and names).

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This could be a useful tool in the future if someone had a complete model of all these buildings and you could use these models to show transit line ideas.
. . . . AND with animations showing the stations, station-integrated development, etc.! WOO HOO!! :yahoo:

Google has some of their own success stories.

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwh/citiesin3d...essstories.html

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwh/citiesin3d/index.html

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I was looking at devos place. I can easily do the curve wall but the roof to be a curve, well that may be too difficult to do with the program.

Can you layer some polygons? Remember a curve is a series of flat points (geometry class, 1972). I am not the least bit familiar with Sketchup (already spend enough time on line!) but to create something similar in PageMaker or Powerpoint I would make the shortest one, copy and paste, add a couple inches/feet, repeat.

HTH

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I was looking at devos place. I can easily do the curve wall but the roof to be a curve, well that may be too difficult to do with the program.

If you create a block of the building and apply an image of the devos place on the side, all you have to do then would be to outline the roof and use the "push pull"command to get rid of the excess open space above the building relieving the roof outline.

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I like what you did with short County, pasting the Calder mural atop.

Is there a memo board where folks can mention which ones they are working on?

First join my Grand Rapids Group. http://groups.google.com/group/grand-rapids-michigan?hl=en Then, list the buildings your working on in the discussion "Buildings Your Working On". I will then edit the "building Check list" document on the homepage or in the files folder. http://groups.google.com/group/grand-rapid...;&sort=date I will update that file every time you mention a building your working on. Check that file before you work on a building to see whether that building is already being worked on by a fellow member.

By the way, once you've finished a building, please publish the building to google's 3d warehouse and send me a link and i'll put it in the Grand Rapids, Michigan collection. Once that collection reaches 12 textured models, I can put that into the "cities in development" collection. http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/cld...b08&ct=hpr1

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