Google Earth and Earthware

Earthware became interested in developing 3D mapping solutions by creating and embedding 3D models into Google Earth. Potential clients often want to use our 3D mapping to create interactive virtual experiences of new property developments to show what it will be like before a brick has been laid. Whilst the 3D maps were well received by many potential clients, the tightening of marketing budgets in property development have seen few implementations by either Earthware or our competitors.

We have also used Google Earth in travel and tourism mapping solutions where we have created interactive and video tours of cycle routes and treks. See our client story for Exodus Travels.

About Google Earth

Google Earth is a virtual globe, map and geographic information program that was originally called EarthViewer 3D, and was created by Keyhole Inc, a company acquired by Google in 2004. It superimposes satellite and aerial images onto a 3D globe and is available in both free and commercial licenses. It was launched in 2005 but was also made available on the iPhone OS in late 2008. The release of Google Earth to the public caused a more than tenfold increase in media coverage on virtual globes between 2005 and 2006, driving public interest in geospatial technologies and applications. In fact, the embryonic ideas for Earthware grew out of a prototype created in Google Earth.

It soon became clear that whilst consumers loved Google Earth, especially within the Silver Surfer segment of the market, few commercially viable implementations have been created. This has been mainly due to the requirement for download combined with the original versions being a separate piece of software sitting outside of a website (it is little known that you can now embed Google Earth into a website but there are few examples of this on the internet).

For more information, please visit our blog articles on Google Earth or contact us to find out more about how you might create amazing mapping experiences using Google Earth.