Smile for the Google 3D mapping truck

Ernest Miller says, "Google plans to use trucks equipped with lasers and digital photographic equipment to create a realistic 3D online version of San Francisco, and eventually other major US cities." Link

Reader comment: Matthew Johnson says,

I think we have Google beat. We're already doing this here in Philadelphia with Virtual Philadelphia. We're working with GeoSim Systems out of Israel ( Link ) to create a 3D model of the downtown business improvement district that we serve. Here's another recent article: Link.

While it is not directly my project, I've been to some of the meetings and have had the opportunity to play with it. Quite an amazing technology that we're still trying to figure out everything that we will be able to do with it. So far there's examples of being able to link to our retail and property databases, examine the effects of a bombing or another catastrophe on the city, a virtual tourist guide, development and building projects, the list goes on and on. The whole process and results are quite amazing.