Short news: Urban plans, MATLAB, Where 2.0.2007

  • Two new examples of urban planning using Google Earth:
    • Robin Capper decided to fact-check official visualizations showing the impact of a controversial new planned waterside stadium in Auckland. It looked suspiciously low on these images when compared to existing buildings, so Robin built his own accurate model. Not surprisingly, it’s taller.
    • San Jose City Council has been using Google Earth to make flyovers of its General Plan, and has posted them online. (direct link to WMV file). It’s transit-oriented development project page also comes with the requisite KML version.
  • A substantial MATLAB plugin: Matlab2GoogleEarth Toolbox by Scott Davis collects various plotting/drawing functions that can be saved as KML output, and loaded in Google Earth. Global weather modelling output, anyone? (Thanks, Sven!)
  • Where 2.0 is announced, with a call for proposals. It’s set for May 29-30, 2007 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, CA. Proposals are due Jan 5.