Sunday, November 29, 2009

Chattanooga 3D: Putting the Scenic City on the (virtual) map

by Casey Phillips
Times Free Press – 11.30.09
Click here to view the front page feature of the Life section.

Chatanooga 3D Models now on Google Earth

Quick update! We now have 11 models live on Google Earth. Special thanks to Patrick, Chris and Coffield for getting these models done. Looking forward to seeing Chattanooga continue to take shape.

Monday, November 23, 2009

Chattanooga 3D Mentioned on Chattanooga Stand


Putting Chattanooga on the Map—In 3-D
11.20.09
Ben Johnson
“I can guarantee that this will make all who participate in it no money…”

This is an unexpected project introduction at a business start-up event. But then again, the Chattanooga 3-D project is anything but expected. Intended as an event to incubate small business start-ups, 48Hour Launch was designed as a start-up resource for the entrepreneurial community. 89 people gathered over the weekend, the vast majority of whom worked on projects that they hoped would eventually turn into viable financial enterprises. Chattanooga 3-D on the other hand, started with the goal to “start something” cool that would benefit Chattanooga, even if it had no tangible economic impact for the participants.
The brain-child of Stephen Culp, Chattanooga 3-D was begun in response to Stand’s call for people to “start something.” Using a combination of Google Sketch-up and Google Earth, teams of volunteers have taken hundreds of pictures and are using them to make three-dimensional renderings of Downtown Chattanooga. During our 48-hour long event, over 20 people—by far the largest team at 48Hour Launch—built 3-D models of most of Main Street in Downtown Chattanooga. In the wake of the 48Hour Launch, the project is continuing full-throttle, as anyone with a good camera and a few hours to learn the program can contribute to the 3-D maps Chattanooga.

As we saw at 48Hour Launch, entrepreneurism and innovation is not only of great economic benefit, but is also a vital part of civic engagement. The ease with which people can join in this project allows for broad participation, and the potential applications are equally broad. Architecture, attractions, businesses, streets, greenways, parks, art…whatever you want to do with it can be done. The Chattanooga 3-D project is aptly described as “open-source,” the goal being to create this map, release it to the community—and see what happens. Embodying Stand’s goal of empowering individuals, they are providing a resource and leaving it up to the initiative and creativity of all of us to determine how we can best use this information. 

If you have a few hours to spare, and would like to contribute to this project, head over to their website at http://www.chattanooga3d.com/ for details on how to get involved.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Progress!!!


If you check Google Earth, you will see a new structure downtown: The DoubleTree Hotel. Newly renovated in the past couple of years, it is now accessible for anyone around the world to see where it is and what it looks like! Eventually, you might be able to see inside! Check it out when you have a chance. Also, view our growing collection of Chattanooga 3D Models here. Special thanks goes to Patrick, AKA, Museum Maker who created this awesome model.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

What came out of 48 Hour Launch Chattanooga

First fly through downtown Chattanooga. Chattanooga 3D launches the weekend of November 13-15, 2009 at CreateHere during 48HourLaunch.org event. A team of 10 people, some experienced and some new to SketchUp, join forces to build downtown in 48 hours.


Thursday, November 12, 2009

48 Hour Launch (informal) Schedule for this weekend

Friday
6:00 – Sign-in + Eat
6:45 – Assemble for orientation
7:00 – Pitches
7:30 – Trade Show
8:15 – Pick Your Team
8:45 – Begin Round 1

Resource Staff Available until 11 pm
Saturday
8:00 – Breakfast
8:30 – Update # 1
9:10 – Begin Round 2
11:45 – Lunch Available
12:30 – Update #2
1:10 – Begin Round 3
5:30 – Dinner Available
6:15 – Update #3
7:00 – Begin Round 4

Resource Staff Available until 11 pm

Sunday
8:00 – Breakfast
8:30 – Update # 4
9:10 – Begin Round 5
11:45 – Lunch Available
12:30 – Update #5
1:10 – Begin Round 6
5:00 – Launch! Final Report
6:00 – Operation Dinner Out

Chattanoogans Put Their City on the Map (in 3D) with SketchUp, Google Earth, and Community Collaboration

(Chattanooga, TN) "Putting Chattanooga on the Map-- in 3D" (a.k.a. "C3D") is one of the first citizen-inspired initiatives to emerge from Chattanooga STAND, one of the largest community visioning processes in history. Building on STAND's call to "start something", C3D will launch November 13th at 48HourLaunch, a groundbreaking event to be hosted at Chattanooga's CreateHere,
The goal of C3D is to bring the Chattanooga downtown and region to life in Google Earth for everyone to enjoy. Local entrepreneur and sponsor, Stephen Culp, says the idea is quickly taking on a life of its own. "It's becoming clearer every day that this project can make our city more accessible to all kinds of people and organizations," he adds, including local residents, public officials, artists, planners, tourists, architects, developers, and businesspeople. As a result, the project will likely be staged in "layers" corresponding to Chattanooga's uniquely diverse architecture, downtown art, attractions, businesses, parks, greenways, and more.
The C3D project also continues to take on new volunteers and partners. Initially inspired by collaborative spirit of Chattanooga STAND, Culp has seen volunteers emerge from the local design, architectural, academic, and entrepreneurial communities, as well as early partners in organizations like RiverCity, CreateHere, 48HourLaunch, and Smart Furniture. On the 3D front, the team will be supported by the Google Sketchup/3D design team from Smart Furniture led by Karen Liwanpo, and the expertise of Chris Wilson, who led a similar and successful effort with the "Main Street McMinnville" project.
The C3D project will launch at 48HourLaunch (48HL), an innovative event itself launched by three Tennessee-based entrepreneurial organizations-- Springboard, Knoxville Overground, and Launch Memphis. The event will kick off Global Entrepreneurship Week, and, according to local organizer Sheldon Grizzle of Springboard, is a "blitz-idea-incubator" based around collaborative creativity. Grizzle adds, "It will be a chance for entrepreneurs, project managers, web developers, pr and marketing minds, strategists, designers, and writers, to come together to do the unthinkable— create and launch real businesses and sustainable initiatives in 48 hours."
The team will initially meet at Create Here (55 E. Main Street, Chattanooga TN 37408) this Friday, November 13th, at 6pm. For volunteers interested but who can't make it Friday, C3D will continue through the 48HourLaunch on Saturday, 8am–7pm and Sunday, 8am–6pm (and if you can't make the weekend, still contact C3D-- this will be a long-term project). The C3D team invites anyone interested to join the team of volunteers to be part of this launch, including Google SketchUp users, photographers, and other creative folks. Bring a laptop and camera if available-- the team will be indoors and around the city, photographing, drawing, and "pushing up" the city in 3D.