For the first time since 2011, I have used the Competition’s contact list to invite businesses to an event as it is so relevant to the local networking the 3D_lgc project was about:
“You can join us, forward this or contact an organiser for a next meeting: Gita Malinovska.”
Add-ins to SketchUp for analysing energy performance keep cropping up, for instance Sefaira; 10-minute video.
Here is a useful attempt to list all the main steps and options for creating a 3D model of an actual building for Google Earth: Geo-modelling and SketchUp by Debarti Nath.
It is slightly ‘breathless’ and repetitive. It fails to explain technical terms and appears to be out of date, e.g. in promoting Google Building Maker. However it aims to guide to any beginner in SketchUp for Google Earth, via a clear list of steps and criteria for acceptance of the resulting model.
This is a reminder of the Extension Warehouse for SketchUp: here
The available tools are organised by Categories and by Industries.
For instance, it gives access to a Bezier Curve Tool for SketchUp.
“Kerkythea is a freeware software that can produce high quality renders without spending a cent on software licensing. Kerkythea is using physically accurate materials and lights, aiming for the best quality rendering in the most efficient timeframe, with target to simplify the task of quality rendering by providing the necessary tools to automate scene setup, such as staging using the GL real-time viewer, material editor, general/render settings, editors, etc., under a common interface.” here
It has a free plug-in for SketchUp: on Windows, MAC OSX and Linux platforms: here
Here is a new coursebook for SketchUp on Windows & MAC (USA, 505 pages, PDF, $60). It is designed for practical training within higher education, via numerous exercises and learning projects.
“SketchUp 2013 Hands-On: Student Coursebook
Designed for use in classroom setting, this book is based on the exercises in our pro-level SketchUp books. …”
Viso3D is a new, free 3D tool for viewing SketchUp models on the Apple iPad: about
You can download it directly from the App Store. It provides several controls, including stepping through a model’s scenes.
The Viso3D SketchUp Exporter is a plug-in for SketchUp that operates inside SketchUp (previously only on Windows, now also for MAC). It exports SketchUp 3D geometry, textures and scenes to a file format called .xcs. You open that in Viso3D, which has several sample files available to try out.
You can: (details)
Trimble has released a new version of SketchUp, via a wide range of pricing packages: here
“Change to SketchUp Licencing
WIth the introduction of Sketchup 2013, Trimble have changed the way they licence Sketchup, the key points are:
The free version of SketchUp is still available.
“SightSpace View is an on-line service with accompanying mobile app for Trimble SketchUp files. It gives all SketchUp users the power to make their 3D designs accessible to mobile users [via a QR code, on Apple & Android devices] and have an Augmented Reality experience without the need for mobile development resources. To get started, download the SightSpace View plugin.” here
See their Pricing tab for the rental options.
Thanks to SketchUp Materials Library for this notice here
“Yesterday (August 6), Google announced that user generated 3D content for the official 3D Layer of Google Earth will soon (with October 1) be over. With this move, an era of over seven years will be over. Google acquired SketchUp in 2006 and immediately released a free version of the software in order to encourage modellers to populate Google Earth with 3D content. Later Building Maker was also added (this was stopped in June this year) and eventually 45 Degree 3D Imagery was also added – this latter one to finally replace 3D models made in either SketchUp or Building Maker.”
We have yet to work out the implications for existing user-generated 3D models, importing, viewing and visualising.