Google Earth 6 - 3D mapping tool

3D MAPPING TOOL
Google Earth 6
www.google.com/earth
Min requirements: Windows XP / Vista / 7, Mac OS X or Linux
File size: 555KB(installer)

The latest version of Google's virtual globe software introduces some excelleny new features including 3D trees a fully integrated Street View mode and improved historical imagery. The 3D-rendered trees of which there are more than 50 species only appear in certain urban locations but they really help to fill in the green spaces between the existing 3D buildings. Google Earth's new Street View integration makes it possible to fly down from space to street level and explore your location from a first-person perspective. When you zoom right into a location the little orange pegman figure will appear top right. Drag him down to a highlighted blue road and the view will switch. You can use the controls or your mouse to navigate around or click the Exit button to return to the aerial view. The pop-up historical imagery timeline lets you travel visually back through the years to see how a place has changed. You can view the effect of the Blitz on London for example or the area around the World Trade Center before and after the September 11 attacks. When you arrive at a location the date of the oldest available imagery will be displayed at the bottom the screen. Click this and a slider will appear that lets you choose the date to display. You will need to turn off 3D buildings to get the most from the historical imagery feature.