Terror attack using Google Earth

Software applications were once created to automate business processes.  In recent times, it has evolved and is now created
for entertainment, gaming, mapping, etc. One popular GIS (Geographical Information System) software that is freely available and is widely used is Google Earth.  It is used in various industries by various companies and individuals but what I read yesterday in the newspapers came as a surprise, well at least to me.  It was reported that terrorists are now using Google Earth to plot their warfare in Israel and Iraq.  They are using the mapping software to plan missile attacks and they are using the sophistication of the sattelite pictures to determine the position of enemy camps in Iraq.  I am sure when Google had the idea of creating a free mapping software, they did not foresee that it will be used for such a purpose or maybe they did.  Who knows?  I guess if the terrorists are using Google Earth as a planning tool, the  FBI or British Intelligence could also be using the software in a similar way too.

 

 

Google SketchUp and Google Earth

I remember the hours I spent playing Sim City in the 90s. It was interesting and challenging building and running your own city. Google is doing the same with Google Earth and a 3D modelling tool called SketchUp. In the case of Google's application, you don't get to run the earth but you get to build a visual representation of what a building, house, shop looks like to someone who has not been to your street or city. SketchUp is a free hands-on tool. How cool is that? You can then upload your model onto Google Earth using 3D Warehouse. It is a smart way to encourage users to collaborative and build on the visual aspect of the Google Earth product. After all we all own the earth and it is our delight to share visual representation of buildings, houses of where we live with other who are interested enough to look it up on Google Earth.

I have not used SketchUp or 3D Warehouse as I write this so I cannot comment on the user friendliness or features the software tools provide but the conceptual idea is a good one. Imagine using this as a method of marketing your building or company to the world through Google Earth. The Earth is so large that someone from the other side of the world will not know your existence until they find it on Google Earth :)